60 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



to retake it, and were nearly successful, when, 

 by the approach of the 6th corps on the left, 

 he was once more driven back. The following 

 telegraphic despatches relate the progress of 

 the day : 



Crrr POINT, VA., April 22 p. M. 

 Hon. Edwin M. Stanlon, Secretary of War: 

 At 10:45 A. M. Gen. Grant telegraphs as follows: 

 "Everything has been carried from the left of the 

 9th corps. The 6th corps alone captured more than 

 three thousand prisoners. The 2d and 24th corps 

 captured forts, guns, and prisoners from the enemy, 

 but I cannot tell the numbers. 



"We are now closing around the works of the line 

 immediately enveloping Petersburg. All looks re- 

 markably well. I have not yet heard from Sheridan. 

 Hie headquarters have been moved up to Banks' 

 House, near the Boydton road, about three miles 

 southwest of Petersburg." A. LINCOLN. 



SECOND DESPATCH. 



CITY POINT, VA., April 28:30 p. M. 

 Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 



At 4:30 p. M. to-day Gen. Grant telegraphed as fol- 

 lows : 



" We are now up, and have a continuous line of 

 troops, and in a few hours will be intrenched from 

 the Appomattox, below Petersburg, to the river 

 above. The whole captures since the army started 

 out will not amount to less than twelve thousand 

 men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery. I do 

 not know the number of men and guns accurately, 

 however. 



"A portion of Foster's division, 24th corps, made 

 a most gallant charge this afternoon, and captured a 

 very important forrfrom the enemy, with its entire 

 garrison. 



" All seems well with us, and every thing is quiet 

 just now." A.' LINCOLN. 



During the afternoon of the same day Gen. 

 Lee, finding his army no longer able to main- 

 tain its position, gave orders for the evacuation 

 of Richmond and Petersburg. This was ac- 

 complished during the night. This evacuation 

 was early discovered by the troops before those 

 cities. As they advanced to take possession of 

 Petersburg, the Mayor of the city appeared 

 with the following communication : 



To Lieut.- Gen. Grant, commanding the armies of the 

 United States, or the Major- General commanding 

 United States forces in front of Petersburg. 

 GENERAL : The city of Petersburg having been evac- 

 uated by the Confederate troops, we, a committee 

 authorized by the Common Council, do hereby sur- 

 render the city to the United States forces, with a 

 request for the protection of the persons and property 

 of its inhabitants. 



We are, respectfully, vonr obedient servants, 

 W. W. TOWNES, Mayor. 

 D'ARCY PAUL, 

 CHARLES F. COLLIERS. 



Seldom was a city occupied by a besieging 

 army with less disorder or damage to private 

 property. A writer who was present says: 

 " The citizens did not show themselves during 

 the fore part of the day, but after discovering 

 that our soldiers were orderly and well-behaved, 

 with no disposition to disturb any one, they be- 

 gan to make their appearance at the doors and 

 windows of their residences, and later in the 

 day even entering familiarly into conversation, 

 many of them expressing their joy quietly that 

 the Confeds had gone, and hoping that the war 

 would soon be over. For more than a month 



past rebel troops have been receiving less ra- 

 tions than ever before, only just enough being 

 brought in to last from day to day. The citi- 

 zens say they have suffered much, but it is well 

 to take such stories with a good deal of allow- 

 ance. The rebels managed to get away all 

 their artillery, excepting one or two old Colum- 

 biads and a few heavy mortars, which they 

 could not transport readily. The city presents 

 a very cleanly and respectable appearance, and 

 there are many residences here that would do 

 no discredit to Fifth avenue, New York. Many- 

 of the houses in the lower part of the city have 

 been badly injured by the shot and shell 

 thrown from our batteries last summer, and 

 since that time most of the houses located there 

 have been vacant." 



The occupation of Richmond is thus De- 

 scribed. : 



WAS DEPAKTMENT, WASHINGTON, ) 

 Wednesday, April 510:20 p. u. J 

 To 3fajor- General Dix ; 



The following details respecting the capture of 

 Richmond and its occupation by the Union forces, 

 have been telegraphed to this department from that 

 city. EDWIN M. STANTON, 



Secretary of War. 



General Weitzel learned, at 3 o'clock on the morn- 

 ing of Monday, that Richmond was being evacuated, 

 and at daylight moved forw'ard, first taking care to 

 give his men breakfast, in the expectation that they 

 might have to fight. He met no opppsition, and on en- 

 tering the city was greeted with hearty welcome from 

 the mass of the people. The Mayor went out to meet 

 him and to surrender the city, but missed him on the 

 road. Gen. Weitzel found much suffering and pov- 

 erty among the population. The rich as well as the 

 poor are destitute of food. He is about to issue sup- 

 plies to all who take the oath. The inhabitants now 

 number about twenty thousand, half of them of Afri- 

 can descent. 



It is not true that Jeff. Davis sold his furniture be- 

 fore leaving. It is all in his house, where I am now 

 writing. He left at 7 P. M. by the Danville Railroad. 

 All the members of Congress escaped. Hunter has 

 gone home. Gpv. Smith went with the army. Judge 

 Campbell remains here. 



Gen. Weitzel took here one thousand prisoners, 

 besides the wounded. These number five thousand, 

 in nine hospitals. ' He captured cannon to .the num- 

 ber of at least five hundred pieces. Five thousand 

 muskets have been found in one lot. Thirty loco- 

 motives and three hundred cars are found here. The 

 Petersburg railroad bridge is totally destroyed ; that 

 of the Danville road partially, so that connection with 

 Petersburg is not easily made. All the rebel vessels 

 are destroyed except an unfinished ram, which has 

 her machinery in her perfect. The Tredegar Works 

 are unharmea, and the machinery was taken to-day 

 under Gen. Weitzel's orders. Libby Prison and Cas- 

 tle Thunder have also escaped the fire, and are filled 

 with rebel prisoners of war. Most of the editors 

 have fled, especially John Mitchell. The Whig ap- 

 peared yesterday as a Union paper, with the name 

 of the former proprietor at the head. The theatre 

 opens here to-night. Gen. Weitzel describes the re- 

 ception of the President yesterday as enthusiastic in 

 the extreme. 



The fire in the city commenced in the Shoc- 

 koo warehouse, filled with tobacco, as well as 

 the large granary establishment on Carey Street 

 near Twenty-third Street. It was very destruc- 

 tive, consuming quite one-third of the city ; and 

 in addition to destroying the "War Department, 



