Evening star., 1915-04-04
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

IN THE STAR
Fifty years ago at this time Wash
lngton seethed with excitement In con-
sequence Of the capture
The Fall Of of Richmond. For sew
Richmond. n era, Gays s..as, .ns success a .sa OF
last Confederate stronghold was an
ticipated here. and the city throbbed
with anticipation. The first report of
Grants forward movement was pub
lished in The Star of March 80, 1865.
in the following brief manner:
"Advices from City Point report Gen.
Grants army in motion yesterday
morning. All supernuous baggage is
left behind. and tho troops set out as
II for warm work, and the prompt clos
ing up Of the war. Gen. Sheridan is
cooperating with his cavalry and stir
ring news Is expected. It would not
be proper to indicate the line OF
Grants advance"
During the next few days the col
umns Of The Star were filled with re-
ports Of successful operations by Grant
and Sheridan. until finally. in The Star
of April 3, 1865. appeared the news Of
the fall Of Richmond in the form Of a
Stanton. stating that a dispatch from
Gen. weitsel just received announced
that forces under his command were
In Richmond, having taken it at S:15
am. In the final edition of The Star
of that day. issued at 4 PM. follow
ing several extra editions. is a long
story of the manner in which the news
was received by this city. in part, as
follows:
"As we write Washington city is in
such a blaze Of excitement and en-
thusiasm as we never
Washington before witnessed here
49, in any approachable de-
oe' gree. The thunder of
cannon, the ringing of bells. the erup-
ton of flags from every window and
housetop, the shouts of enthusiastic
gatherings on the streets, all echo the
glorious report, Richmond is ours!!!
"The first announcement Of the fact
made by Secretary Stanton in the War
Department building caused a general
stampede of the employees at that es-
tablishment through the street, where
their pent-up enthusiasm had a chance
for vent in cheers that would assuredly
have lifted the roof from that build
ing had they been delivered with such
vim inside The news, caught up ana
spread by a thousand mouths, caused
almost a general suspension or ousi-
ness, and the various newspaper ofnces
were besieged with excited crowds.
The Extra Star, containing the official
bulletin of Secretary Stanton, giving
confirmation of the good news report
ed. was speedily issued, and then fol-
lowed such q rush for copies as e4
ceeded anything In our newspaper e&-
perience.
."rhe rumors Of the capture OF Rich
mond attracted q crowd about the War
Department this
Secretary Stanton morning, and the
first conhrmatory
Ii Oueeieu' intelligence being
greeted with great cheering. hundreds
of people rushed to the spot and in a
few moments filled the park in front
Of the War Department. nearly OBJ
structing the street There were loud
calls for the Secretary, who appeared
in answer" The Stars account gives
the text of Secretary Stanton's brief
speech, and continues:
'The Secretary then read the dis
patch from Gen. Grant announcing the
capture this morning of Richmond by
Gen. Weitzers command and that he.
Grant, was moving his army up to cap
ture the Danville railroad and Lees
retreating forces. 1t was received with
long and continued cheering, and the
INN n e a
throng, then said: This is what Gen.
Grant says, what do you say" Tre-
mendous cheering for several minutes
and cries Of Burn it. and Hold it, etc.
The Secretary then presented to the
vast assemblage Willie Kettles. aged
fourteen, an operator in the military
telegraph office, as the person who re-
ceived the dispatch and the first per-
son to receive the great and glorious
news Cheering and cries Of Have him
speak, and Let us hear him., etc. Will
lie said he couldn't speak. he felt So.
"At the Treasury Department, post
and patent offices the news was re-
ceived by the clerks
Great Public with such great enthus-
p.;o;o;,r. iasm that they were Inn
AeJoAeAn5S' mediately granted holi-
day for the balance OF the day. The
foreign ministers promptly called this
morning at the Department of State to
express their congratulations on the
fall of Richmond.
"A salute of 500 guns, three in honor
of the fall of Petersburg and five In
honor of the capture of Richmond, was
fired from the corner Of 14th and NJ
streets by order of the War Depart
ment by Batteries E and F of the I'd
United States Artillery. and Battery H
of the 14th Pennsylvania Artillery. A
salute of 100 guns was also fired from
the battery on the navy yard wharf.
Numbers of persons chartered what
ever conveyance was available and set
out through the streets with their We
hicles profusely decked with the Amer
ican flag, and at this time the Avenue
is gay with such carriages; the steam
fire departments-both the steam fire
brigade and the city department, hav-
ing along the hook and ladder truck
being decorated with flags and the ap-
paratus of the other companies with
steam on, which they blow of in tri-
umphant screams.
Advice of Jackson and Washington.
From President Andrew Jackson's Special Mes
Ts~k