The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-15
ON EVACUATION DAY.
IN oID COPY OF THE RICHMOND
WING WHICH TELLS THE STORY.
The PAPER Was Published by Consent OF
the Military Governor and WILDLY Do
scribcs tho Ruins In tho City.

/ -~-~'-@
Book Company. has a most Interesting
relic OF the late war in the shape OF ar
old copy of the Richmond Wing. which
was printed in this city on April L. 1865
the day after tine evacuation.
Mr. Burke informed me that he thought
It was the only original copy of the paper
in the city. and perhaps the only one In
existence. Several copies have been made
from It by collectors OF souvenirs. and
Mr.. Burke has received a number OF
liberal offers for It, He values 1t very
highly, however, and keeps II carefully
wrapped up and stored away in a vault !;
but he very kindly allowed me to examine
II, cautioning me. however, to handle
with care"
The paper is a dimlnutive two-pace,
four-column sheet. timeworn coorcd
with the dust Of age. and as generally
Gisfgured rs the battle SCARED Confede-
| rate veterans who furnish the principal
subject matter for its contents.
At the time OF its publication William
Ira Smith was the proprietor. In the edi-
torial column 0or there is but one) is
pathetic appeal TO its readers TO make
| due allowances for the various imper-
fections until the turbulent situation has
sufficiently subsidized TO permit operations
on a more satisfactory basis. THE pub
lication OF the Wing is resumed this
| afternoon with the consent Of the mill
| tary authorities" reads an editorial in
| this connection. THE editor. and all who
heretofore controlled its columns, have
| taken their departure. The proprietor and
| one attache OF the editorial corps remain"
Whether It was the proprietor or the
attache that wrote this forlorn announce
ment is not known. but the situation
assumes a rather striking phase when
after stating that I'm n conference with
General Shepley. the Military Governor,
an arrangement was effect ID by which the
paper would make a new start. he says
The Wing will therefore be issued Iere
after as q Union paper"
Another paragraph which aroused my
sympathy was this: Several days will
elapse. we suppose. before business is
actively resumed. Still there are stocks
Of goods in the city, and others will be |
introduced by loyal persons who may be
authorized TO carry on trade in Rich |
mond."
The city was draped in darkness nj |
the time. The gas supply WAS cut on. |
and the eastern part Of the city In par
ticular was a charred chaos OF ruin. |
by reason Of the turning off OF the gas
says the writer "the proprietors could
o
paper"
The following amusing letter from ex-
Secretary of War Seldom explains itself
Confederate States OF America,
War Depart nent,
Richmond, oct. 10. 1853
ALEX. Moseley, Esq:
Dear Sir,-How do you stand the quiet
OF the country? | hope ii pals in these
stirring "a nil a ~ |
pen, and would rather have you sowing 7
tares for the enemy. than wheat for our
selves. Are you too great i foe to i'm
pressments to allow yourself TO be pressed
again into harness? | wish you would at
least lend me hand to drag us out OF
the dis-financial slough in which we are
fioundering worse and worse each day.
Very truly yours.
JAS. a. Seldom"
This letter was captured from the Con-
federates during General Sheridan's we'll
known expedition through the alley of
Virginia.
In the local columns OF the paper an
account OF the evacuation proper is pub
lished. THE evacuation of Richmond"
1t reads, commenced in earnest Sunday
night. closed at daylight Monday morn
ing with a terrific conilagration, which
was kindled by the Confederate authori-
ties. wantonly and recklessly applying
the torch TO ShOckOe warehouse and
other buildings, in which was stored a
large quantity Of tobacco"
I'VE can form no estimate OF the number
OF houses destroyed, but. public and pri-
vate, they will certainly number six or
eight hundred"
In enumerating some of the most prom
nent buildings destroyed. the writer men,
lions the Bank OF Richmond, Traders
Bank Bank OF the Commonwealth
"A I'm Iafa
Columbian Hotel the Dispatch Office and
job rooms. Belvin's block, the Examiner
office, engine and machinery rooms, the
Confederate POstofflce Department build
ng, the State courthouse. Mechanics In
ittute the Confederate arsenal and la
)cratory. and numerous others in that
'icinty.
Then follows description Of the
general appearance OF the streets after |
he fire: AT sunrise Monday morning."
continues the scribe, Richmond present
d a spectacle that we hope never 10 4
vitress again. The streets were crowded
hh furniture and every des, ription OF
wares, dashed down TO be tramped In
he mud or burned up where IL lay.
lcXt 10 the river the destruction Of pro-
trty has been fearfuly complete. For
he distance OF half n mile, embracing
pwards Of twenty blocks. the scene pre-
ents one waste OF smoking ruins. black -
ned walls and broken chmneys." G
The destruction Of life on the outskirts
I the city was. indeed, pitable. When
he powder magazine in the suburbs was
Town up early on Monday morning, the
hook was fearful. Earring every house
1 the city, eXtinsushinS the gas, and
great quantity OF glass in
welling-houses Some thirty or forty
eople living in the vicinity of the maya
Inc were killed or wounded" F
In speaking OF the damage the writer
lyS; "Of course, we cannot be expected
this time to enter into an estimate OF
le losses. but they are immense, and will
mount 10 hundreds OF millions of dol
rs"
The City Council ordered all the liquor u
the city TO be destroyed In speaking r.
this the reporter says: 1.-THE cutters
m with a liquor freshet, and the fumes II
led and tmpregnated the air. Some n,
raggling Confederate soldiers managed VI
get hold of quantity OF liquor. From II
at moment law and order ceased TO ",
list; chaos came, and a Pandemonium "
igned." n,
The account OF the blowing up of
)nfederate iron-clads in the river is Id
llowed by a brief description OF the
Irning Of Mayos and the Danville
ilroad bridges.
The paper contains in addition, inter-
ting clippings from Northern journals, 4
on the situation I'm the South; .
so, valuable letters from the War De- -