The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-04-19
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Excerpts Taken From st. Paul Papers
of April 8, 1865


The raising of the flag across
Jackson street after the news of the
fall of Richmond reached here, was
perhaps the most exciting occasion
in the history OF St. Paul. 1t took
place at the international hotel. As
the large and splendid headquar
ter's flag doated out on the breeze,
wild cheer again and again re-
peated greeted its starry folds.
Cheers for Grant, Sherman, Sheri-
dan and Weltzel, mingled with
cheers for Sibley, for the old flag
aud for everybody, rang out with
an emphasis that made the welkin
ring. The crowd then adjourned
to the saloon of the International,
where Col. Beloit led the glad
shouts of the excited crowd in re-
| peated cheers for the old flag, the
union and the glorious news just
received. Songs we're sung, toasts
were given, and everyone present
went in with a perfect looseness.
After cheer upon cheer the large
crowd proceeded to call upon Gen.
Sibley at his headq uarters, when
the glad shouts were repeated again
and again. After remarks by Gen.
Sibley three times three were given
for him, followed by cheers for
Capt. Pope, Capt. DIN and the gen
eraI S staff.
| AS when they abandoned Char
lestown and Columbia, so now, in
surrendering Richmond to the
Union forces, the rebels, in spirit
of wanton destruction, have set the
torch to the dwellings of the help
less people who remained. The
Almighty makes the wicked pas
sions of these men the instrument
of their own punishment, and the
fire in the southern heart now burns
itself out in the ashes of Southern
homes.
Not down from heaven, like the
fire and birthstone that fell upon
the ancient Sodom, but leaping with
forked tongues out of the hell OF
southern fury came the flames,
which, like fiery cerements, wrap
these dead cities, victims of their
fearful Muscovite suicide. In the
awful retribution OF fire, in which
God blots these dens of treason
and slavery from the face of the
earth, we almost hear the voice OF
the angel in the vision of st. John
proclaiming the doom of Babylon.
Every dispatch from Grant mag
nifies the catastrophe which has
overwhelmed the rebellion recent
| ly. The awful force which swept
Lees army into the maelstrom
drives it pitilessly down to it's
doom. Sheridan tears after it like
a cyclone, close upon its TANKS.
Meade is painting behind, and Grant
is pushing on like a fox hunter,
leaping six barred gates to be in at
the death. Probably ere this the
famous army of Lee is no more. It
is doubtful whether this greatest
ofrebel generals can muster more
than 20, 900 weary and disheartened
men to resist the tremendous i'm
pact of Sheridan's horsemen and
the bristling lines Of steel gathered
around him.
The celebration over the fall OF
Richmond yesterday was one of the
| grandest affairs every seen in this
city. At noon the ringing of bells
and firing of cannon announced the
| opening of the program. Soldiers
from the fort arrived and the pro-
cession formed in front of the Inter-
national hotel. All business in
the city was suspended for the
rest of the day. Patriotic thousands
from neighboring towns had gath
cred to witness the events and help
| celebrate the redemption of the
union. Cheer after cheer rent the
air as the veteran reserve corps
and the four companies of the Sec
ond Minnesota cavalry marched by.
On the breaking up of the process
sion which lasted two hours,
speeches were made in the open air
by Gov. Miller, Gen. German, T. JI
lGalbraith, Judge Goodrich and J.