Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-03-18
copyright 1905, by G. L. Kilmerl
TWNHE evacuation of Richmond and
Dnforchy1rO hu tho oil ono 10

I'D of April, 1865 The Federal armies
thad invested Petersburg except where
the Appomattox river protected it on
ythe northwestern edge. Grants lines
Tested upon the river below and above
the town. Lees first step after evac-
uation had been decided upon was the
destruction of Confederate stores,
boats, railroads, rolling stock and
bridges and public property generally.
The soldiers on the very front of the
Federal line could hear the rumble of
wheels on the bridges and reported to
headquarters that the sounds indicated
evacuation.
Some time after midnight-that is,
early on the 3d-the magazine at Fort
Drury, on James river, little more than
halfway to Richmond blew up, light
ing the whole heavens 1t was plainly
visible on the Petersburg lines, and, as
1t was followed by other explosions,
that of war vessels and bridges, and by
fires nearer to Petersburg, it became
very plain that a general destruction
was going on along Lees twenty miles
pickets were out in full force, and ev-
cry attempt of the Federal plckets to
advance was met by good volleys Of
musketry. At daylight on the Sd the
order was given on the Ninth corps
dine for pickets to advance to the ene-
my's main trenches. They did so and
found the batteries empty and the
camps deserted and denuded of every
thing valuable. Heavy guns had not
been removed. A few Confederate
sSkirmishers were overtaken, and it was
Learned that the bulk of the army had
been gone for hours, the trains and ar
tillery having begun to move at 8
O'Clock p. m. on the I'd, the infantry fol-
lowing.
The brigade of General Ralph Ely
Second brigade First division, Ninth
'corps-moved rapidly toward Peters
burg, on the river road, and received
the surrender about 4:30 o. m. The
FIRST division was promptly assembled
and marched in by the regular roads.
President Lincoln reached Petersburg
about noon. Grant was already there,
and there was hearty rejoicing among
soldiery and citizens because the tedi-
Gus siege was over News came from
Richmond that that stronghold had
been entered by Federal troops at 8
O'Clock in the morning. The Army Of
the Potomac rested around Petersburg,
and General Grant went out on the
xuyhn CT
Federal column under General Ord
was moving on line parallel to that
taken by Lee the Appomattox river be-
tween their marching columns.
The experiences at Petersburg had
been repeated at Richmond with the
exception of the assaults. The Federal
army confronting the defenses of Rich
mOnd consisted of two divisions Of the
Twenty-tfth corps of the Army of the
James. General Godfrey Weitzel COM
manded the corps and was temporarily
Sn command in front of Richmond. He
had held his troops in readiness to as
Sault for some days, but the success Of
the turning movement had rendered
that unnecessary. Inside of Richmond
confusion reigned all day Oh the I'd
Sunday. the day of the successful
Federal assaults ut Petersburg Dis
patches from Lee announcing his in
ability to hold his ground at Peters
burg had caused the officers of the Con-
tederate government to begin prepara-
tions for a hasty flight, and as they did
not wait for night to cover their move
ments the people soon learned the truth
and acted accordingly
General r. s. Ewell commanded
Few local Confederate troops in the de-
lenses. and General G. w. G. Lee, son
of General Robert Edward Lee, had
division in the Confederate works at
Chapin's bluff, on James river, seven
miles below the city. These troops
were all put under orders ready to
move. The men who had been promi-
nent in secession affairs, the officials
and pronounced diSunioniSts betrayed
their anxiety to be away when the
Yankee troops should come in. Davis
left the city at o'clock, accompanied
by his cabinet, and the archives and
Included $2T5000 of bank gold were
shipped in cars. Darkness brought
about a reign Of terror The stores of
ammunition were exploded by military
order, and the uncomfortable populace
took this for a signal for destruction.
Large warehouses containing tobacco.
bacon and other combustibes were
fred by accident or design, and the
flames spread to other buildings. Peo-
ple gathered a few household goods
and rushed to the squares and other
open places.
The lower classes broke open liquor
stores and fed their frenzy by the free
use of stimulants. Pillage and out
rage were added to fire and terror.
Amid it all the explosives contained
III the magazines, which were hoisted
unto the air, had their fuses ignted and
flew in all directions, hurting down
fragments Of iron upon the crowds
and Spndinp fire indiScriminataIv rnOn