Interesting Narrative – Meeting of the Citizens of Richmond – The City will be Surrendered – Rebel Deserters – Eighty-six Rebel Prisoners Refuse to Return – Jeff. Davis Gone to Alabama.
From the Washington Republican, May 15.
About dark last night our city was on the qui vue of interest at the arrival of the Federal prisoners, which left Richmond a few days since.
They were eight hundred strong, and as they passed from the river to the depot the people generally turned out to see them, and their hearty cheers at the sight of the stars and stripes along the route announced their joy at once more being free.
Their narrative of the incidents of their journey here is very interesting. Last Sunday it was announced to them that they were to be released on parole. At 10 o’clock at night they were taken out of their place of confinement, which was once the store and commission house of Luther Libby, on Cary street near Eighteenth, and marched down Carry and Main streets, to Rockett’s, where they embarked. Many a handkerchief was quietly and stealthily waved at them by fair hands, which testified of Union hearts, as they passed along the streets to embark. They were put on board of the two rebel steamers Curtis Peck and Northampton, and left the wharf at Rockett’s at about 12 o’clock, midnight, and proceeded down the river.
The next (Monday) morning, at about 10 o’clock, came in sight of the ancient town of Jamestown, and soon after their joyful eyes caught sight of the stars and stripes as they waved from the Union gunboats, the Galena and Arostook [sic]. How their hearts leaped with joy! And over the waters of the James three times three cheers reverberated along the rebel shores, from nearly a thousand loyal hearts! – The rebel boats displayed the flag of truce. They did not dare to have even a rebel flag on board. Here they stopped for about one hour, and received directions from Captain Rodgers as to how the prisoners should be disposed of. They then passed the three Union gunboats, and went down the river. Met the Monitor at Harden’s Bluff, twenty or thirty miles from Newport News. The Monitor was just passing the rebel batteries at Harden’s Bluff. The rebels opened fire on the Monitor, pouring their shot right across the bows of the flag of truce vessels.
The Monitor passed on without noticing the batteries. The Captain of the Monitor put his head up out of the turret or “cheese-box,” and shouted out to the Union prisoners, “Why don’t you give ‘em a pill over in those batteries?” shouted one of the prisoners. “We don’t notice such small fry – got better fish up the river to take care of,” was the reply, and the “cheese box” steamed on up the river without noticing the batteries. Arriving at Newport News, the prisoners were transferred to the Federal steamers Hero and Wm. Kent. Here for the first time, they learned that Norfolk was taken, and heard the fate of the Merrimac. And strange to say, the rebel guard which accompanied them down were equally ignorant of these facts.
This, or something else, had a strange effect on the 25 men, accompanying them, who were a portion of Jeff. Davis’ body guard, for only eight of the number returned in the rebel steamers. The orderly sergeant set the example by throwing his gun overboard, and swearing he would fight no longer for the Confederacy. A dozen more guns followed, and the men passed over into the Union boats, and promptly took the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government.
Eighty rebel prisoners, who were waiting to go on board the rebel steamers, refused to return to the service of the Confederacy, and asked to have the oath of allegiance administered to them also; and the proper officers from Newport News came on board and administered the oath, much to their satisfaction.
The Hero and William Kent brought the Richmond prisoners up to this city, and they arrived here last night, and are now quartered at the “Soldier’s Rest,” near the Baltimore depot.
Many interesting incidents are related by these prisoners. We have time to relate only a few.
A meeting was held at Richmond, by the citizens, soon after the evacuation of Yorktown, which was a very exciting one, and prolonged for three days. A tough fight was had over the question of “surrender or burn,” and it was at last decided in favor of surrendering the city, if they were forced to it, though the “roughs,” who own no property, tried hard to defeat the measure.
The rebels are to make a stand about a dozen miles out of the city, and say they will make a desperate fight before they will lose the city. – They say they have got McClellan in a trap, as they have erected their batteries in the face of a swamp, into which the Federal army will be entrapped.
Immediately after the evacuation of Yorktown the greatest panic prevailed in Richmond. – Wagons, ambulances, horses, wounded soldiers, stragglers, etc., were pouring into the city day and night for several days. Large numbers of families began to back up and leave for the South. It is said that Jeff. Davis has gone to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Provisions, etc., are very scarce and high. – Their food was scanty and of the meanest kind and the prison discipline very rigid.
John Minor Botts is released on parole, although he is virtually a prisoner in his own house. He is not allowed to leave his country seat, near Richmond.
The Union Sentiment is strong, and its development on the increase.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 2
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