The National tribune., 1899-08-10

were enforced mercilessly: and the conscrip
guard was composed of soldiers from othel
States than Nirgih.a, to prevent any eX
hiDitiol of leniency shown TO the citizens
which might otherwise bc shown by Rich
rnond troops. Mauy Union citizens let
ly various ro.;tcS to the North; and mos
OF the Young men had to be arrested ant
tlSe., TO Camp Lee. the old State fan
grounds. and those from Secession families
were just rs ayerSe TO fighting rs those iron
Union families. About this time they
began the fortifications to the east OF Ken
mold.
A Mr. Gretter. a grocer. doing business
next To the ST. Charles Hotel, claimed the
honor OF throwing the hrSt Shoyei1ui o.
earth for the beginning OF the foruncatloIS
He left the vicinity OF the st, Charles HOE
in great shape, with Wheelnarrow para!
filled with earth, which lie rolled out to tilt
fortificatio,is; lover three mileS) followed
by. an lmiring crowd of men, boys, ne
yro;., and SoldIerS, with officials IN car
riaceS and on horse back go .
The papers next day told in glowing
language how Our patriotic: citizen, M
Gretter. relied the barrow OUT threw v, tiie l
first shovel of dirt. and so forth; but tilOSt
who knew GretBer best shrewdly conceived
that the patriotic Gretter was aiming .tc
increase the, ,Siaie of his Goldfish, cheese and
potatoes. He did a rouSing business, bu'
when the conscript acts were enforced, ne
it was said, sent his son TO Canada, Enlie
his adopted son was concealed IN the garret,
until presently he was noted on Main
Street by the writer as officer in command
of a street guard who We're examining
passes.
hal PASSED an exemption list, embracing
preachers. owners of 20 slaves or more,
doctors who had practlced seven years;
druggists, teachers. and some others: i
was exempt for reason of being teacher.
exemption papers being given to me on
application by Lieut. Cook, son OF an
auctioneer of Richmond. A few days
thereafter. perhaps longer. | took nap
at my room. and, on awakening, hurrleu
out to read the news on the dispatch board.
On my way felt for my pocketbook; IL was
gone, and my exemption was in II, with
some $50. / at once took near cut 10
ProyoSt-MarShal Cooks office and stated
nv case. He with charming courtesy,
supplied me with another, remiirhliig tial
he did so with pleasure, and expressed ms
regret at the loss of my purse and money.
Proceeding to my room soon after, There
Law nv purse and, OF course, money ana
exemption.
The Spring of 1862 came, and there was
talk of a possible advance OF the Federal
trooos I'D the Peninsula from Fort Monroe
Mcclellan did come, and after roofing out
the Confejerates from Yorktown, advanced
around Richmond took place, beginning
about the latter part of May and concl- -!ilag
at Malvern Hill late in the Summer, where
Mcclellan certainly made a grand defense
and carried his army and wago,l-ualias
off safely During the first OF these baidtes
jackson with some Is. 900 or 20, 600 troops
made a rapid movement to Richmond ana
ioined Lee This was the turning point TO the
con1fat fnuch the same as at MANASSAS.
Strange TO say that 1, the writer. re
viewed" Jackson'S men in the silent night
The moon was shining, and, belIlS AWAKEN
ed about midnight by the mighty Tramp,
tramp OF marching troops, carefully
raised the window Just as the head of the
column turned the corner on which my
house was situated. corner Of Main and
18TH streets They were muddy, and
marched on the double quick, turned the
corner 10 the left. marching towards Rock
ets- and the battlefield 1 reviewed them
to the last man.
We al know how the battle ended. If
McCiellan had known al the time he drove
the Coafedsratas from Yorktown, thai
there were no more than some 1900 or
$1,000 troops between him and Richmond,
he could have easily entered the rebel
capital, and possibly ended the war then
and there
There were many distressing scenes in
Richmond during the seven days battles.
As the battles began, large numbers OF
citizens from the vicinity OF Chickahomlny
packed up hastily some Of their household
effects, with the children piled on the beds,
the larger ones walking, appeared moving
I'D Main street from the direction OF
"Roekets." The first of these appeared
much like the emigrants We used to read
about moving out West" Those having
means went to boarding houses, or rented
apartments. But one family attracted the
attention OF charitable people. This con-
sisted of a woman who had nine children,
the eldest some IL years of age, while the
youngest was yet baby. They were poor
people living on a rented farm, the husband
supposed TO be in the Confederate army,
conscripted, and they were terror-strieken
indeed. They had little old cart drawn
by one OK, with a bed or so and a few pans
and pogs, maybe. They had but dollar
or so. and charitable people tried to rent a
small house for them, but not one could be
found vacant in the neighborhood. She
had stopped near the Old Market, and
finally an old Irishman, who kept an eating
house near the market, offered a large
woodshed in his back yard, which was
thankfully accepted, while good people near
assisted them in various ways. They all
returned IN few weeks.
LOMBARD ALLEY"
This alley extended from Main to Frank
lin streets, just above the st. Charles Hotel
Many were the outrageS and crimes CON-
Initted in and about this vile place during
the war 1t slightly curved as you entered
from Main street. An "all-night bar-room"
graced the entrance, some 40 or so feet from
Main street. and which was kept by two
brothers, from where, no one knew. 1t was
in this alley that the Star Spangled Ban
ner" was carried by bowling Secession
mob. after il had been torn from the flag
staff on the State House On the evening of
the day the Secession Ordinance was
passed. Ii was torn TO pieces by the mob
and distributed as mementoes of the ccca-
sion. A fitting place, eminently so, for so
dark a crime.
Later on murder most foul, which
accidentally witnessed, was committed at
the Main street entrance of this very alley.
1t happened in this wise: A cigar-maker, /
believe, resided nearby, on Franklin street
and was an uncompromising Union man
He positively refused 10 report for military
duty, and the conscrpt guard searched his
house, but with no success. 1t Was then
given out that he had escaped TO the North.
but, as his wife did not apply for a pass to
leave the Confederacy, the authorities did
not believe the rumor, and watched the
house closely. He was really at home, and
one day, late in the afternoon, he crept
cautiously through the alley towards Main
street for an observation.
1t seemed that was destined to be an eve
witness To the murder. On my way TO note
the bulletin board at the Displtch Office.
just as i was about 10 pass the north of the
aiiey-Main street entrance-the single
word halt" was cried out in front of me
and the next second pistol shot rang o1tt.
Looking up,a soldier some 20 feet from me
stood with a smoking revolver in his hand.
and man was reeling, and then fell, catch
ing his arm over the iron railing protecting