Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-10
CHAPTER XIII.
TIT MIGHT AT RTCHMONn

It was the 9th day of February, 1865.
The army had wintered close to Winchester,
and the campaign was about to open with a
grand review before General Sheridan. It
was splendid sight, that you would go
many o mile to see in these piping times of
peace; but there were no on-lookers the
blinds OF neighboring houses were all
drawn down, and not a curious face peeped
furtively out, nor came q soul from Win
chester to witness the gallant doings.
Think of it! Fourteen thousand cavalry,
endless lines Of infantry, and fifty batter
les of artillery, all in their best, with the
spring sun shining on their ranks
1t was long ride for Sheridan that day
to pass before the extended ranks. On
starting he was accompanied by his staff,
brave in furnished uniforms, but by de-
grces, as horse after horse succumbed to
fatigue, there was nothing left Of the gay
cavalcadc but the General himself on his
tireless black charger. And the most sim
gular part of it all was, that when the long
ready to swear that Sheridan's eyes looked
straight into his with especially approving
glance.
Two days afterward, at four o'clock in
the morning, this splendid host set forth
to fulGll its destiny. They captured Staun-
ton, passed. Waynesboro, and marched
along the muddy roads to Charlottesville.
soidierin g, that high academic honors would
be conferred upon him; that, in fact, he
would no appointed temporary CONSERVATION
Of the third greatest university of this
country, but so it was. AS the Union
troops approached the city eager deputa-
tons of burghers and college authorities
came forward to pray the clemency of the
invaders, aud to Winthrop's guardian care
was confided the protection of those classic
ts11c do VII
AS homo of learning. But am afraid
these registering troopers enjoyed the good
faro the rich city provided a great deal
more than the honor accruing from their
protcctorate Of college dons.
Then they struck the James river and de-
strOyed every lock and mill they came to,
reaching Hanover Junction, where they
had brush with Plckett's division, which
Harry Winthrop declares to this day was
tho best in the Confederate army, and final
ly joined Grant at Petersburg.
Meanwhile Lees position was becoming
utterly desperate, for every day Grant
grip upon him was Tightening with the
cruelty of an avenging Nemesis, and the
Ouly hope left to him was to steal away and
Join Johnston.
On the LIST day Of April Sheridan, with
nine thousand sabers and heavy columns of
infantry, drove his force like q wedge be-
tOSAsAOAA ->SS
twelve miles southwest Of Petersburg; and,
assailed in front and rear, the garrison
was overwhelmed, and five thousand men
were taken prisoners.
Tho next morning at four O'Clock the
Union army advanced along the whole
front, and the Confederate line Of intrench-
ments was broken and thousands of prison
ers were captured
Oh, that sad, sad Sunday at Richmond !!
The churches were full Of people pitifully
praying for Divine interference to avert
th6 calamity they trembled to think was
beyond the power of human aid. Even as
Jefferson Davis sat in his pew, the bitter
tidings were brought him, and men read in
his pallid face the beginning of the end of
their heroic struggle. From lips to lips
ware passed the fatal words-Richmond
m;.st fall Then the streets were filed
with men, women and children, rushing in
wild dissemination they knew not whittier,
while even in that supreme hour Of misery
the figures of busy plunderers might be
seen doing their unholy work regardless
OF the suffering around them. In vain the
city fathers tore from the warehouses the
whisky barrels and poured their contents
into the cutters, men were found even in
that dread hour reeling like demons through
kAe strects, and when night came and Gem
&KA Eweu fired the great tobacco houses