The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-04-20
A MEMORY.


ers, singing birds, and the happy
faces Of men, women and children
and the joy Of knowing we have cclc-
hrated day full Of hope to Us, be-
cause The Lord has risen"
What contrast was this day of
sunshine and brightness to April
3rd, l8G5 when Richmond was evac
ua'ed, and followed by terrible fire.
My thoughts, though full of this
Joyous season, have led me back to
lhe past, and some Of the scenes |
witnessed at that time, although but
little girl, just past my tenth birth
day.
DO not propose to 60 back any
farther than the Saturday before Rich
uond was evacuated except to men
zion incidentally, some little thought
shat comes to me, as for instance, we
children at school, would be perfectly
delighted to hear the alarm bells ring
this was a sigoal that the enemy
were close to Richmond, the alarm
sould ring, then we would have holi
day, until the DANCE was past, which
was generally the next day.
Nly father was agent for the "Asso-
ciated Press also connected with
THE Richmond Whig,' | had several
relatives in the war department, and
NY brother was page in the Confcd-
crate senate, or messenger boy in
Abe telegraph Office. cannot recall
which Of these positions he held in
these last days of the Confedcracy;
only know that l was accustomed to
hear "war talk" nearly the whole
time. I heard news, wonderful and
importans news, being discussed by
she family, while playing with my
dolls. | think now l must have been
D nuisance, for on that memorable
Sunday, April End, when the whole
household was in the greatest activ-
ity, some doing one thing, some anoth-
er, mother sent me to bed, very early
in the evening, as l thought for pun
ashment but I suppose to get me out
Sf TIC way
AS lay there thinking and won
dering over the events of the day, and
the talk | had heard THAT surely
she city would be evacuated on the
next day, suddenly there was a
sonnd of an explosion, and tho whole
window sash fell out on my bed. One
Of the gun.boats on the James river
had been blown up. On the day be-
fore, Saturday. went shopping with
an aunt of mine, who paid two hun
ared and fifty dollars for pair Of
shoes for me, and twenty dollars for
what we used to call "a Nuns bon
net" These were made of straw and
usually had silk curtain in the back,
and ribbon and bow on top. This
particular bonnet, was not made Of
nice straw, like I had been used to
wearing, but was very rough and COM
mon, and had no trimming. I have
often wondered, why it was, that as
hate as Saturday, we were able to buy
ahese things, yet it seems the people
Had faith that the money would be
scoa, though ! had ee.en heard my
father say: Such and such an one,
should buy gold, while the Confcd-
crate money was good, as after a while
jt would have no value" I will so
back now, to Sunday, April second,
1865, while President Davis, was at
tending services, at St. Paul's Church,
s'telegram was handed to him from
General Lee, and announced his with
3rawal from Petersburg, and the
necessity for tbc evacuation of Rich
nond. I havs in my scrapbook o
clipping, from the Richmond Dis.
catch with the headline: "The
:. Memorable Telegram. 1t is address
ed TO- the Hon. Jefferson Davis, and
signed by General Lee, the time it
was sent was 1880 q. m. This tele-
gram is in cipher and not translated.
IN the same clipping, is another tele.
gram sent by General Lee to General
AEwell, which says the Dispatch"
throws light on the situation at the
evacuation" This telegram was also
sent in cipher, as was all the telegra-
Dhio correspondence of the morning,
Ant is translated. and is as follows:
Time $3.50 p. m.
Headquarters of A. N. Va.
April End, 1865.
1t. Gen. B. s. Ewell, Commanding,
eto.: