The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-01

city. 1 suppose the rations were a
gratuitous contribution from the big.
hearted. LIBERAL minded citizens, ever
ready TO divide their scant supplies
with the Confederates.
The Doomed City.
will dIgress here long enough from
my subject to say that this was the
last instalment OF rations I received
until fed the next night by a Mi. Pace
a benevolent, kind-hearted old man
keeping a lock house near Cedar Point
In Goochland county. Va. Thirty.six
hours afterwards. soon after nightfall
received an order directing me, will,
my command. to report In Richmond.
We marched back by way OF Rock.
cts cts, and soon after reaching the city
men going hand, in hand singing and
carousirg. They gave us the first In
formation of the impending doom
awaiting our capitol-its EVACUATION;
gould see By the lamp light that whis-
Key. had been poured into tho side
drains. ] suppose this was done tn
prevent Its being Improperly used by
Capitol Square and stacked our arms
and awaited orders from Major Car
rington. at that time provost marshal
Of the city. Major Darlington sent for
~ IepViI MS OlIlCS. f1e lDeH
Informed me that the city was being
evacuated and it's surrender expected
the next day. He told me to keep my
command subject TO orders. that wo
would be expected TO suppress all dis
rs possible to protect the property and
lives of the citizens of the city. He
also told me be would expect me TO
r. have ave. the warehouses with tobacco IN IN
city burned during the night and ne
would notify me again when this
should be done. He did not. however,
and these buildings were burned from,
some other source. Soon after return
ing to where my command was there
was a call for squad to quiet a dis
turbance on Broad Street, where
mob was breaking into and 'oonns
stores. This condition Of affairs con- on.
hideous indeed. a night OF horrors
never to be effaced from my memory.
Ny command was sent for repeatedly
during the night and divided out into
of the city to keep order. and Wheil
day dtwned upan us, not more than
corporal's guard remained. ABOUT sun
rise. 1 went down with this remnant 70
ton. Ithnk). After. getting TO me
hotel I saw body OF cavalry on the
Manchester side of the river. ana was
told 1t was either McIowans OF ~.
"
route to Join General Lee's Army.
was at the hotel expecting the Federal
advance guard to come by way OF VII
liamsburg on the River road.
or more troopers rs they came riding
abreast along Main street. near where
the market house then stood. AS they
approached us. VIC became sa.,snen
that they were the Federal soldiers.
The soldiers with me began firing a.
trepi. This caused some commotion ana
DETECTION iE their ranks. suppose ].
was this firing referred TO IN Serseans |.
,Zimmer's account when General Wetzei
returned and threatened him. The red
erals soon rallied, reformed their line
and came at full gallop in our d.
rection. ] m?6e my escape on foot TO
er and Kanawha Canal. making Lynch
burg. Va. my objective point. where
j hoped TO again join General Lees
army. had for my travelling com,
Nicholas Boiling. DR.. WIthers at this
time was an invalid from chronic
trouble. and Nicholas Boiling was lame
from a gunshot wound In the foot. DR..
cino at Massie's Mill Nelson county.
Via. Boiling was member OF Mary
land company of cavalry OF Bryantown,
Charles county. Md. These companions.
much progress on foot. We reached
Cedar Point on the cannal in Gooch-
land county, Monday night. and were
fed by Mr.. Pace: rested awhile. and
continued our sad journey. We reach
ed Bremo. eighty miles from Lynch
burg, the night of the 9th of April. like
King David when he fed from Jeru-
salem, footsore and weary AT Bremo
we learned of General Lees surrender
1t has always boon a source of great
qualifications to me. a Confederate SOL
dler, TO have cause to believe that per-
haps had been the last defender OF
nur Confederate capital. While the re-
slstance offered by my improvised COM
mand was meagre and inadequate to
feel assured that all was accomplish
ed that was required Of US. and General
Lee with his Army of Northern yir-
gina did not do more.
BreHo Bluff. Va II. E. WOOD.