Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-28
AHiMoRY OF EVACUATION. Gar.


Intre was astrIking-Iooking stranger
to be seen IN the rotunda Of the Ex-
change Hotel yesterday evening. He
was fully six feet in height. straight IS
An Indian, easy in his carriage, and sol
dier-liks; bis brown hair, goatss and
moustaebe just beginning to bs tinged
with grsy, and wore Derby hat and .
grsyish suit of spring clothes. On the
register be had the day before written
bis name in . flowing, professional
hand-'tEdward II. Ripley, Rutland,
Vermont
This was General Ripley. He was
. young brigadier commanding seven
regiments below Richmond April 3,
1865, when, at daybreak it, was found
that the Confederate pickets had alb
sconded-so quietly that none knew Of
their going. A little later the blowing
up of Confederate gun-boats in the
river told that Lee had evacuated
Richmond.
General Ripley and his brigade came
into Richmond following small head
quarter force headed by Major-Gencral
WeitzeL His brigade, with four regi-
mental bands playing, marched up
Main street until near the Old Market;
then they turned off to Broad street,
and pr ceeded up Broad to the City
Hall. There an aid from General
Weitzel met him and informed him
that General Weitzel was at the Capt.
tol and wished to gee him.
The city was then ablsze. The mob
was looting the stores. Warehouses
were tied to the trees in the Capital
Square.
The good people of the stricken city
were. panic-stricken, and most Of them
kept indoors. The Mayor and few
officials were gathered about General
Weitzel urging him to interpose his
authority to check the mob and stay
the progress of the fire. 1t was day
of humiliation and disaster. In this
emergency General Weitzel placed Gen.
eral Ripley in immediate command of
the city and authorized him to do what
was necessary to check the conhagra-
tion.
With what heartiness these orders
were obeyed the people Of Richmond
have always remembered always been
grateful for.
In Ripley's brigade were many
Brooklyn, New Haven, and Hartford
men-amopg them many firemen-and
after much labor, but not until great
portion Of the city was laid in ruins,
the course Of the fire was checked.
This work done, Ripley's brigade was
put in camp a few miles west Of the
city. Yesterday, with Mr.. Fitch, Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company, the General drove out to see
if he could find and identify that camp.
iDg.gromd; but twenty-one years had
obliteraied the landmarks-he was in
strapge country.
Geneml Ripley left the army soon
after tbt war ended. lie is now citi-
zen of Rutland, VT, and is connected
with tie United States and Brazil
Steamship Company, which sails its
ships from New York and Goals them at
NewporI's News. He is here on brief
business visit. Yesterday, with Gen.
eral Witkham, he called on the Cover
nor. Last night he met a party of
friends at their club. To-day he
goes cut to Major Doswell's
farm, wlere he will meet a large COM
paDy of I'D Coniederatss, and will see
some fin, horses and have a cordial
welcome. Thence he proceeds to
Washington. He has many kind words
for Richnond-of the behavior Of her
people emcuation-day, Of her progress
since tn, war, Of the warm hearted
hos pitaliy extended him here.