The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-25

l: RItJflMlONIy, v A., SClAl
b1azo "a hight In the sky towards
Drewry's Bluff, followed by another.
and still another. az the Confederate
g,inboats were blown UP to avoid cap
ture The earth upheaved under the
terrific concussion as ig In the throes
of An earthquake. and the sound Of tho
explosion was simply awful. AS we
neared Richmond the government
warehouses;. loaded with tobacco. and
ships In the river were seen to he
burning, railway trains were rumbling
over tho river bridge, and an tndescrih-
able babel Of sounds were doated to
our ears as we marched sullenly and
silently on In the gray dawn. AS we
passed up through "Rocketts"-a
part of Richmond Inhabited by factory
people-great crowds of whites and
blacks OF both sexes and all ages lined
the sidewalks Many were the fervent
and damning farewells wo received
from this mob. Fists were shaken.
curses were muttered. though here and
there a sob was heard aud a heart
broken voice said .bood-by" to the
LpOyS fWuO Udu o0 ANAQ WV pSSVSVsA
their homes and the dreaded enemy.
Az we got further up towards Mayo's
Bridge. where we we're to cross tho
river. this mob began TO display the
true mob spirit One would hear the
thud OF axes falling upon front doors. >
crash as the doors gave way, and then
the mob would surge into the store
or shop and presently reappear with
dry goods and groceries of every do.
|scription. blankets. tinware, hats.
boots and shoes. AS fast as one place
was looted another would DO attacked.
until finally An order Game TO FIRE up-
on the mob and dtsperse It. battalion
Of troops was quickly formed and
yolley firea. In the most inscrutable
manner. "n a moment, In the twink
ling OF an eye" the mob melted away.
but as soon as the troops were with
drawn the plundering went on az be-
fore.
Some ne the Richmond people were
afraid lest the Federals on entering
would find the stores of liquor, and.
becoming Intoxicated. wouu add ru !.
pine to the horrors Of piilagc. They
therefore went about opening the
liquor stores. dragging out the bar
rels and knocking in,their heads, pour
the contents into the gutter, which In
places ran with whiskey an inch deep
or more. The soldiers dipped IT up in
their little tin cups as they marched
along and drank 1t. but they were not
allowed to halt until ssfel1 over the
| bridge and into Manchester When
this great confiagration broke out this
liquor caught fire. and doubtless AID
ed To spread the flamss.
A sloop on FIRE In the river dr'fted
4 -.
bridge nearest the city and set that On
| fire also. The Confederate treasury
was entered ny many and naversacks
! full of the valueless bills were taken.
| One man offered me a handful OF 800
| hills. ! looked at one and sow 1t was
| unsigned. He was much disguised by
| the discovery and heaved the whole
wad into the river. The Confederate
| Arsenal was set on fire or caught. and
| the bursting of shells sounded like the
| roar of a heavy engagement
| re halted near the bridge until the
] rear guard passed, when we also mov-
| ed on and halted In the quiet streets
! OF Manchester. From that point tbs
view of Richmond was terrible indeed.
The whole city seemed to be doomed
TO destruction. The sun rose upon q
| dense black cloud of smoke hanging
over the capital OF the ConfedeFacy
while the roar OF the DANES was audi
bile miles away, A -four mill. of sever
or eight stories In height, near the
1 river, was also fired. and the last
/ sight we hand of any object In the
1 stricken city was that CT this mill as
4 the names licked the .kies from Its
top story. To ephearten the solder:
the bands were ordered to play. and sc
4 treat. In Manchester we wers Joined
/ to lively music we set out On the re-
by a battalion of departmental clerks
ana others In the governments emploJ
and by the battalion of naval troops
from the gunboats in the James, nravs
4 fellows enough, but unused tn march
ing. The road soon became strew,
with CASTOR clothing, with which man,
i Of the clerks had burdeped thalrselre.
when they frst set out. and many be.
came so foetsoIe that they marched
barefootsd Our objective point wa
Amelia Courthouse, where It was sale
we would Join the remnants OF th'
army from Petersburg'
The mon seemed full of life ant
/ sp,rlt-glad to get away from, the mo
notonous duty of the entrenohments~
and they were full OF their Jokes a
they took the route step" and plod
ded along through dust and mire.
was sent with message to the ren
of our column during the day. Ate
delivering 1t. as ] was returning,
passed Gary's dismounted men, SOM
/, of whom recognized The and called
Hello! Jack" stopped. shook hand
and cllatted as I rode along for few
minutes. Then, saying good-hy,
,pushed on towards the front OF tn
division, The troops 3ust In front o
Garys man took UP the cry, Hello
Jack" as passed, and seeing II EN-
barrassed me, It was continued alonl
the line, responding as best coulo
but finally. when about g thousan'
fellows got TO laughing and shoutin:
Hello Jack" ] could stand 1t M
longer and leaping the horse over
rail fence. took to the field. pursued b.
i the frantic yells and shouts until
rode out Of hearing.