Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-30

hearing Of the accident. hastened to her
and. entering the room. said: Tell me
Elizabeth. are you defacedT
"She made her way, however, TO thu
soldiers, and che and my sister had thu
church In Warrenton turned into q hos
pital to receive them, and there they
were tenderIy nursed--but some got vel
and others went to their eternal reward.
again. events were hurrying forward
but not as at the beginning Of the year
1861, when we all entered Richmond
with such bright hopes. But the final
catastrophe was delayed Cor awhile yet
| Colonel Dahlgrsn determined to make q
| raid upon Richmond. and when the news
reached Us all there was TO oppose him
| was force OF local soIdiery and a
battalion of department clerks. The men,
| bers of Congress shouidered guns and
mounted guard around Richmond. But the
small force Of department clerks and I'M
| skilled soldiers were a match for Dahl
| gren. and ayerted the plot he had formed
to pour fire upon the devoted capital OF
the Confederacy But we soldiers were
hungry" said Mr.. Semmes. IT had had
nothing to eat all day. and the heartiest
meal ever enjoyed was a piece OF dry
bread and a raw onion that asked OF
an old market woman, as she passed me
where was keeping guard. That was
the best onion I ever. ate in my lie.
Dark days were coming. however. for IL
had become apparent to all that the
South must yield, not In bravery. but In
superiority OF numbers. In Virginia the
supply Of bread even was exhausted, and
little more could be expected until after
the next wheat crop came In. Provisions
of all kinds were enormously high"
For instance" said Mrs. Semmes, "at
our New-Year's dinner In 1864 we had to
pay $40 for the turkey to grace the
feast. That was one % the last big din
ners that we had at our house."
1T was not such big dinner In point
OF courses" said Mr.. Semmes, "for we
were getting reduced now, and money
was worth nothing and provisions were
high. Nevertheless, II was a good substan-
tial dinner. We had our expensive Con-
federate turkey, and vegetables and game.
and good bread, made at home, and nice
dessert. We had Mr.. Stephens and Gen.
eral Sparrow and Mr. Garland, from our
home, and Bishop McGill and dear old
Father Hubert 10 dine with US. ! shall
never forget that New-Years dinner. We
all tried to be gay. but our hearts were
inwardly sad. There was the usual visit
ing, customary in those days on New
Years Day, but the old brilliancy and
fire were fast ebbing away"
MIR. stephens never forgot that New
Years dinner" said Mrs. Semmes, and
she took from an old scrap-book, careful
ly put away, an autograph letter from
Mr. stephens, dated 'New-Year,s. 1866.
My Dear Mrs. Semmes: Two years ago
to-day we were at your house. In Rich
mond, and had Bishop McGill at dinner.
What changes have taken place since
then, and what "reminiscences crowd upon
my mind in taking this short retro
spect. A whole train of these mixed with
many pleasant as well as sad memories
was awakened by your letter. which
lies on the table before me- And then
he goes on to speak. does the great Con-
federate statesman. of many things al
ready told In this observation-disclosures in
which he was pleasantly interested, and
closed by wishing both her and Mr.. Sem
mes long life and happiness.
EVACUATION.
There were rumors and rumors that |
the war would have to be brought to a |
close, but Robert r. Lee, on whom all /
eyes were turned, still held out bravely. |
A small slip OF paper. sent to Presi-
dent Davis, as he sat in his pew In st.
Paul's church, contained the most momen
tous news of the war. It advised that |
everything should be In readiness to |
evacuate Richmond the coming night, UNI
less before that time dispatches should
be received TO the contrary. The slip Of
paper was from General Lee. Many OF
the Cabinet officers had sent their fami-
lies from Richmond the previous week. as
also the congressman. Mr.. Semmes had
sent Mrs. Semmes in a box-car by the
Richmond and Danville road, towards
A week later he Joined her
In Georgia, and in Augusta heard OF Lees
Thence the way was made by
wagon and stage to Montgomery. Reach
ing here. Mrs. Semmes heard that her
husband would be pursued, and she de-
termined to save him. She drove TO a
some miles distant from
and asked the farmer to
give her husband shelter. All this was
without Mr.. Semmes's knowledge. "Bringl
him to me-" said the loyal old south
,rner, land he can stay at my farm and
Do known as the uncle of my children"
But in a few days Mr.. Knox sent word
o his daughter that concealment was
impossible; that 1t was known everywhere
hat Mr.. Semmes was in Alabama, and
hat he would join her in her fathers
house. This was already occupied by
Yankee soldiers, but they were very cour-
eous and kind to US, said Mrs. Semmes.
Speaking Of the surrender, Mr.. Semmes
aid: Though the sword was surrendered,
We did not surrender one jot or title OF
he principles for which we fought; they
till live, and time is fully indicating
heir truth. A few days later came the
ews that Jefferson Davis had been taken
risoner and confined in Fortress Mon
Oe Perhaps II was the most fortunate
hing that could have happened to Mr..
)avis. Immediately he became the scape-
oat of the southern people; their sorrows
ad to be borne by him, and he stood for
he cause for which they had fought, and
erhaps he would suffer the death penalty
DIT them. The trial never came off, but
DR. all that, Jefferson Davis returned the
copies idol-the great chieftain of the
outh. And so he remains 10 this day."
In October, 1865, Mr.. Semmes went
, Washington and saw President John
On. The President asked him what he
ad done for the South? Mr.. Semmes an
wered. "All that a man could do, by
ords and deeds, to promote the Confede-
lte cause. and now he wanted to resume
peace the practice Of his profession"
'Well, go home and work." said Mr.
)hnson. He Immediately returned to
ew Orleans. having borrowed 500 fop :
lat purpose. not being possessed OF
mother cent in the world. His palatial
ome, in this city. with it's fine furniture
nd mirrors and magnificent library, had .
zen confscated when the city fell into
le hands OF the Federal forces, under
eneral Butler. He resumed the prac-
&c Of his profession In partnership with