News came today that Richmond was taken. I took a walk and
reviewed the rebels' works about here. They were strongly fortified with heavy
ordnance on the high bluff, about two hundred feet above water, with the river
for a distance of two miles running straight to the bluff. This made it a very
dangerous place for our gunboats to approach. But after two days' shelling, our
gunboats with two or three transports succeeded in running the blockade and
landing below the fort.1 The river coming with such force is fast
washing away the bank and we hope that we may soon move from this place. The
Third Brigade of Blair's Division arrived late last night.
__________
1At the time of the capture the first troops
marched down and crossed the river onto high ground some two miles below, while
our main army came Into the rear of the enemy, who were compelled to surrender,
leaving all their heavy guns. — A. G. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 115
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