National Republican., 1885-06-13

steady stream into the lap Of the city,
aud tho people of the city made their liv.
ing, and, indeed, It may be said, in many
instances, waxed fat, in feeding and lodg-
ing the hungry horde.
NO RATIoNs FOR WAR OFFIcERs.
Now have seen II stated somewhere
that tho confederate authorities, in order
not to starvo their officials to death, ex-
tended the same privileges to them as it
did TO its officers in tho field, viz: to
draw ration and buy ration at tho
government valuation, which was not
ono-tonth tho cost of provisions in the
markets. This is all a mistake. As far
as the officials were concerned every tub
had to stand on its own bottom" II a
man couldn't live on tho salary Of his
Office, there wero hundreds Of others anx-
ious to take his place, and offer a bonus
for the opportunity. In fact, when tho
fighting got to be fast and furious, and
tho campaigns terrible in their hardships,
in the Richmond ErGminer, John M.
Daniel openly charged that the confod-
erato and state Offices had become mat
ter of bargain and sale to tho sons of rich
mon who desired to shirk standing up to
be shot at with their compatriots In tho
fold.
havo reforred above to the home
guards. organized simply to defend the
capital. These comprised all the officials
In the confederate and state departments,
and no man was exempt who was able to
fro rifle from behind a breastwork.
These held no drills, but marched in n
body, without regular order. to the breast
works when the alarm bell in the capitol
square rang forth the warning peal OF the
approach Of the enemy-so many strokes
l think.
THE PRESS BRIGADE.
The printers and newspaper reporters
and editors wero organized in separate
body, and were really an effective force
for breastwork duty, as many of them
were old soldiers, who had been incapAci
tated by wounds for hard service in the
field. Indeed, when the tocsin sounded
the entire male population of Rich
mond, official and otherwise, young ant
old, were out under arms. | rocollec
that in the fall OF 1864 | was ovor iu
Richmond Il was an officer of the trair
guard between Richmond and Peters
burg whom there was a general alarm
and tho homo guard was turned out. A
l was Off duty, concluded to go out auC
help all ! could. reported to the gen
eralissimo and he assigned me the dut,
of aiding in trying to keep some sort o
order in tho motley rout. II was tn
funniest sight l ever beheld-the wa!
that heterogeneous mass proceeded to d
their devoirs for the safety of the capita
city and the benefit Of the confederacy
The gingerly way these impromptu sol
diers held their rifles was enough to max
veteran hold his sides while laugh
ing consumedly, and it is solemn
fact it was very hot day tina
two-thirds OF the command hel,
their rifles In their left hands, whil
they carried a spread umbrella in thei
right. got to laughing so at the ludi
crous spectacle that | was Of no earthl
use in getting tho mob in order. Th
sight would have made cat laugh, espC
cially when, at tho head of the thronI
was Gov. Extra Billy Smith, than whor
no braver man or better soldier, consider
ing his advanced age, was in tho confeC
crate army, rode gallantly at the head I
this column with as much pride appal
emily as when he led tho 10th Virgini
( regiment into battle.
Well, don't know that the home guar
were ever actually engaged with tt
enemy, and perhaps they would hay
, fought well in the rifle-pits, but 1t Is CO
tain that on several occasions the vicinit
of Richmond was entirely denuded Of Il
regular forces, and 1t was we'll for Ricl
mond and its people that the federal con
manders were not aware of the fact or di
, not credit the reports of their spies.
Z THOMAS j. MURRAY.