Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-17
OESERET EVENING NEWS
Friday. May Io. 1880.
LEES RETREAT.
THE LAST ATTEsiPT or THE 81.
FEDERATE OESERAL.-DEsTRUC
TON IN RICHMOND.

4
TON IN RICHMOND.
The evacuation OF Richmond ant
Petersburg began at dark ON the
2d Of April, 1865. The Union
armies now invested Petersburg ex'
cept where the Appomattox river
protected il on the northwestern
edge. CHANTS lines rested upon the
river below and above the town.
The first step, after evacuation had
been decided upon, was the destruc-
lion Of stores, boats, railroads, roll
ing stock and bridges ard public
property generally. The men on
the very front Of the Union line
could hear the rumble Of wheels on
the bridges and reported 10 head
quarters that the sounds indicated
evacuation.
LEE ARANDoNs HIS srROSGHoLDs.
Sometime after midnight on the
Sd, the magazine at Fort Drlry, on
James river, little more than half
way to Richmond, blew up, lighting
the whole heavens. Ii was plain
ly visible on the Petersburg lines,
and as il was followed by other ex-
Plosions, that Of war vessels and
bridges, and by fires nearer to Pc
tersburg, II became very plain that
general destruction was going on
along Lees twenty miles OF de-
lenses. However, the Confederate
pickets were out in full force, aud
every attempt Of the Union pickets
TO advance was met by good volleys
OF mnsketry- At daylight the order
vas given on the Ninth corp line
for pickets TO advance to the enc
my's main trenches. They did so,
and found the batteries empty and
the camps deserted and denuded Of
everything valuable. Heavy guns
had not been removed. a few Con-
federate skimishers were Overtaken,
and II was learned that the bulk OF
the army had been gOne for hours,
the trains and artillery having be-
gun TO move at S O'Clock p. m, the
infantry following.
The brigade Of General Ralph Ely
Second brigade, First division.
Ninth cOrps-moved rapidly toward ,
the city on the river road, and re-
ceiyed the surrender about $50 n.
m. The First division was promptIy |
assembled and marched in by the I
regular roads. President Lincoln j
reached the city about noon: Grant /
was already there, and there was
hearty rejoicing among sOldiery and
citizens because the tedious siege
was over. News came from Rich
mond that that stronghold had been
entered by Union troops at 5 O'Clock
in the morning. The Army of the
Potomac rested around Petersburg,
and General Grant went cut on the
south Side railroad, where 0nd wss
moving on a line parallel to that
taken by Lee, the AppOmattox river
between their marching columns.
The experiences at Petersburg had
been repeated at Richmond with
the exception OF the assaults. The
UniSn army confronting the de-
fenses Of Richmond consisted OF two !
divisions Of the Twenty-fifth corps
of the Army OF the James. General
Godfrey WeitZsl commanded the I
corps, and now that General Ord had
Joined Grant with his main force.
Weitzel was in command in front OF {
Richmond. He had held his trools {
n readiness to assault for some DAYS.
but the success Of the turning move
ment hal rendered that I'M
necessary. Inside Of Richmond
confusion reigned all day ON the
I'd Sunday, the day Of the success {
ful Union assaults at Petersburg.
The dispatches from Lee announcing '
his inability to hold the lines cused i
the officers Of the government to /
begin Preparations for hasty flight, {
ami rs they did not wait for night c
TO cover their movements, the people &
soon learned the truth and acted 4
accordingly. +
General Ewell commanded a Z
few local troops in the defenses, and v
General G.. w &. Lee, son OF :
General II. T.. Lee, had n division in v
The Confederate works at Chapin,s
Bluff, on James river, seven miles b
below the city. These troops were q
all pct under orders ready TO move. v
The men who had been prominent Q
in secession affairs, the officials and Il
pronounced disuniOnis betrayed their o.
anxiety to be away when the Union u
.rOOps should come in. Davis left lG
he city at 5 O'Clock, accompanied G.
~ his cabinet, and the archives and 0.
a sum unknown, but which 1
included $40, 600 Of bank gold, were q
ihipped In ears. Darkness brought q
bout a reign OF terror. The stores 70
Il ammunition were exploded 10y RI
orier, and the uncOntroll- in
lble pOpulace took this for 4 signal ri
or destruction. Large warehouses is
tobacco, bacon and other W
were fired by accident ST
II design, and the flames spread to re
,ther buildings. People gathered a -
ew household goods and rushed =,
o the squares and OthH open
,laces.
The lower classes broke open b,
liquor stores and fed their frenzy by +,
lie free use Of stimulants. Pillage II
md outrage were added to fire and "
error. Amidst it all the explosives ~
Ia the magazines, which .
we're hoisted into the air, had their Il,
uses ignited and flew in all direc- nv
ions, hurling down fragments Of Ia,
ron upon the crowds and sending "A;
ire Unfortunately upon dwelling,
tore and sanctuary. The con- n
troops were all otherwise "a
and the police were power H.
ess. The mob was hungry, N,
and drunken and rushed ha
rom one mad freak 10 another, Il,
wreaking vengeance on IN
he property Of the government and y
( public men. an
The bridges by which the Con- le
ederate troops were TO evacuate the
ity were stocked with bdrrels Of ~
ar and pine knots, and these We're pa
red at daylight just as the troops M
I Wei;zel appeared before the works. hi
10 COnfedeTates were in sight. The / th'
Dad between the buried torpedos IOt
las marked out by flags, and the ca
rmy moved in without the loss Of %
man or thesfiring Of n gun. The Su
navy lying In JAMES nh'
lver; and commanded by Admiral gO
emmes, OF Alabama notoriety, was vi
estroyed 10y blowing up the vessels. by
n this way the new ram Virginia. ia
ne gunboass Richmond and Fred Of
were disposed OF. Semmes We
nd his sailors were formed into n vi
rovisional brigade and sent to Dan vi
lille, the new capital that was
D be. pa
When the Union troops We're fixed ~
4 the possession Of the city, Gener- ~ y.
Charles Devens was charged with ~
ne duty OF restoring order. His di- ~
ision stacked arms in the streets, -
nd, with the aid of citizens, who -
Tere generally impressed for the =,
arVice they beVan 10 mt nut the iii
res. General Weitzel occupied
A.. H.. .-.---.---.-.- l. l.