Tuesday April 4th [1865]

How am I to
recount the events of the past two
days? On Sunday morn' aunt K.
Ma & Mr S. went to church -- upon
their return they heard Richmond
was to be evacuated that night --
the report was so sudden that we
could not credit it at first -- we
thought we would have longer
notice -- and when we were told
the Yankees would be in town
the next morn' Mr S. hooted at
the idea -- but soon a messenger
came from the Clothing Dept. for Mr.
S. to go down immediately to assist in
packing goods to be sent away that
night. While he was gone Willis Beman [?]
came in -- all excitement -- and confirm-
ed the worst reports we had heard --
then came Mr Angerer who alarmed
me very much by saying all the
men from the Depts would be sent
away that night -- so fearing Mr S.
would be one of the number and
that he would not be allowed time
to come home -- Aunt K. and Charles
very bravely started down to his de-
partment about 9 o'clock at night
fortunately it was bright moon-light
and very mild and pleasant -- but
when they got to the Dept. they
found Mr S. had just left for
home -& that he would not have
to leave the city that night -- so
they started home with hearts much
lighter than when they left -- they
got home a little while before Mr S.
he having stopped at a friends
they described the city as being a
scene of confusion -- men & women
hurrying to & fro & wagons & carts
crowding the streets -- Mr S. was
convinced by this time that the enemy
would take possession of the city
the next day -- which banished
sleep from our eyes -- and as we had
various matters to attend to, we did
not retire until 4 o'clock in the morn
I never spent such a night and
hope never may again --
Our forces we[re] leaving ^'the city' all night
the last left about day-light after
setting fire to all the buildings in
which tobacco was stored, several
mills, magazines, etc etc -- by order
it is said of Gen Ewell -- So when
the enemy entered the city they
found many portions of it in
flames -- before the fire was ex-
tinguished 16 squares on Main
St. were containing Richmond's
finest stores -- all the banks --
the War Dept - & the American Hotel
were laid in ruins -- one church
also (Presbyterian) was burnt to the
ground besides many private dwellings
the Arsinel of course, was fired --
and one terrific explosion after an-
other of shells & other amunition
added tenfold to the horrors of
the scene - Such was the
situation of Richmond -- when on
Monday morning April 3rd 1865 the
Yankees entered it, as its conquerors.
About 12 o'clock the Union flag
was raised in Colquitts field
in sight of our house -- about two
squares distant -- and a compa-
ny of sharpshooters stationed there
for the day -- but towards eve' -- they
left and the field taken posession
of by ^'a' negro Regt -- with a number
of covered wagons each drawn
by six mules. We soon had the
^'comfort' of knowing that the enemy did not
come with the intention to plun-
der and burn as we had an-
ticipated -- but that the strictest order
was maintained, & private property
respected -- Mr S. and other gentle-
men in the neighborhood succeed-
ed in having two soldiers detailed
to stand guard with them during
the night -- so we slept feeling per
fectly secure -- though surrounded by
our enemy -- how much more terri
ble was the anticipation than the
reality! This morning every-thing
is quiet in the city, and the Ne-
gro stepping about as grandly
as possible.