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

the end of the war 70 be near AT nanu.
The pitlful tales Of privation and hard
ship OF the deserters from the Confederate
army, and the excellent condition and
sanguine feelings OF our own army
pointed to but one conclusion.
Sunday, March 18th, our corps was
reviewed by President Lincoln and Gene
raj Grant near Fort Harrison. and at
the close OF the. review the First and
Second divisions OF our Twenty-fourth
Corps were marched across the James,
and to the left of the Union army, beyond
Petersburg leaving on. this side OF the
river the Third Division OF the Twenty
fourth Corps and a colored division OF
the Twenty-ffth Corps, under General
KautZ the whole In command or Major
General Weitzel. For some days before
April Cd the pckets took their blankets.
tents, and threo-days' cooked rations TO
the picket-lnes, and constant watchful-
ness was required of the officers in charge
upon any movements on the COnfede-
rate lines. In the afternoon OF April Cd,
In company with another officer. ! rode to
General Devenss headquarters, and asked
Captain Hooker, ch!ef-of-staff. for news,
and he referred me to the file of tele-
grams in the office. remember the pur-
port of some Of them now. one was from
IT,,
the enemy's lines in many places. II there
IS any weakness on your lines, push"
The last one was: "Bs ready 10 charge
your lines at daylight tomorrow morn
ing"
ORDER OF FORMATION.
tfren rode over 10 Fort Harrison, and
at a considerable distance from the river
a force OF Confederate soldiers were at
work with wheelbarrows and shovels, re-
pairing their lines This did not look much
like evacuation. Going back to camp. near
Four-Mile. Creek church. found the
order for formation which was on the
Newmarket road, at our breastworks my
regiment in front AS we had Sharp's car
bnes without bayonets, we were to de-
ploy in line Of battle In case of resistance.
There was not much sleep for US the night
of April "a. and late in the night the ex-
plosion from the destroyed Confederate
gunboats satisfied us that something un-
usual was going on. We left our lines
about sunrise April 81; found our pickets
gone, and marched as rapidly as possible
towards Richmond
When we arrived at the junction or the
Newmarket with the River road. beic y
Stearns's farm. the coiored troops were
coming up parallel with us, on the River
road. They were much disorganized. and
marched along with us until we were
where the brick-"ards now are. Here
General Devens halted the coiored troops.
and we marched into Richmond and
straight to the Capitol. Coming round
the turn at Marion Hill. "Dr. Gilmer's,"
| saw steamer said to be the Allison.
blown up at the wharves. and the flames
reaching through the roofs of the covered
bridges on James river.
yaN-1 T~rU, on, rnNTEDJ.p ATE.G
A long line OF Confederates were lying
on the brow Of Chimborazo. ard there
was some speculation as 10 what they
were doing there, we not knowing there
was a hospital at that point. Lieutenant
Colonel Bamberger. OF the Fifth Mary
land, was in command OF our plckets the
night of April "a, / relieving him April
90. on arriving at the Capitol | was
ordered to post the First Brigade on the
roads leading out OF the city. This bri-
gade consisted Of the Eleventh Connectl-
cut, Thirteenth New Hampshire. Eighty
first New York. Ninety-c!ghth New York,
10th New YORK, and Nineteenth Wiscon-
sin. In company with my quartermaster.
I rode rapldly around the city, 10 obtain
the location Of the leading roads l have
always considered this ride rather fool
hardy, but | was not molested IN any
way. and on returning to the Capitol pro-
ceeded TO post the troops as directed. 1
think the most Of :he men who occu-
pied Richmond that day were nearly wiid.
To the majority Of US II meant home
again, after an absence OF nearly three
years.
WOULDN'T PLAY IT.
know | tried to have my drum-corps
pIav yankee Doodle" while marching
IN
through once. and Immediately strike UP
"Kingdom Coming" There seemed 10 be
very little friction between our soldiers
and the citizens, and in two or three days
the city was divided into four districts.
and placed in charge OF the commanders
of the Eleventh Connecticut. Thirteenth
New Hampshire, Ninety-eighth New
York. and l29th New York. as district
proyost-marshals. all under command Of
General NJ. Il. Patrick. provost marshal
general Army Of the Potomac.
IL has long been question as to who
raised the first Union flag on the Capitol
that day. Lieutenant Prescott who COM
manded our pickets, and who came 10
the city some time before the main
column did. SAYS there was no flag on
the building when he got TO the Capitol
but in a few minutes Union flag was
G.. Forester, who has since been letter.
carrier In Richmond.
General Humphreys states In Cam
naigns of the Civil War" that Lieutenant
Johnston de Peyster had carried United
States flag on the pOmmel OF his saddle
for some days, hoping to place II on the
CAPITOL, and. with the assistance OF Cap
tain Loomis l.. Langdon, United States
Artillery. did so.
our First Brigade occupied the city,
tbs Second Brigade went into camp on
Fulton Hill, and during the day the
Third Brigade crossed over TO Manches-
ter. Major Atherton n. Stevens, with his
battalion of the Fourth Massachusetts,
Cavalry. headquarters escort was also
among the first to come TO the city. So
far as know 10 colored troops passed
through the city until the middle OF the
day.
Details from our troops were made 10
assist the fremen in extinguishlng the
fires, and they had a hard time OF It.
NY duties as district provost-marshal
continued until June, when ] was ordered
home Tor muster out with my regiment.
A PROvosTS DAYS DUTIES.
Here is a copy OF note made at the
time Of q proyost-marshals duties for one
day:
"a party OF dozen or more citizens
came in TO take the oath OF allegiance.
Soldiers want passes TO 90 into the coun-
try for duty az guards. Rows in the
street to be Quieted. Landlord and tenan-
differences on account OF change OF cur
rency TO be settled ofY-hand. Liquor
stores to be closed. Houses OF III repute
10 be closed: the inmates TO be fed. A
stolen mule found. and an order wanted
by the owner TO take IL. Stolen goods 10
be found. Sentences to bs passed on per-
sons arrested for sundry misdemeanors.
Guards to mount. A man wants some
non-paying tenants elected. A poor wo-
man begs for something for Der starving
children 10 eat. Some one has thrown a
dead negro baby into a backyard, ana
II must be buried at once Parolled Con-
federates asking for rations. Confederate
soldiers to be sent to Libby. Man wants
a guard to protect his property. Northern
visitors want to be escorted 10 all points
of interest at once. Women come In. ask