Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-04-17
THE FALL OF RICHMOND,
A woMAN's ACCOUNT.

Mary Tucker Magill, in the hdepend-
eHt gives an account Of what was done
at Richmond Il the last days Of the Con
iedcracy, from which we quote as fol-
lows:
Never did the sun shine more bril-
ilantly than on the 2d day of April, 1860,
"a day long to be remembered by all those
who anchored their hopes to the dying
Cause 1t was the Sabbath day, and as
was entering the Rev. Dr. Hoge's
church, l saw friend who was an Off
Ger IN the commissary department
"What news" asked
"All quiet" was the answer. "a
dearth Of Sunday rumors; even the croak-
ers are quiet and peaceful, and were un-
disturbed by a few shots along the line
early this morning. did see some strag
glers looking at the bulletin board as
passed; but | did not stop"
You think Richmond is safe2" |
asked
Never safer. She made a narrow es-
cape from being starved out, II few weeks
ago; and this frightened the people into
Crowding their provisions into the city
and | was assured this morning, by Cap
tain II. that we had not been so safe for
months.N
expressed my JOY at the assurance;
and we passed into the church together.
My seat was very far forward, and |
scarcely noticed what remembered after
ward that there was slight confusion
during the service. At the summons Of
the sexton, one person after another left
the church. Among these was the mayor
of the city and the medical director of the
army.
Dr. Hoge had finished his sermon and
the closing prayer, and was reading the
hymn, when the sexton handed him a
note. Thinking it was some notice to be
given out, the reverend gentleman laid il
beside him and finished his task; and
then, in turning to his seat, red the note
In a second, before the choir had time tC
sound the first note of praise, he turned
back to his reading desk: and those who
saw him can never forget the change
which that moment had wrought. "Win
tiers of SORROW" seemed to have rolled
over his face in shat second of time. Sc
marked was the change that the Who'll,
congregation rose to their feet as one man
and stood as with suspended shrek
awaiting their doom from his lips |
was delayed for one moment, while, Will
quivcring face, he struggled to comman'
himself sufficiently to speak. His voc,
came at last, shaking and quivering as h
said:
"My friends, have just had news
news which rings my heart for myself
for YOU and for your children. may no
meet YOU again for a long time. thanl
you for many kindnesses Farewell. CT
quietly to your homes, and remembe
amidst all these waves of sorrow that you
Father holds the helm
Then. although he had not told us, w
knew that the fate of Richmond wa
sealed. Thereafter followed a seen
which beggars description. There wa
little noisy demonstration. though
woman could be heard crying here an
there; hut faces were distorted wit
Cricf. though few tears were she'd. Nov
that the inevitable had arrived, do nc
remember any recriminatlons or hlttf
criticisms We were one in sorro'
and sympathy. II errors had bee
made, this was no time TO r.
call them Friends graSped tn
handS OF friends as on the eve OF a Ion
parting parting where lifc,s hopes II
o'ad. There We're comforters who toI
that General Lee had said that NOV
from Rlchmtrd would be the best thin
Tor Inc l5ntcdrracy; and we wome
seized "n i IL ''d7owning man catcl'
at StrawS. and believed it
Nc>ald "a each other that this was tt
turning point. and We tried to smile Az
convince each othcr and the men ths
this. after all, WAS The very best thin
that could happen. The scene in Il
streets no ppu can 1rscriIo Mo-, Wit