The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-11
Voice Of the People
Evacuation Day, April, 3, 1856.

Evacuation Day, April 2, 1866.
Editor Of The Timea-Dispatch
sir,--rhis day forty-three years ago
the pride Of the Confederacy, the Gym
osure Of all America, North and South ;
In fact, of all the world. was aben-
doned by the Confederate forces, and
left to be occupied by the Northern
army.
To-day forty-three years ago the de-
object which the Northern armies had
been for 80 long striving to get. con-
signing valuable property, homes,
houses of merchandise and OF manu-
Such day can never be cffaced
gers In consciousness the earth reel
Ing from magazine explosions, her
nails and trembling from falling walls.
smoke. making the brain dizzy; mob
composed of negroes, foreigners and
roughs, succeeds mob, to destroy what
the flames had not reached. and to
add to the ,connagration by setting
fire to the pillaged buildings.
1t was beautiful spring morning
such az this, although further advanc-
ed in the season Nature Gel had done her
trees were waving their richly ,frond-
ed banners. While tho thousand bios
SONS poured out their nectarous cups
to appease the war gods wrath.
The haste, the hustle, the confusion.
the bleeding hearts. the agony filled
idol to the grave, who, witness, could
ever forget?
So long as hope waves her banners
and lifts her voice, SO long is vigor
on face and form. SO long is fire in
Whep she oIn G ha In, a
unstrung give forth their doiorous
notes and rend the holy air..
For four long years we had hoped
to be free people. with rights COLI
served Sc rived and property safe; we had sac
now. April 3. 1865. there comes the
terrible realization that the strife is
over and all we had hoped for Is lost.
memory of the feelings that then
surged even now makes my soul sad
,,s As ! , lock back through this long
VISTA, darkllng again so keenly. the
pangs of that sad day revive. All we
had hoped for, all we had struggled
for, all suffered for, all we had sacri-
feed life and al--gone,
No more the st. Andrews cross of
niue on background of red Will wave
Ger our armies marching through our
streets: no more "the stars and Bars
VIII fan the breezes from yonder
house where Virginia's stalwarts ha q
planned nations glory through the
long years, and where for four event :
full years the giants of the whole
southland had 1egislated for the weai
OF the young nation struggling for
the right. and that was called into
being to protect property and homes.
This day Hopes bright star sinks
beneath the horizon. and the sulIen
gloom of Despair's starless night set
ties over the land that had hoped To
be free. A remembrance OF those sad
DAYS tunes my lyre, and I sing. in
broken strains:
buried my country long ago;
buried 1T meath the cannon's roar
with heavy hearts so sick and sore
on that sad day of long AGO.
Farewell. sweet dream of long ago:
Farewell. ye scenes that come nc
more;
Farewell. sweet hope, the struggles
The hope we cherished long. ago.
l tread again those once dear streets
And. oh what change my vision
The enilvenng touch of progress,
meets
The loss to hide of long ago.
The writing dark, in lor~ ago
we coul not read, could not ex.
But now It's plan we'll grope nc
The wounds are healed OF long ago.
C. V. WAUGH.