Great news this morning. A raid is being made on Richmond by
Kilpatrick, Rebels manning their forts in sight of us. All are at work, women,
children, in fact everybody who can shovel. No cars running over the big
bridge. Double guards placed over us and the greatest activity prevails among
them. It is really amusing to see them flying around and many are the jokes at
their expense. All business is suspended in Richmond; no papers issued, and
everybody with their guns or working utensils. Brass bands are playing their
best to encourage the broken down Confederacy. A portion of the congress came
over this afternoon to take a look at us, among whom were Davis, Benjamin and
Howell Cobb. They are a substantial looking set of men and of the regular
southern cut The broad brim hats, gold headed canes and aristocratic toss of
the head, alone would tell who they were. They are a proud, stern set of men
and look as if they would like to brush us out of existence. Still we are not
going to be brushed out so easy and they found men among us who were not afraid
to stare, or hold our heads as high as their lordships. A band accompanied them
and played the Bonnie Blue Flag, which was hissed and groaned at by the
Yankees, and in return a thousand voices sang Yankee Doodle, very much to their
discomfiture.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
31
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