The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-29
The BURNING
OF RICHMOND
Colonel Ripley, in Command Of
the Federal Troops, Gives His
Recollections Of Tragedy.
lAcKsoN's LAST BATTLE
"a Description Of the Fight BY
Mr.. L. G. Haas, Of Lees Army,
WHO Was in Engagement.
ditor Of Tho Times. Dispatch!

:
Editor OF The Times-Dispa tch:
sir,-My attention has recently been
K called to all article Iii your paper re-
calling the memories OF that eventfnl
day. the Sd OF April, 1855. which you may
well call "thc most memorable day in the
history OF Richmond.
That day witnessed the en- try of the
northern troops into the city after four
years of desperate struggle for It's pos
session to find It fired BY It's own de-
Tenders and being pilaged BY It's own
Inhabitants
The generation that knew OF the dra
matte events Of that great day has most
Is passed away. and few remain to tell
tho true story.
Your own account, correct in the main,
leaves so much untold OF the real his
tory of that day, that in justice to the
heroic and successful labors OF the de-
voted troops to whom the city owed Its
preservation from total destruction. ac-
companied by an appalling loss OF lite,
Il am led to nsk you TO publish some
thing supplemental, which will let the
4 pubic know exactly to whom the credit
OF the saving Of the city and the care
OF The people was due,
At the close OF the war, had the
honor Of commanding the First Brigade.
Third Division (Deven's Dvlson), Twen-
ty-fourth Army Corps. Army OF the
James, lying In the trenches at the point
where our works approached nearest the
City.
My brigade was first over the Con-
sederate works, and headed the advance
upon the city. 1t led the column in the
formal entry, and at the City Hall halted
while reported to Major General
Weitzel, commanding the troops opera
ting on the north side of the James that
day
He had taken up his position on the
platform Of the high steps at the east
front of the Confederate Capitol, AMI
there looking down into gigantic crater
of fire, suftocated and blinded with the
vast volumes of smoke and clnders which
rolled zip over and developed us, lie
assigned me and my brigade to the np-
rarently hopeless task Of stopping tho
conflagration and suppressnS the mob
OF Confederate st*s Bglora released crin1l-
nails and negroes, !%ifo had far advanced
in piIlaeng the city at our arrival.
He had no suggestions TO make; no orr
tless to give except to strain every nerve
10 save the city, crowded as IT was with
women and children and the sick and
wounded Of the Army OF Northern Viz
Elnia.
The recent fro IN Baltimore Will help
to give an idea OF the formidable task
thus given my brigade,
After requesting ATajor-General Welt
eel to have oil the other troops marched
out of tho,cify and placed in the inner
line of works. and that no pcrmissions
should be granted to enter the city, !
took the Hon. Joseph Mayo, then Mayor
OF Richmond, with mo TO the city Hail.
where established my headquarters.
With the help of the city officials dis
tllbuted my reSiments quickly in various
sections and sent some of my staff to
inspect the IRE department and report
upon tho help we could expect from IT.
They reported little aid 10 be expected
here, not, as you say. from lack of men,
but because most of the hose had been
destroyed or rendered useless The dan
ger 10 the troops engaged in this terrifir
nre-Nghting compartd to such a fire
as that in Baltimore was Infinitely on
HANGED bH ne vast quantities of powder
and shells stored in the section burning.
IT was like It contest Of innumerable srtiI-
lery, like that Which preceded picketts
memorable assault a Gettysburg and
was awe-inspiging. punctuated By the
heavier explosions OF the ronclads in the
river. Into this sea OF fire, with no less
courage and self-devotion than as though
fighting for their own fresI1cs and FAINT
lies, stripped and plunged the brave men
of the First brigade, with what SUCCESS
the citizens Of Richmond have but 10
look about them 10 recognize
Meanwhile detachments secured the CITY
warning every one from the streets 10
their houses Brresting Confederate strar.
elers Of whom we had thousands shut
up before night, Libby and Castle mar
der being soon crowded with then,
an persons CARRYING plumber We're arr
lesleo ana Tie plumber carried 10 The CITY
Hail where Tho available space yas ma
with H. an officer taking a ca,ef,, A.
Heriptinn Of II ''
The ladies OF Richmond wbosc fr,.o,
nations had for Years beer ~ i'h 81
UaIned by the rather too liIrId tSsa,iiti II
lions or The Richmond press of thn -
DaIlc hordes composing he onion .,.,niss
eApeelihg = scene Of medieval Tapine''
ploring protection. They WEI. ee,SS, ~ ~
their homes under the escort M eif,r,,
Wlao we're afterwards posted in tiie rc,l
Ter house OF each block ana MIDI ca
tnonslbie i2G Nc safety OF tie neigh
iHdtscrlminately iron. the detall f1r d,,i,i
tl94t dsy from regiments from WtstonsIn
Connecticut, New Hampshire, BroolSlyn
Northern and Central New York ana
We're not selected men. ! never heard =
complaint Of rudeness on their part bIit
uhlformly ursLnted praise Of their sal.