Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-28

which stood just inside the square.
where Franklin street enters II on the
east, and the United Presbyterian
Church. now Grace Street. which stood
at the northwest corner OF Eighth and
Franklin Streets.
VALUABLE RECORDS
BURNED IN COURTHOUSE
The burning Of the State Courthouse
was serious. and in many respects.
irrcpara bic loss, since this building con-
tanned not only the records OF the Su-
prcmc Court OF Appeals, the Circuit
Court of the City OF Richmond and the
County of IIenrico. Il few of which were
saved by the faithful clerks OF these
courts. but 1t also contained the rec
ords Of the late General Court Of Vir-
sinia, and those OF many counties OF
Eastern Virginia. which had been re-
moved and stored there to protect them
from destruction at the hands of the
Federal troops who occupied that sec
ton of the State, md seemed to de-
light in that form Of vandalism. These
last were all totally destroyed.
| walked up the Capitol Square the
sInouldering ruins and general desola :
ton spread out before me was scene
! that made Inc weep. and that would
! have saddened the stoutest heart. The
custom house and part Of what is
| now the Union Bank were the only
| buildings then left standing between
| the square and the river. and these
stood as monuments Of the ruin and
! desolation by which they were sur
! rounded. and also as monuments Of
! the blasted hopes and ruin OF a noble
| and brave people who had risked all
and lost all in defense Of their God
given rights and of their homes and
/ iircsides.
/ GENERAL WEITZEI.
I WAS NOT UNkIND
! General Weitzel's conduct towards
and treatment of the people OF Rich :
/ mond were, on the whole. good and
J Kind, much more than most of us APP
! pretended they would be. Mr.. Lin
! coin came to Richmond on April 5. or
perhaps the 9Th. and remember
wildly seeing him and his motley crew
| of whites and blacks as they proceeded
on foot from Rockets to President
| DaHis's house, where. am quite sure
he spent the whole Of that day, and
where he had the interview with Judge
/ Campbell. Assista.. Confederate Score
! tary OF War. and Gustavus A. Meyers
/ then n Representative from Richmond
| In the Virginia Legislature But Inc
/ recalled this authority on his return
7 TO Washington. presumably because il
+ did not meet the approval Of Seward
/ ana stanton. in whose hands Mr. Lin
Z coin was, ] think, mere piece OF
/ putty. to be used and nodded as the,
thought. whether for good or evil
! Whilst knew General Lees arm,
| had left the vicinity OF Petersburg
! ala not know accurately In what di.
| rcction II had gone until | heard III,
: firing Of artillery on April 9. wa.
! then standing. talking with a Irie nd
| on the corner of Madison and Franklin
4, streets. and remarked to this frien,
/. that the Army of Northern Virgini.
was whipping It's old adversary, a:
| usual and was AS confident OF tn.
! hnal success OF our cause as I cvel
q; was. As ] said near the beginning O.
TINS article, was a goose about tn,
confederate cause. and II may be tina
some of my readers will say that I an
vet Certainly. believe in all IN,
heart In the justice OF that cause. and
in the language of distinguished so,
OF Massachusetts. believe that:
such character and achievement
We're not all in vain: that though tn
Confederacy fell as an actual physica
power. it still lives. illustrated in il
just cause.-The cause OF constitutions
liberty"