The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-04-09
SCRAP OF HISTORY.
Tho Evacuation OF Richmond MS
Rolatod BY tho Dispatch.
THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Coiobratcd-Tho Trouble OF tho Poo.
Wc-RurninE Of tho Clty-somo
Curious Contradictions of History.
Graphic Description OF tho Sccucs.
RIohmond's Prescott Prosperity.

Tho thirtieth anniversary OF tho
uation OF Richmond Is described In tho
Dispatch Of tina. city with somo Illus.
trntions, and u considerable pictur.
oslncncss Of what ia said concerning
the events oil that notable event. In
copying this account tho Springfield,
Mass. Republican observes that tho
story OF tho c%onilagration docs not agree
with the statement made by Jefferson
Davis in his history OF "Tile Rise and
Fall OF the Confederate Government"
or with I.ossinG's History OF tho Civil
War;" or, in fact, u number OF ott,cr
narratives which might DO cited. Ono
more point 10 to be noted in the Rich.
mond Dispatches account Nc incorrect
1t Is a part OF General Ewcll's testimony
in q suit brought for some OF tho burned
tobacco. in which no says TINT tho fcd.
oral General Wcitzel put tho white
troops before the cOlorod in entering
tho city. in order that tho dangers Of
cxcesses might be lessencd. This Is not
history. and on General Ewell's part 1t
was nero hoarsay, rs ho was far away
from Richmond when General Wci,zel
entered. Tho Dispatches accoun. says:
Those who had tho cause OF tho con.
federacv ut heart and were forced TO ro-
main here will mover forget tho evacua.
ton scenes. These scenes and tho feel
ing Of tho people have boon frequently
described, but by mono more wildly
than Mrs. Sallie A. Brock Putnam. In
her "Richmoud During tho War" Mrs.
Putnam, after noting tho incident in
St. Paul's church, SAYS: tho Second
Presbyterian church. DR.. Hoge, who
had received information OF tho dire
calamity impending over US, told his
congregation Of Il situation, and tho
probability that never again would
they meet there for worship. and in tho
thrilling e%loquenca OF which he i, so
truly tho master babe them farewell.
Tho dreadful tidings spread with tho
swittness OF electricity. From lip TO
lip, from men, women aud children and
servants the news was banished, but
many received it at first ms only a Sun.
day sensation rumor.' Friend looked
into the face OF friend TO meet only IN
expression OF i%ncredulity, only later in
the day as the truth, stark andappaIling,
confronted US the answering look was
that OF stony calm d~ispair. Late in
the afternoon the signal OF the
evacuation became obvious, even to
the most incredulous. Wagons
were driven iuriously through the
streets to the different departments,
where they received as freight tho arch
ives OF the government, and carried
them to the Danville depot to be con.
veyed away by railroad. Night came
on, but with it no sloep for human ewes
in Richmond. Confusion worse con.
founded reicned, and grim terror spread
in wild contaCion. The city council
met and ordered the destruction OF all
spirituous liquors. fearing lest in tho
excitement there would DO temptation
TO drink :aG thus render Jul situation
still more terrible. In the cutters ran
n stream OF whisky, and its fumes i'm
pregnated the air. After nightfall
Richmond was ruled BY amob. In the
principal section OF the city they surgcd
in one black mass from store to store,
| robbing them. While these genes wero
being enacted on the streets, indoors
there wac scarcely less excitement and
confusion. In every house terror had
penetrated. Ladies were busiiy on
| gagged in collecting and secretinI all tho
valuables possessed by them. together
with cherished correspondence, 20.
they found time and presence OF mind
TO prepare n few comforts for friends
forced to depart with the army or tho
government"
Equally vivid arc Mrs. PutnRm's de.
scriptions OF the release OF the ~convic,s
at the ~peniten.iary. and the firing Of
the shops, tho progreis OF the flames in
the city, the blowing up Of the gun
boats, tho explosion OF the arsenal and
magazines. etc. During the fro 'thc
capitol square," she says. presented n
| novel appearance. On tho south, east
and west OF its lower half it was bound.
cd by burning buildings. Tho flames
bursting from tho windows and rising
| from the roefs were proclaiming in one
wild roar their work OF destruction.
Myriads OF sparks, borne upward by
tho current OF hot mir, were Frightening
and breaking in the dense smoke above,
On the sward OF the square thousands
OF wretched creatures, who had been
| driven from their dwellings by the de.
| vouring flames were hUddled. Fathers
and mothers and weeping. frightened
| children sought this open space Tor n
| heath - fronh otr n,,t tnrn nynp II
Has almost as hot as n furnace"
Tho contlaSration At the evacuation
was tho result OF setting fire to tho
tobacco warehouses, and this stop was
taken under q government order. Soon
after tho capture OF Savannah n law was
passed BY tho confederate congress re-
| q~uiring military commanders TO destroy
al articles OF value within tho territory
under their command, rather than allow
them to fall into tho hands OF tho
enemy. Some weeks before the evncua-
ton General Loo sont a notice OF this
law to General Ewoll. who was in COM
mand horo. with orders that propara-
tons be mado to carry it out in tho
evont it became necessary 10 give up
Richmond. General Ewell in turn gave
similar directions to Major Isaac II.
Darlington, provost marshal OF Rich-
mond, and the leaf tobacco, which CON
stitu,cd tho principal article OF valuo in
tho city, was stored in certain ware
houses which wcro regarded rs being
| the most isolated and tho least liable to
communicate tho flames to other prop
erty. After tho war Major Darlington,
in testifying in q suit in court, nado
| tho following statemOnt: :.
"My final orders from General Ewell
were 10 remain in the city 30 long rs l
could with safety. and to proscrvc or.
dor. na inr as possible, with tho troops
undnr my command. mud to fro tho