The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-04-09
Richmond, Va, April Sd,

Richmond, Va, April Sd,
4 o'clock, p. m, 1865.
To the loved ones at home When
wrote You last we were cncamped at
Chapin's Farm, about seven miles from
this city. Will now give you descrip-
ton of my journey to this city. Yes
terday morn a detail of lao men was
made from the 9th, Reg. VT. Volunteers,
corresponding number was detailed
from the other regiments in the same
brigade, making about 800 men, all I'M
der the command of the Col, of the 5,
Reg. Maryland Volunteers. We left
camp at 10 O'Clock a. m, marched about
one mile, and was duly stationed on the
picket line for duty, l was placed on
guard beside the ruins of an old house,
destroyed by fire. The two chimneys
were standing in their original positi-
ons. Everything passed as usual, I'M
til about o'clock p. IN.
We could family hear a rumbling
noise in the direction of Petersburg.
We came to the conclusion that there
was artillery firing Oh that part of the
line. Just at close of day the fire, on
the Rebel picket line was extinguished,
which was about one half mile distant
from where we were stationed. While
on duty about one O'Clock last night, l
heard noise in the brush. | looked in
the direction Of the enemy. / could
plainly see two Rebs in the distance.
l gave the order to halt, at the same
time bringing my gun in position to
fire. They replied "dont shoot, don't
shoot, let us come IMP
They came in with the news, that
General Lee was evacuating the city Of
Richmond, and only few men were
holding their picket line. Soon after
Gen. Devens and staff were upou the
picket line. At O'Clock a. m, rations
were issued for four days. At o.
clock a. m, while l was on duty, the
order was given to advance. We soon
passed the enemy's picket line, their
tents were left standing, no enemy was
in sight, we passed Oh through fields
and forest, until we arrived at wag-
on road. We followed this road until
we could see the city of Richmond in
the distance. A portion of the city
was on fire.
We soon overlook colored regiment
marching in the same direction. We
pushed on with a cheer and left them in
the rear, and pressed Oh until we came
to the outskirts Of the city. We halted
a few minutes, then came the order
"Forward double quick!" l sprang
forward withtwo comrads on my right.
We led the advance into the city, and
stopped few minutes in front Of JEFF
Davis mansion. 1t is a fine building,
surrounded by an Iron fence. AS we
marched up Broad ST., the people lin
ed the side walk. Some exclaiming
"Bless the Lord, the Yankees have
comet
At one point the smoke from the fire
was SO dense that we could hardly dis
tinguish one comrade from another.
We arrived at the Capitol grounds at
about 8 O'Clock q. III. The "Star
Spangled Banner" now waves from the
dome of the capitol. Gen. Devens
headquarters are now in that building.
was Oh guard at the gate leading into
the capitol grounds from IL, until l o.
clock p. m.
A citizen deposited a barrel of -four
i'll those grounds, and said that was all
he saved from the fire. He also told
me that when we marched up Broad
ST., the enemy were retreating down
X street, and said that we were not
over ten minutes behind them, and the
officers were the last to cross the bridge
over the James river, and the fire was
SO hot from the burning bridge they
tied their handkerchiefs over their
faces. The report is that Gen. Grant
has captured Petersburg, with ten
thousand prisoners, and that Gen. Lee
and his army have rctreated to Dam
vile or Lynchburg. viii write again
soon. From your son and brother,
Chandler ID. Rawson.