The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-04-20
WAR STORIES.
The Evacuation Of fichlno on d. .
Margaret Greene Norrcll in Augusta Chronicle

'S, ipS a"hJ lIc aTlHS, HlulnB
provisions in the scrv ants care, all Of
"hom were true to US, getting the
men of the family, employed in Tie
war department., ready for hasty
journey out Of the town All this
must have been known or expected
even before Mr.. Dayis received his
official telegram, for it seemed to
me, opened my eyes that Sunday, on
a day full Of trouble, and one never
to be forgotten, [ wish | had the
power to describe peri ectly the location
OF the house we occu pied at the eva
cuation OF Richmond, so as to convey
TO the reader how it was possible for
Inc to sec 90 much from one location.
The house stood and ] suppose is still
standing a. the corner of Twenty sixth
and Franklin streets, on what We call
cd Church street, a. thi. point, was o
very steep hill running all the way
down to Maiu street. The house was
very large, brick one, owned by an
aunt, who also occupied it, with us,
with quite good sized family of her
own. Besides the ma iu building there
were large, back pore he's, from which
we could see the James river, and
long wing in one end of which were
the servants rooms. The yard was a
divided from necessity on account
of being so "hilly" by several fights
of steps, too high to be called ter
raced.
| Along the wing was long, narrow
porch on the ground floor. My faith
cr took me by the hand, on this Mon
day morning, April Bird, and led me to
the end of this porch to take view
OF the last act in this sad drama. We
had only been standing there few
minutes when father said: 'Iookr'
pointing towards Main street. be-
held few horse men, c.al in gray,
galloping along for dear life up the
street. We watched them cross the
bridge, which was soon a mass of
flames. l don't know if they were
carrying out the order, "To burn all
bridges cr: :f the bridge was already
on hire, when they tartcc L.er, and
we only just then saw it, as We look
ed our last, ut the fast disappearing
soldiers in gray. Again my father
called to me to look This time it
way an army-clad in blue, coming
from the Same 'irection, as the gray
horse men o., : few minutes before.
They came ~ city, and watched the
soldiers burning bridges and beauti-
ful Richmond dying, it seemed to me,
for sometime, alone. After a while
father called to me, to come on the
front porch to sec something I would
remember all my life. From the
front we wcro looking towards the
State House, and presently saw the
United States flag take the place of
tho "Bonnie Blue, which had foated
to the breeze, 80 proudly until the
last, until life and h opo had died. I
cannot recall other events Of the m orn.
ing, except we seemed still and quiet,
as If sitting with che dead, though
quite dlfIercnt--scen es were going on
III The business portion Of tho city,
where everything was in flames. See
'rg that We were perfectly safe on
Church hill, my faith er went up town,
to see how matters were getting on
there, knowing that terrible things
were going on in tina direction. Late
in the evening he returned, and will
never forget how frightened l was.
When | saw him coming up Twenty
sixth street, with white blanket on
him reaching to his feet, and fire.
man 8 helmet on his head, and CYAN
kee' ohcer on each side of him. I
thought the Yankee had dressed him
up this way and wcro marching him
about. My fears were soon allayed. I
learned that the Federal officers, had
come to rent the large stables, located
OH our lot, and they also gave us
special guard. These same stables
had been used by tho Confederates
until nearly all, if not quite, every
mule, had simply died of starva-
tion.
! My mother and au Mt used frequent
ly to send the men caring for the
mules dinner, from our own table,
and they told US, that so great was
the pity they felt for these poor dumb
creatures, they shared these meals
with them.
And at Appomattox did not Gen
eral Grant say to his men, when they
knew that General Lee had surren-
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