Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-09-28
THE FLIGHT FROM RICHMOND

fall OF Richmond. LII SHOWS uuo Cou-
dition of the city and of the Confed-
crate army at that time. The writer,
Mrs. VIM. A Simmons of Atlanta,
Ga, followed her husband, who was
in Gen. Lees army, all through tho Sc
trying times.
Richmond, Va, Friday, March %,
1865.-Close times in this beleagured
city! Every day food supplies are
rising in price and becoming more
scarce, and our Confederate money is
getting SO reduced in value that it is
common remark when one goes out
to buy, "You can carry your money
in your market basket, and bring
home your provisions in your purse.'
Indeed the stalls of the great market
houses, so famous for their abundant
supplies of fish, flesh and fowl, are
! sight now, SO empty are they. For
many days nothing but ''greens'are to
be seen there, and even our bacon
and greens lacks the bacon! A piece
of fat meat is 3 luxury nowadays,
corn meal sells at a hundred dollars a
peck and barrel of flour this morn
ing brought $1,000.
| The boarding houses have suspend
ed, the inmates keeping their rooms,
but providing their own rations. The
city is crowded with refugees. One
of our former fellow boarders is now
lying sick in bed from lack of suffi-
of0 40y Of
sation everywhere and on all occa-
sions is ''eating." Even the ministers
in the pulpit unconsciouslY preach of
it. The learned DR.. D., who has just
given us pastoral call very gravely
informed US that his family had made
the discovery that green's were quite
palatable without the bacon, elf you
put plenty of salt in the pot" Our
landlady, who has been shivering
with her babe this chill weather over
half dozen precious Goals, and
whose four little boys have been on
half rations for weeks past, says: eff
the Yankees are going to take the
city want them to hurry up and get
here before we are all starved"
Sunday, March 25th.-A note from
Gen. Lee was read in all the churches
this morning, requesting the pastors
to Cd out into the county around, and
drum up provisions for the soldiers
in the field. The army has not ten
days fations at command, and many
of the men are in sad lack Of clothing.
The rich valley of Virginia, the beau
tiful Shenandoah, Daughter of the
Stars, the granary of our army, is
cut off from US. Alas! for the day
when the hero of the valley was TAX
en- from US. The beloved Stonewall
Jackson, the idol of his soldiers, whose
banner led them on to victory in
every encounter! What will the NOR
row bring forth?
Saturday, April 1st.-My husband
has just come through the lines from
the trenches below Richmond, where
Longstreet's corps, the last force left
on this side the James, is encamped.
He says orders have come to prepare
for marching, in what direction we
can only guess. The air is full of
strange runors, events are thicken-
ing around US. 1t is plain Gen. Lee
cannot hold out much longer with
force smaller than is reported, and |
almost destitute; it is impossible to
hold our long lines, stretching below
Petersburgh, along which for a mile |
or two, at some places, there is not
sentinel on guard.
Sunday, April 2d-When my hus-
band attempted early this morning
to rejoin his regiment they had brok- |
en- up camp and were marching away,
the last force on the north side of the
James gone. What does it mean?
has been an eventful |
morning; while we were at church, in |
the midst Of the service, a messenger
came for Pres. Davis, who immedi-
ately left the house, An ominous
fear fell upon all hearts and seemed |
to spread itself to all the churches,
services were fastened to close and |
as we walked home, the very air
seemed heavy with impending i'll.
Groups were gathered at street cor
ners with bated breath discussing the
situation. From official sources we
learned that a telegram from Gen.
Lee had announced to Mr.. Davis that
his lines were broken, he could de-
fend the city but few days longer.
Slowly between alienation of hope
and fear, the conviction is settling
down upon the stricken people that
the long, four years struggle is near
ing its end-Richmond is to be evac-
mated. The army is moving toward I