Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05

States near this town. to whom 1t was first
delivered, by consent of Gen. Patrick, who bore
it from you, as am informed; and am au-
thorized by the commander of the Confederate
Army to say that there was no delay in passing
it through his hands to me-
"In regard to the matters complained of by
you, the firing of shots upon your troops oc-
CURED upon the northern suburbs of the town.
and was the act of the military officer COM
manding the Confederate forces near here, for
which matter (neither) the citizens nor civil
authorities of this town responsible. In
regard TO the other matters of complaint, am
authorized by the latter officer to say that he
condition Of things therein complained of shall
no longer exist: that your troops shall not be
fired on from this town; that the mills and
manufactures here viii not furnish any further
supplies provisions or material for clothing
for the Confederate troops, nor will the rail-
roads or other means Of trans portation here
convey supplies from the town to the depOtS of
said troops.
G.0UTSIDE OF the town the civil authorities
Of Fredericksburg have no control, but
am assured by the military authorities Of the
Confederate Army near here that nothing will
!. Be done by them to infringe the conditions
herein named as TO matters within the town.
But the latter authorities inform us that. while
their troops will not occupy the town, they will
not permit yours to do So
more than three or four hours of daylight
within the 16 hours given by you for the re-
noval of the sick and wounded, the women and
children, the aged and infirm from this place.
and have to inform you that, while there is
no railroad transportation accessible to the
town, because of the interruption thereof by
your batteries, all other means of transporta-
ton within the town are so limited as to render
the removal of the classes of persons spoken of
within the time Indicated an utter impossi-
bility
st have convened the Council which will
remain in session. awaiting any further COM
munications you may have 10 make.
VERY respectfully. your ohedient servant.
NJ SLAUGHTER,
Mayor"
Though this order was modified for the time
being yet the time soon came when, for their
own personal safety. the people were compelled
to leave their homes, some with no place 10 go.
But such are the hardships of war. And well
for them that they did, for the conditions there
after the battle must have been frighkful. One
contemporary writer's tells that:
NO one could better understand what war Is
than By taking . stroll through the streets of
the almost destroyed City of Fredericksburg
Turn where you will and your eye meets some
evidence Of the terrific FIRE that was hurled
from cur guns into the streets and dwellings.
Nothing appears to have escaped Roofs. walls,
fences, trees and chimneys are perforated; and
In some instanoes 10 such an extent that the
side Of house presents the appearance Of
huge pepper box the holes are 50 numerous and
regular. while Immediately beside II are the
smoking remains of what once was q stately
dwelling. Some Of the houses on the river
front are completely torn TO pieces. and as one
turned from one street to another the question
would naturally arise to his mind. How could
anything remain here and live? And yet,
strange to say, people did remain. and have
yet 10 learn Of any casualty to those who did
50. Quite number. after the fashion of the
citizens Of Sharpsburg. took their families into
the cellars Of their houses and there remained
in safety. In one house found about a dozen