Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-03
ANNIVERSARY OF EVACUATION.
of Confederafcs from
the City Thirty-rwo Years Ago.


OF the evacuation Of this city by the
Confederates aud of its occupation by
the Federal troops.
Little is known historically OF the facts
in reference to the withdrawal OF the
Confederate forces i'm front Of Richmond
on the north side Of James river. Tie
writer. who was a participant in the
scenes, wiz endeavor to give very brlet
account Of it, Major General G. w. c.
Lee was in immediate command of the
Confederate army. with headquarters al
Chaffn's Farm. Sunday night the troops
were withdrawn from the front and
crossed over the river on pOntoon bridges
at wilton" the well-knOwn homestead
of Colonel William c. knight. After the
Confederates had gotten over on the
south side General Lee. with two of his
couriers. including the writer halted. and
remained at this post until all the outer
pickets had crossed. when the bridges
were ordered to be cut away
While waiting for the pickets the
powder magazines at Chafiin's and
Drewry's Bluffs and the gunboats in
the river were sounding loud acclaims by
being exploded. Thus it will be observed
that the right OF way TO this city was
now unobstructed, and the entrance OF
the advance guard Of the Union army
into Richmond on the evening Of the
Sd of April 1865. began.
Here are a few facts as remembered
by Major Dick Walker and told TO the
writer in connection with that event:
81 was. as you well remember. q mem
Der OF the Richmond City Council for
several years during the war. on Sun
day afternoon, April ,. 1860 the Council
was called together 10 consider grave
questions The Secretary of War notified
Us in writing that the city was then
about to be evacuated The question OF
the destruction OF all the liIuor in the
stores Of Richmond was discussed at
great length. and on a vote IL was de-
clded TO appoint committees OF citizens
TO 60 about destroying the liquor at once
| voted against the proposition, because
j fOresaw that II would likely entail
great debt upon Richmond and did not
fear that the Union army would be al
lowed TO break into stores and Z
drunk-believing they would be well in
hand.
over IL was agreed that the Mayor and
members of the Council would meet al
the city Hall at daybreak and go down
in carriages. to be provided. and meet
the general in command OF ne uniof
army and surrender the city 10 him. ana
ask for necessary protection. etc. ! went
home about midnight. but did not go to
bed. but sat up and talked with my
family until about 4 o'clock, when L re-
paired 70 the CITY Hall.
when I reached the hail. I was told
that Mr.. Joseph Mayo. then Mayor OF the
city: Mr. James \. Scott. ana = rev other
members of the Council. had already gone
down the River road to meet me al
vancing Union troops Not hnding any
CONVEYANCE. Captain Tom Epps and my
self walked down 10 the corner OF Thir-
teenth and Main streets. We stood there
,,lyf AlY Il
Rockets for the enemy's advance Abont
7:3O we saw them coming, about three or
four squares below the Old Market ABOUT
this time. General breckenridge. then
Secretary OF War. and his staff. passed
down in a gallon towards Mayo's bridge
In a few minutes they. finding the bridge
leading over the canal before coming 10
Mayo's bridge, on fire, came PACK. ana as
they turned into Main street d, called 10
General Breckinridee TO look down me
street He and his staff officers did
look, and saw sixteen Union soldiers.
two abreast. with each OF the two front
ones hearing a United States flag about
the size of q large pocket handkerchief.
When they saw these Solllers. the,
horses were put TO their uttermost speed,
and ,Such time | hardly ever saw made.
Where General Breckenridge and his staff
crossed James river ] have never heard
In fact | have never seen IN PRINT any
statement other than that General
breckenridge and his staff left Richmond
by Mnyo's bridge This is not true. and
| will swear TO the statement nave
made as to their going up Main street
and up James river on the norm sloe'
certainly .. .-,,,,.,,.,,
nv me and | saw them turn up Nlntn
street I at once went up 10 the Capltol,
going through the gate al Twelfth ana
Franklin. When i got near the WASH
ington monument these soldiers were
ealioning around II and dipping their
small flags in honor, supposed OF
washington. In a few minutes the two
men. with the flags dismounted, and IN
a very brief space of time ] saw them
on to1 of the Capitol where they soon
tied The little flags together, and ran
them W on the flagstaff OH the top OF
that building. - - -,
Observation-Disclosures at the Powhatan
House now Fords) and others-havinS
seen the flags on the Capitol. and seeing
also the squad of calvarymen, came rush
ing into the Square, eNclamlng: our
saviours have Gomez Bless the LORD
etc, etc.
"In a short time hundreds of troops OF
the Union army were pouring into the
Capitol Square-the city on IRE, bridges
burning and vessels blown up. But TINS
little sketch is enourh for the present.
81 have always thought mat among
these sixteen Union soldiers there was
one man who was well acquainted with
Richmond who directed the movement
of the squad
or all the members Of the CITY Council
II the evacuation Of Richmond only Mr..
Il A. j. Clopton and Major Z. f. Walker
are believed 10 be alive. j. Z. w.