Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-05
War News Fifty Years Ago

The record of War News Fifty Years Ago"
that has appeared daily for two years In The
simply a rehash Of tho news OF the day as 1T
appeared in this paper in the days OF 1868 1864
and 1869 With the fall of Richmond and the
burning down of all of tho newspaper Offices
except one there no moro papers to copy
from. one managed to resume publication in
very small way on the 9Th OF April. Begin
ming with that date The Times Dispatch will
resume War News of Fifty Years Ago" in its
regular order. In the meantime, 1t Is trying
Ia keep up the connection from the recollections
of men who were here fifty years ago and saw
things as they were. Several correspondents
have given graphic accounts of the events of
evacuation day. April 3, and of the day fol-
lowing.
days. the people were without news as to where
General Lee and his depleted forces had gone
after giving up the fight at Petersburg. after
the defeat of the Confederatcs at Five Forks. at
Burscss's Mill and at Hatcher's Run, II there
had been any papers the people would not have
had time to read them, for everybody busy
trying TO find some place to retreat
General Lee left Petersburg fifty years ago
day before Yesterday, aud the information that
reached Richmond was to the effect that his
next stand might be at Danville. or it might
be at Lynchburg. The people believed that
he would make 4 stand one of the other
places, or at some other good point. and that
ne would again make fight that would tell
for cause that they believed could not die
Late in the afternoon of the 4th of April
while the smoke from the fires OF evacuation
day was still lowering over the deserted city
ana an Things were gloomy, report came from
omcwhcrc that Lee had crossed the Richmond
Courthouse; that he had things we'll in hand
that his men, while hungry and very short OF
rations. were still cheerful. and had no idea of
giving up, and were a" spilin'" for another fight
This report revived hope, and when IL
was noiSed about there were cheers on several
street corners A Federal officer, whose name
unfortunately has not been kept. so far Is the
records show, admired the loyalty and the
bravery Of the people of Richmond, and while
he knew that the report raised false hopes he
required an under officer to read the news before
large crowd on one OF the street corners and
apparently enjoyed the enthusiasm the people
manifested when they heard what they thought
was some good news from the front"
The officers under General Weitzel to whom,
the city had been surrendered by Mayor Joscph
Mayo, were kind and consideratc, and thew and
their men did all In their power to subdue the
names of evacuation day and restore order
in the stricken city.
Before the sun set on the fourth day OF April
inc people. or. anyhow, great many of them
mad discovered that the hated Yankees were
not altogether as bad they had been repre-
scented. and II is said that many prominent men
dared TO go to Yankee headauarters' IN get
news from General Johnston and his army sill
opposing Sherman in North Carolina Their
inquiries received courteous attention and T
have been told by one old citizen that the Yanke
officer in charge OF the nens bureau on more
IMAM one occasion stretched the blanket" not
a little, in order TO give the down hearted Con
tolerate some news" that might cheer hin,
and enable him to sleep better that night