Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-31


RlchmoAd phirty Years Ago.
Thirty years ego. come Tuesday. April
"a, the Confederates began the evacuation
Of Richmond. Their work was completed
By daylight Of the Sd. and ths Union army
marched In close upon the heels OF our
retreating troops.
That there are alive to-day 10 many men
who were active participants in the events
Of that memorable day e proof that the
main body Of the Confederate army was
composed Of very young men. Such was
the fact Here In Richmond our bat
talions Of local defence troops were
largely made up Of youths whose ages
ranged from 10 to Is. and men from -
20 IS; the former largely predominatins.
In our army IN the field the great ma
sority Of the officers and men were be-
tween the ages Of 10 and 30 Many OF the
most daring and capable subaltern ON
GERS that We had. were little more than
beardless youths But in those days boys
aged rapidly, and living amidst the scenes
OF war they learned the soldiers duty by
the tims that they were strong enough
10 hold q musket In their hands
Richmond had been the basis OF military
operations for nearly four years. when
very suddenly and shockingy. on April
"a. 1866, our people were brought face 70
face With the most dreadful event In all
Dur c,tys long and eventful history. Inc
Confederate arms had met with reverse
after reverse in the South. and our lines
In Virginia were growing thinner aa'.
thinner, and food and raiment were De-
coming scarcer and scarcer; but IN inc
minds Of our people there was little DOUBT
that Richmond was impregnabe Generai
Les had defeated every attempt or the
pnemy to take Richmond and Petersburg'
md wc had thought that fortune would
never desert his banners But alas! there
came n time when our lines OF defence
became too long and 'our Gordon OF de-
tenders too short Then the enemy swept
around us at Five Forks. and took a
rnsition that so threatened Lees COM
rYyunications with the South that nothing
remained for him to do but to evacuate
Richmond and Petersburg.
The first intimation that Richmond was
dent Davis left st. Paurs church and went
home Next. railroad-cars were assem-
bied at the Danville depot TO carry away
The President and his Cabinet. The Fede-
raj prisoners OF war held in the Libby
were all put aboard a fiag-of-truce boat
and sent down the river and Into the
Federal lines. The City Council was
called into special session. and resolu-
.tion was passed directing that all spiritu-
GUS liquors that could be found should be
seized and emptied into the cutters. II
vas feared that lawless soldiers and camp
followers of the incoming army would
help themselves to this liquor and would
reyel in bloodshed and robbery. So al
the intoxicants that were found wer
emptied into the streets. but not befor'
many men had drunk more than was goot
FOR them or the city.
Next morning. April Sd. the Confede
rate troops had all left us. all the bridges
we're burning. the city was on fire II
seyeral places, the penitentiary convict
had got loose, mobs Of citizens were Pill
laying the stores, and. anon. Confede
rate gunboat was blown up in the rive
pr a powder-magazine In the city.
These are faint and sober outlines o
n lurid picture, which those who wer
present here In Richmond that day ma
easily fill In from memory. and whic
others may reproduce from fancy. omi,
ring no circumstance OF horror. say
bloodshed only.
In all the wreck and wrack of our cit
IN that day Of terror the loss OF III
vas small. Quite likely. some person
we're burned in their places OF business
but. II 30, we cannot recall that we eve
heard OF II. Some three or four me
who would not desist from pillaging whe
ordered to do so were shot and kiiie'
but further than this we know OF
loss Of life.
Thousands Of the troops confrontin
Lees army, near Fort Gilmer and Fo
Harrison, In Henrico. seven or eigi
miles below Richmond, were colored. ar
sue of the breads from which the poop
Of Richmond suffered was that the'
would be the first to enter the city. ar
wouId indulge themselves In robbery ar
slaughter. But this was not to be. %
friend, Colonel Normand Smith. In q lie
: Ger which We publish on page / Of tn
issue. tells how careful the Federal con
fnander was to have white troops hes
the column Of the army Of occupation.
On the general subject OF the evacu'
zion we publish to-day several column
Of matter which we know win be int
esting to all old soldiers and to all no
living who were residents OF Richmor
at that time. and we trust that II W
also prove attractive to the younger gen
ration Of Dispatch readers.
The businessmen Of Richmond hi
little Of promise Id 1855. They had !
trade. no money. no credit. and Re
houses In which TO do business. Moreove
left with scant assets. they found thei
selves confronted with heavy ants-bellu
debts. Theirs was q discourag!ng futu
90 face. but they had been schooled
che hardships and privations OF war. al
had become hardy and strong. and tn
went TO work most courageopsly. II
city was rebuilt quite rapidly. and wi
better houses than before. and little
uttis old business channels were opene
a. new ones discovered and availed I
Looking 1t Richmond to-day and col
pasing Il with the Richmond Of April
E lSA Ne ought to remember how gre
A our indebtedness to the men OF Z
post-hellum period. They had been tr
men In war. and they were brave q
public-spirited citisens In peace. Let
resolve to continue their work. and maj
Rishmond greater and more beautif
year By year. - time goes by 20 tn
upon each recurring Anniversary OF Ev'
cuation-Day We may recall the hero
!; men Of thst period. and feel that We q
not unworthy successofs Of theirs.
81 sc a.akf
sWha1 II mekln1sytsas