Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-06

ton OF Richmond with tho retiring
erhyconts dnshinc across Mayo's
Bridge and ,he Northern troops ridA
ing into iho\ity just as IL hurst into
flame. Is given ~ a,t account by Mrs
Margaret Gracmo Norrcil, OF Augusta.
Ca. who was a n,tlc sirl tn this
city At that time she : the wife
OF the late HarsforG -. Norrcll
courier between Richmond and COL
uribia, Who later Went on special
mission to Europe for the Coufed-
crRCy.
com,nerc,a udt,ons in Rich-
mnnd arc y.tra.sd by tho purchase
on the saturday before the ovacua-
;ion. - = hat aud shoes for the lit
tic girl Tho shoes cost $3.50. while
$40 was paid Tor whd; WAS called "A
nugS" S bonnet" The latter was madc
Of straw and usually had silk
"cartaiu" ia The hack with a ribbon
bow on top. hu; this particular bon
net was not mad. Of straw. but was
rough and common and without trim
uinEs Mrs N'rr"! SAYS. As lat"
as Saturday things could hc bought,
people evidently believing TINT the
money would be good.
These exciting days were no; with
out their joys. School children wc.G
glad TO hear the alarm bells ring.
which was a signal thai the enemy
was close 10 tlNr'NpNG. ana mat a
holiday was declared until the dan
ger was past. The constant subject
OF conversation was Of the war. and
IL was many important things that
the child heard as She played WIZ
her dolls on tho floor IN the early
evenings.
Gunbont Was blown IN.
But as she sat playing on sunday.
hpril =. she noticed that the house
9-, NJ I,l,
Little or no attention was paid To
her questions, and finally she was
put 20 bed At an unusually carly
hour BEFORE she had time To go 10
sleep there was sound % an cx
piosion. and the whole window sash
fell on her bed on. Of the Gunhoats
on the James River had been blown
up.
This explosion was only fore
runner OF the following day. How,
as Prcsilcn; Davis was sitting in
s. pauls Episcopal Church, a trle-
gram was handed him from General
Lee, Announcing his withdrawal from
Petersburg, and the necessity for the
evacuation q: Richmond. IL famil-
lar story In scrapbook owned
~ Mrs. Norrcll is "A clipping from Tho
Richmond Dispatch with the head
line. The Memorable Telegram" I:
is addressed TO the Hon. Jefferson
Davis and IS signed ny General Lee.
Among the same clippings is an
other telegram sent by General Lca
TO General Ewc!l, which, translated
from cipher. reads:
Headquarters y. y. Va.
ArrE . 1868.
L,.-Generai p. 5. Ewom, Cor mana-
~ daynreak tomorrow morning.
commence to withdraw the troops
under Your command. destroying all
government stores and bridges. Cross
The Jamos on Mayos bridge Cen
crai James LOncs;rect Will cross on
pontoon at Drcwry's Bluff and join
you at the Intersection OF the Peters
burg Pike with the River Road.
March along the River Road. crossing
the Appomat,ox River Mt Genito. and
Join me al Amelia Courthouse.
r. T.. LEE, General.
Servants True 10 Family.
Although the time % sending this
telegram was $40 o'olock, there must
have been earlier information, since
The homo OF Mrs. Norrcll was IN a
Wild state of alarm aud confusion.
she says Every member of the Fam
i,y was busy throwing away fire.
arms. hiding provisions In IN" Scrv-
ants care, al. o! whom were tru" 10
The family. or preparing for a has'y
journey
a, this lime The family occupied a
house ., the corner ~ Iwcnty-siN'h
and Fr4uk.iu streets. o. Church lin
Due 90 rs position OBJ. II. hNi' which
ran AN the way DOWN Main Street.
q Commanding view Of the city could
L. 4 .d y long. narrow porch sur
rounding The house on the ground
aoor clrthe- increased the view,
The story ut that morning when