Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24

litigation. In which interesting facts were
given respecting tho occurrences or the
memorable occasion. To-day. In looking
over, some old papers In my once 'or
another purpose. ] came across eeveIN
letters that were written to me at the
time ] was making Investigations. as
rounsel Of the insured. for reliable ID
formation upon the subject and which
were intended to be used. IL necessary,
In the litigation (unIess dispositions
should be requ!red). but which l had no
need to use. Since every fact touching
the matter ought to be preserved, AS
part of the history Of the great disaster
and Of the fall of the Confederate capi-
tai, and these letters seem to mo 10
be OF particular interest and value. !
send them to you. The first Is from
Colonel John Wilder Atkinson. OF the
Confederate artillery. who was stationed
near Chaffins Bluff. and on the retreat
approached Richmond early on tins
morning OF the Ord OF April, ana saw
the fire from distance that lent sud-
Unity to the view, without the terrors
OF the scene. As Is well,known, he was
before the war prominent citizen OF
Richmond. and since the war. has resided
ir Wilmington, N. e. During the war
more gallant. and. for civilian. more
Justly distinguished Confederate officert
iniscence OF his life In Richmond may
be recalled the marriage last evening
at St. Pauls church Of his hishly-es-
teemed son, John Wilder Atkinson. DR.,
to one OF Richmond's jewels reminds me
or the brilliant occasion OK his own
marriage, forty years ago. to the lovely
and charming Miss f.. A. Mayo, sister
OF Mr. Peter II. Mayo. and daughter OF
Mr.. Robert A. Mayo, deceased. at which
remember that my lamented friend
Marmaduke Johnson, and myself. then
young bafristers. were groomsmen, ana
the fashion and beauty, from far and
near. were assembled. amid flowers and
sparkling Jets deau de Cologne. In the
famous old family mansion. Powhatan
(below the city. radiantly Illuminated
for tho event By contrast. IL was his
destiny some ten years after, at no
great distance from that historic place,
| and Immediately across the James river,
TO witness sad and awful. but more
| splendid illumination. The description In
equally graphic and touching Of his
silent midnight retreat from the Con-
federate lines. without the knowledge OF
| the Federal commander. in direct front,
and the for,orn approach amid deafen-
| Ing EXPLOSIONS OF wrecked war vessels. to
the sublime spectacle OF burning Rich
mond, that Ike Mflton's ascending sun,
Famed In the forehead OF the morning
sky"
Here Ia the letter:
WILMINGTON. N. c., Oct %, 1873
To John Howard. ESQ:
My Dear Sir.-I received your letter OF
| the Sd Instant this morning.
For several months prior 10 the re-
| tifement OF General Lees army from
the defences around Petersburg that por-
ton OF the command TO which was
in mediateiy attached under General c.
w. G. Lee. was stationed at Chaffin's
BLUM. In front OF and only a few hundred
yards from Fort Harrison. | command
Ell at the time two OF the Virginia ba-
tallions OF artillery being then lleuten-
ant colonel OF artillery. on sun
day night, April 2. 1866 under
orders from General @. w. c.
Lee. / drew In my first picket guard
and sentinels az quietly "a possible, ami
LEFT our lines about midnight. and with
the residue OF Gusts Lees Division
started on the memorable retreat.
Our movement had been so quietly ef-
fected that / am sure the enemy had
no idea OF what was going on, and GER
talnly made no demonstration OF pursu-
ing; and / was afterwards informed by
some Of the Yankee officers stationed
at Fort Harrison that the withdrawal
OF my troops was not discovered by Cen
eral Wetzel until reported at or about
daylight Monday morning. April Sd. Our
tents were all. by Gusts Lees order.
left standing, and our guns were not
| removed from the embrasures
For the convenience OF TRANSFORMATION
a pontoon bridge had previously been
thrown across the river at a point be
| tween Chaffin's bluff and Richmond
| but not far from our Camp. Gusts Lees
Division crossed upon this bridge. and
was led BY him on the south side OF the
James. several miles in the direction OF
Manchester. Just before daylight on
Monday morning we got in sight OF burn
ing Richmond. and almost simultaneous
~ with our discovery that Richmond
was burning we began TO hear the re-
port Of explosions on the river, which
had been caused by the blowing up Of
| the Confederate steamers jamestown
| and Athens. These were not ironclads.
7 have no doubt that these explosions
| first announced to General Wetze the
withdrawal OF the Confederate forces
| frem his front. and the purposed sur
render OF Richmond.
a scene more awful. and at the same
time sublime. / never witnessed certain
ly. or even conceived, than that pre-
stnted by the burning OF the Confede-
| rate capital in the distance, rendered
| OF couIse, the more impressive by the
explosions on the river not far distant,
which almost deafened us. 1t Is a scene
I shall never forget.
or course these explosions were
caused by our own officers. who In aban-
| doning these vessels had them blown
up to avoid the possibility OF their being
OF service to the enemy.
/ think l have answered above your
several inquiries. which 1t gratifies me
| 10 do, anu now remain, truly your
friend, JOHN WILDER ATKINSON.
Former Northumberland Confederate
States Artillery.
| ~ should not be omitted 70 state, what
Is too little known. that upon approaching
| the city, then in confagration, General
Wetzel reversed the negro brigade, then
In advance, and placed IL In the rear. in
respect to the feelings OF the citizens,
and to avoid conflict; and that he prompt
| ~ addressed his whole command to the
| arrest and extinguishment OF the fire,
which was thereby effected, and the whole
city saved from immediate peril OF de-
struction. Too much credit and graft
tude cannot be accorded In honor Of such
wise. considerable, and noble conduct.
The following letter was from Colonel
w. Il. Robins, a gallant and mer.torious
officer OF the Confederate cavalry, then
OF Gloucester, but now a citizen OF Rich
mond:
GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE
February 20, 1875
My Dear Sir: Your favor OF the 18th OF
February reached mo Ia due course OF
mail. In reply TO your inquiry as to the
| burning OF Richmond in 1865, on the day
| OF the evacuation, can only give you the
| following statement:
| My regiment crossed the river from
| Richmond TO Manchester about s A. NJ,
az well as L can remember. after the
span of Mayo's bridge over the canal was
| fired. l r.mained In Manchester some
time aft II crossing, but Just how long