The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-17

He'd with people running here and
there. | vas going to my home. then 10
r the neighbOrhood of the Presidents
{ mansion. At that moment be
q himself was passing slowly on
no the same direction He was
( iust from the church. and was at
e orce surrounded by crowd composed
chr ny OF excited and weeping women.
v bo pred blm with questions and sup
; picatioDs at the same time. filing the
p qir with lamentations as OF these who
Awould not be comforted. The Presi-
: deot stood calm aud composed. With
kiudlv smlle aud Reotle voice, he en-
deavnred 10 dispel the fears OF those
around him. When askrd If he really
VAS about 10 leave them and the city
10 their fate. he expressed his great re-
gret that It Was so. but.tbat at the same
Ime, il was a military necessity. H.
then proceeded 10 assure them that they
had no cause for apprehension as to the
treatment the people would receive at
the hands OF the enemy, and that they
had be,terfetiTe "a. their homes and there
r. main uurl the later should occupy
lbe city. So gentle and reassuriDg was
his manner that in a short time he was
allowed TO bow himself awav with
becoming grace aud dignity.
c iuld but admire the self pos
ees on and placid comD0sure Of this
remarkable man under such lrylng cir
cumstaDcts al bis erect, military figure
row disappeared toward the Executive
Mat sion.
A few hours after this the entire city
/ Ia
den with government stores. RECORDS
aud other valuable. were hurry ing to- |
wards the depols of the Richmond ana |
DBnville s0d the Pc ersburg raIlvaSs.
/ Officers # Every rank were gallopiog |
| f,om q, int TO point. troC p3 were Assem- |
! ding ~ d trans were beng arranged 10 4
carry off every movable representative 4
Of the Confederate power. animate and
iDauImate. An sppre hensIon prevailed
mat he enemy might succeed ~ reach
iug the city before The government sud
army Off 1als Guild arrauge To carry
fway with hem the material necessary
for setting up a new establishment else
where. Late in the day. finOing
II impossible to pack and trans
port the rec ,rds Of the State Depart
neut. the COuscript Bureau. and the
Treasury Department, there were car
Ien up to the Capuol Square and de
-trpyed by fire on tie grand walk ~
front Of the Governor mansion. II
WAS rad a0d ioyless bonfire For
several hours the flame Of this dismal
autO-da-ie sent It's CLOUDS of smoke Up
among unconscious trees. As night ap
Or, ached the wind began TO Use. and
!
me destroy er. were seen driven about
by the blast as If possessed with the
me unrest that had beset the entire
p ipulatiou. The scre- ching and scream
u,g Of moving trains continued 10 yex ,
q ne air all through the anxious hours OF
nat wea'y night. Troops from the
uter Oefenses were pouring into. the 5
lower part of The town To swell the q,
column of those from the left bank Of
the James nv r. now on their way over |,
MayO's ard the Dtnville Railroad
pridges. They were solemn. silent.
md depressed. bu, moved Oh I
.o their destiny as men deter q
mined 10 do thGr duty to the last il
rnis maj ching OF TROOPS continued uD 8
o day break next morning. All this r
ime there were many bitter partiugsa a
mothers took leave OF sons. upon who's !,
young faces they we're never TO look
igatn Lovers payted as they had nevrP :
lone before. n ,rriage ceremonies not .
KIP c'ed 10 take place at once. u9Ie u
lurredly performed. The groom y
mounted his impatient horse and was t
off 10 the wars AGAIN" while thet
20 rg bride with anxious heart. should
~ ait his return. Que Instance Of ttis.l .
ccurred WITHIN the circle of the II
liter ; acquaintance. =. 4
Atier the night of that memorable n
Jay had set in the upper part Of Rich d
nOnd became unusually quiet. FAM b
lis bad retired TO their houses as blrds 9,
o their sh tiers when the destroyer IS :,
~ the Wi With CT ised doors and
'eblnd folded blinds they felt secure, at y
east, for the present. But they knew "
lOt what To- expect in the morning. II. 81
udeed. they should be allowed t. re lo
nam un1istu,b bed duIing the night &
Tar. anxiety ana doubt were not cal b
uiaied TO encourage sleep IN a cOmmu ol
my about 10 be left TO the mercy OF h
10, n iors. ard perhaps also 20 the treach NJ
~ of don.eslIc enemies. 1t should tie -
ems mbered hat for many months be. =
ore the fail of Redmond the had !"
pen no gaslghts on the streets. inse-
ueDil' people sought refuge from The u
sfkness by retiring early 20 "
reir HOUSES. Ia the present crisis q
ne G was not much iu0ucement III
depart from this practice. Toe puo. il
cbiSnways were pitch dark, except NJ
vie n random ray of ligdt escaped n,
rom partially closed blinds, or when =
he luid glare of lmprOvised oil lamps 80
uld d struggling soldiers a. d others 10
aces OF dou It,ui character. The hotels
ltnaged 10 keep up respectable ~
mo mt Of light at their main en- RANGES. Z
lIriDg tbs Teigno of darkness burglarIes bI
al bberies became frequent. As Is
iOd became more aud more scar ce dep. III
alatlOIs upon private pr, mlsrs became nI
older aud folder. until 1t became IN n.
o siOle TO k, D out the thieves. They ri
iuFe INTO CO lars. paDtries aud store =,
)oms. with impuuity. Finally ii be- y"
Ime necessary TO turn the garrets OF
tic stones OF the houses into store "a
)Oms to e'cipe the audacity OF W
Iese hungry foragers. When articles OF br
cd could not be gOtl n at. ever, fir
.uer article that might be useinl DO fa
rCcuripg IT was SEIZED upon. Pieces 81
family silver, books. bric a brac fn
I'D jeweliy would disapl ear so myste -,
ouSiy that the losa would not tie dis
were for mOntns after the theft. |, u"
ne time all manner of clOlhins began IN
attract The attention of the thieves az
NJ smallest aud conmouest garments pc
ID not escape their busy fingers. Dry raj
lOds became more aud more scarce. Sc
nd a. people bad 10 be clad. the stIug
IL IN TINS objection had become des-
srate one IN the last days of the Con-
1eracS. Toe plunoerers did not con- If
NJ their d,predatioDs to the halls of 40
Bases. They bodily invaded the most ~
tired apartments. aud often succ. S. ~
lily acc mplished the most daring 10
'n,uies'r tuls direction. TAR
During tins reign of darkness people on
ere Knocked do y II ana robb q on the bel
reefs bs foot pads The town swarm ed
with adveuturers from all parts uf a u
e c"untry. desertcrs from the army blo
II escaped criminals. Toe practice of a.,