Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-04-17
FORTY -FOUR YEARS AGO
Sherman's Army One Hun
dred Thousand Strung
Marched Into
Raleigh.
They Hung Lieut.. Walsh Because fe
Fired Upon Federal Troops After
The City Had Been sufren.
dered by The Mayor
The Day Opened With
DrizZling Rain.
(Raleigh News and observer)

(halOl&n NEWS anu OOSCIftI.J
Today marks an anniversary mem
orable in the history of Raleigh and it
will be recalled with vivid interest by
the older people. A citizen now
counted among the old inhabitants
who as yOungster witnessed the
coming of Sherman's army from an
elevated position on the top of the
State Capitol, said yesterday:
Forty four years ago today april
Is, 1869 as a young man, witnessed
the entrance of Sherman's army into
our beautiful city, and as some of the
scenes witnessed by me may be inter-
esting to your young readers, as well
as some of the older ones, will at
tempt to draw you few pictures of
that memorable event.
"The day opened with a. drizzling
rain as Kilpatrick's cavalry came
dashing up Fayetteville street at
gallop, with oil cloths spread over
their shoulders, and as their COM
mander reached Hargett street he and
his staff were fired upon from the
head of Fayetteville street by Lieut..
Walsh, who belonged to Wheeler's
cavalry, who occupied the city on the
night previous, committing many
ldepredations ON stores and public
buildings. One of the public build
ings ransacked was the railroad de-
pot of the old r. & G. and N. c. rail-
road, now known as old Southern
freight depot. After taking every
thing in the way of provisions, the
building was fired to destroy Ordi-
nance stores in said depot, and many
bombs were exploded in the burning
building.
After firing upon the advancing Of
icers, Lieut.. Walsh turned and rode
rapidly west along Morgan street, be-
ing hotly pursued by some of Kilpat-
rick's men. He did not know that
Morgan street was obstructed by the
railroad, not having a bridge over the
road. When he realized his mistake
and attempted to retrace his steps so
as to reach Hillsboro street by way Of
| West street, in suddenly turning his
morse at the corner of Morgan and
West streets the saddle girt broke and
Inc was captured. He was brought to
the capitol square and was condemned
TO be hanged by the Federal officers,
he having forfeited his life according
to the rules of war, having fired upon
the invading army after the city had
Deen surrendered by the mayor, on
the previous night.
by the terms of the surrender
a soldier to guard the premises, and
as the infantry entered the city short
lily after the cavalry, a sentinel was
lplaced at each residence to protect the
Ipremises. This was kept up for quite
la long while. When the infantry be-
gan to enter the city one realized
what Gen. Sherman's reputed Ian
guage about war meant. In every
company you could see such sights as
a bag of meal on one mans shoulder
an old rooster or a hen on the KNAPP
sack of another, and occasionally 6
quarter of sheep or hog suspended
over the back and held in place by
Iu0 DdyOnSI Ol d 1AuShSt OClA6 AOAO OOe
through the meat and the musket rest
ing on the shoulder as a peddlel
" would now carry his pack. These
scenes could be witnessed during mos
of the day, as the army marched III
Fayetteville street and turned aside
to go into camp on the northwest ant
Southwest outskirts of the city, ant
by nightfall nearly 100000 soldier
were in camp within three miles o
the city and between here and Dur
ham.
"But few of the people ever realiz
ed what narrow escape our citizen
had from mob violence on account G
the news reaching the Federal sol
Iiers while encamped in and aroun
1t the city of the assassination of Pres
n dent Lincoln two nights previous, an
! had it not been for the prudence
D. Gen. Schofield in ordering doubl
m guards around all the camps, and NJ
r allowing any soldiers outside of cam
n for two days, our city might hay
OF been the scene of many a tragedy, S
Mt wrought up was the army over tt
n sad news.
after the surrender of Gen. Johl
son at Durham few days afterward
,e. Gen. Sherman mobilized his arm