The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-25

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 msnss asn'ss Infanarg s arms: nse0stfs ses7 cavalry arms: s.O7l pistols; 44.s77 swords | and sabres: s75.510 sets of infantry and n. .iss haversacKs ss.sn canteens '"I and | straps; 115.oH gun and carbine slings: l 72,l13,s54 small arm cartridges; nS, ,sM, ,s5o l percussion caps: 69.41S cavalry saddles; sS,s:' CTS: s.M Saddle biansets: ss.ssi pars pahs spurs; l2.2Ss horse brushes; 5S,sOs curry Il combs.
 The enormous amount of thirteen hun dred field pieces of all descriptions.' '' classed among the issues. does not sig nifty that number was manufactured at the arsenal, but that number includes all those obtained by manufacture. by pur- snsss or Sy ssptTse r,. ana rss is
 aAssuming that the issues from the Richmond Arsenal have been half of all the issues to the Confederate armies. which may be approximately true, and that 10000 of the enemy were killed, not regarding the wounded and those who died of disease. 1t would appear from the statement of issues that 150 pounds of lead and $50 pounds of iron were fired for every man killed, and If the propor- ton of killed and wounded be as one to six. 1t would further appear that one man | was disabled for every 200 rounds ex- pended. In former wars with the old smooth bore musket 1t was generally said n nj. . ws,.ht M in lead .,d 1. required for every l And from the issues of the arsenal 1t | does not appear that the improved rifles | required a pound less.
 It will appear to one fond of statistics | who may reduce the moving force of the 1 projectiles to horse power. that the force | Some general remarks in regard to the conclusion of the war may not be out of place.
 | There was a large number of Federal | Pris yders in and about the city. Libby ! required to kill one man in battle will be represented by about 1000 horse power. | prison was filled with officers and Belle | Isle with many privates. | To release was the object of cavalry raids arainst the citv when the main
 All the operatives of the Arsenal. and the Tredegar works. and employees of the departments were organized in regi- m ents, and were called to the field when l a raid was expected.
 So they literally worked with their | muskets by their sides. and so valuable were the lives of the skilled artisans that 1t was said that if three iron work CTS in the regiment of the arsenal were | killed the manufacture of cannon would | stop.
 But the end was approaching. In the Confederate Senate 1 remember listening to an animated discussion in regard to enlisting negro troops in the army. It was urged by some of the Senators that we should enlist and arm 50,000 ne- groes, of course with the pledge of free dom.
 knew we could not possibly arm 5000. The Ordnance Department was exhaust ed. One company of negroes was formed Square. but understood as soon as they got their uniforms they vanished in one night.
 As the spring of 1865 approached the officers often discussed the situation. We fsha had f0 breaking. we knew the exhausted condi- ton of every department, and we knew the end was near.
 Sunday, April 2nd. was a bright, beau tiful spring day, and Richmond was as- sembled at church. I was at St. Pauls Church; about four pews In front of me sat President Davis. and in pew be- hind hind him General Gorgas. Chief of the During service and before the sermon. the sexton of the church. a well-known individual in the city, stepped lightly forward and touching Mir Davis on the shoulder. whispered something to him.
 MT. Davis immediately arose and walked out of the church with a calm expression. yet causing some little ex- citement. In a moment the sexton came back and called out General Gorgas. I confess I was made extremely uneasy. and was refecting on the probable cause. when the sexton whispered to me that a messenger from the War Department
 
 Instantly felt the end had come.
 I was ordered to report to the War Department where l soon learned Gen era1 Lee had telegra phed that his line was broken and could not be repaired and the city must be evacuated at F o'clock that night.
 was ordered to remove the stores of the arsenal as far as could he done, to Lynchburg, and was informed that the President and chief officials woulS proceed to Danville and the line be re- established between Danville and Lynch burg.
 I imediately had the canal boats of the city taken possession of. and began to load them as rapidly as possible with machinery tools. stores, etc.. to be car ried to Lynchburg.
 As a large supply of prepared ammuni- ton could not be taken had a large force employed in destroying it by throw- ing 1t in the river.
 Supplies of value to families were given away to those who applied. By midnight the boats laden with stores were placed under charge of officers and started to their places of destination. which they never reached What became of them l never knew.
 About o'clock in the morning General Gorgas, the Chief of Ordnance. came to the Arsenal to tell me that he was about to leave with the President for Danville. and to report to him there I never reported to him until fifteen years later, when I met him at Sewanee. Tenn: the Nice-Chancellor or the university oL the South.
 Every possible effort was made to pre- vent the destruction of the arsenal.
 1, as commanding officer, visited every building between and o'clock In the morning of the Sd of April had the gas extinguished. and the guards instructeo to shoot any man who attempted to nre the buildings.
 One hour afterwards q was then Tour miles from the city) the rapid ana ter rible explosion of shells heard in the distance proved that part Of the city oc- cupied by the arsenal was being mane desolate by the torch applied by the frantic mob.
 shortly after the President left the city the gunboats were blown up.
 After witnessing the explosion rom the steps of the arsenal. l sent for the keeper of the magazine. and satisfylng myself that life would not he endangered by it's destruction, wrote an order TOT him to destroy the magazine at In the morning, the last order of the Ordnance Department and among the last oroers of the Confederate Government. given Tn the city of Richmond
 As rode out of the city in the carry dawn I saw a dense cloud of smoke sun- denly ascend with aNdeafening report that shook the city to it's centre
 Thus ended the surrender Of the clty or Richmond. ,..,.,
 The mob immediately took possession footed the stores and fired the city
 A large part of the beautitul hlchnio''i was burned to the ground . .A
 The Federal troops marched lnlo eilc city in splendid order. took posS'sssion' dispersed the mob and saved, ny thelr en