A Good Day for Lincoln

[L Verge]

I suspect that many of our readers do not remember that today, April 2, marks the 149th anniversary of the evacuation and burning of Richmond, Virginia, when President Davis receives word from Lee that the Union troops have broken through two places in his lines and it is unlikely that the city can be spared.

In searching for something else, I ran across this letter in the files of the Virginia Military Institute and thought I would share a portion of it:

A Civil War Collection from the VMI Archives
The Evacuation and Burning of Richmond, Virginia
Oscar F. Weisiger Letter
May 29, 1865, relating events of April 1865
(Manuscript #00285)

Richmond May 29th, 1865
Dear Ward,
It was with much pleasure that I received your letter of the 16th inst. for I have longed wished to hear from you, and should have written if there had been any way of sending a letter.
The night of the 2d ultimo will be memorable to all who were residents of this city. The evacuation was not thought of even by the President who was attending service at St. Paul's.
At 12 o'clock a dispatch was received from Genl. Lee and handed to the President, while in church, to the effect that his- Genl. Lee's - line, had been pierced in two places and that unless he could reinstate them, it would be necessary to evacuate the city that night. It was then
reported throughout the city. Hearing these reports, I started down to the office and on my way saw Genl. Ewell who informed me that the report was true and that Richmond would be evacuated that night at 12 o'clock.
I hurried down to the office and went to work with what force I could collect to box up and ship off the goods on hand. I worked all night but to little purpose, for what goods were sent to the Danville depot remained there until Monday morning and were either consumed by the fire or stolen. Such a scene I never saw before and hope never to see again. The most perfect confusion and disorder reigned.
The troops from the North side of James River were passing from 12 o'clock Sunday night until 7 o'clock Monday morning, the last had scarcely crossed the bridge before the Federal troops entered the City. I cleared my house of every article, what I could not distribute to the troops while passing, I distributed to the citizens at large. It is
fortunate that I did so for in a few hours the building was consumed by fire.
The order as I understand it was to fire the Warehouse which was done early Monday morning and from that hour until late in the evening the fire raged with great fury. The explosion of the Powder Magazine was most fearful, and by it, I regret to say that some 10 or 12 paupers lost their lives.
I cannot begin to describe to you the terrors of that day. It can only be likened to my conception of the Judgement Day. At no time during the war did the fiercest artillery duel equal in bursting of shell the firing of the Laboratory. Every second there was a discharge of shell from early morn to late in the evening to the great danger of the lives of all who lived in the direction of the building. Fortunately no one was injured by the explosion of shell to my knowledge. I scarcely know how to describe to you the extent of the fire so that you will understand it. However I will do the best I can.
The whole business part of the City from 9 to 15th St. is in ashes. The houses on both sides of Cary St. from 9 to 15th St. and all of the houses on the cross streets to the river including Warwicks Mill and all of the houses around the Basin, the Petersburg depot and all the houses
under Gambill's Hill to 5th St. including the state armory, the houses on Main St. from 9th to 15th St. with the exception that on the east side of Main the fire was stopped at Mitchell & Tyler's house, the houses on the west side of Main were destroyed to the Traders Bank which
is opposite to Hening's Store. All of the houses between Main & Bank streets and on Bank were destroyed.
The fire then extended up Franklin Street on the west side to Dr. Cunningham's and on the east side to 2 houses above Dr. Reid's church, burning the Church and Lecture room. The houses on the south side of Governors St. were saved, but those on
the north side were burned. All of the bridges were destroyed. It will be necessary for you to see the ruins to fully understand the extent of this fire.
The result has been just what I predicted three years ago, that when Richmond was given up it would be the death blow to the Confederacy. I did not think however that it would follow so soon. Since the occupation of the City by the Federal Troops the most perfect order has
prevailed. They have no respect for the Negro, and make them toe the mark in every respect. The Negro is nothing like so free as before, except in name. They are kept in very strict discipline, not allowed to stand about the streets, and all made to work.

From this point on, the letter goes into financial details and what will be the fate of commerce.