Year: 1866




A small slip of paper, sen. up from the
War Department to President Davis, as
he was seated in Dis pew in St, Paul's
Church, contained the news of the most
momentous event Of the war.


1t is a most remarkable circumstance
that the people of Richmond had remain
ed in profound ignorance Of The fighting
which had been taking place for three
bays on General Lees lines. There
was not a rumor of it in the air. Not a
news paper Office IN the city had any ink
Eng of what was going on. Indeed for
the past few days there had been visible
reinsurance IN the Confederate capital +,
there were rumors that Johnston was
moving to Lees lines, and general
idea that the combined force would take
the offensive against the enemy. But a
day before Grant had commenced his
heavy movement a curious excitement
had taken place in Richmond. The NOR.
ming train had brought from Petersburg
the wonderful rumor that Gen. Lee had
had made night attack, in which he
had crushed the enemy along his whole
line. John M. Daniel the editor of the
Richmond Examiner, died the same
day under the delusion that such a vict.
ory had been won; and John Mitchell,
who wrote his obituary in the morning
papers, expressed the regret that the
great Virginian had passed away just as
decisive victory was likely to give the
turning point to the success of the South.
ern Confederacy! This circumstance
shows hew little the people of Richmond
were prepared on the bright Sabbath
morning of the I'd of April for the news
that fell upon them like thunderclap
from clear skies, and smote the ear of the
community like the kDell of death.


The report of great misfortune trav-
erses city without the aid of printed
bulletins. But that of the evacuation of
of Richmond fell uFsE n.any incredulous
ears. One could see the quiet streets
stretching away, unmolested by one sim
gle sign of war; across the James the
landscape glistened in the sun every
thing which met the eye spoke of peace,
and made it impossible TO picture in i'm.
aginolion the scene which was to ensue.
There were but few people inthe streets;
no vehicles dist urbed the duiet of the
Sabbath the sound of the church bells
rose in the clOudless sky, and Aoated on
the blue tide of the beautiful day. How
was it possible to imagine thatin the next
twenty four hours war, with its train of
horrors, was TO enter the scene that
this peaceful city, secure position for
four years, was at last to suecomb; that
1t was to be prey to great coufagra-
ton, and that all the hopes Of the South.
ern Confederacy were to De consumed in
one day. as scroll in the fire


As the day wore on, clatter and hustle
in the streets denoted the progress of the
evacuation, and convicted those who hac
been incredulous of its reality. The
streets were thronged with fugiiives ma
| king their way to the railway depots
| pale women and little shoeless childerr
struggled in the crowd oaths and bias
phemous shouts smote the ear. Wagons
we're being hastily loaded at the Depart
ment with boxes, trunks, etc, and driver
to the Danville depot. In the afternoon
special train carried from Richmont
President Davis and some of the Cabine.
AT the Departments all was confusion
there was no system, there was no ans
, wer to the inquiries; important officer
were invisible, and every one felt lik


taking care Of himself. Outside the mas
: of hurrying fugitives, there were collect
ed here and there mean visaged crowds
generally around The commissary depols
$ they were of the brutal and riotous ele
' ment that revenges itself on all commu
q mites in time Of great public misfOrl
: une. g s4l n 71ale.siES8 ss.


The only cOnyOcation, the only seen
> Of council that marked the fall of Rich
/ mOnd, took place in dingy room in
5 corner of the upper story of the Capita
4 building. In this obscure chamber ass
!. embed the City Council Of Richmond, /
+ consult on the emergency, and to :ak
: measures to secure what of order wa
S possible in the scenes about to ensue.
/ appeared to represent all that was left
2 2 deliberatiOn in the Confederate capita
: II was painful contrast TO look in upo
" this scene to traverse the now almo
silent Capital House, so often vocal Wi
: oratory and crowded with the busy seer
of legislation to hear the echo of It
in foot step, and at last to climb 10 the di
e NAL show Of councilmen in the reno
! = rom where half dozen men sat at
y rude table, and not SO many vacant idle
llIsteped to their proceedings. At d