Another bright and
beautiful day.
I walked around the
burnt district this morning. Some seven hundred houses, from Main Street to the
canal, comprising the most valuable stores, and the best business
establishments, were consumed. All the bridges across the James were destroyed,
the work being done effectually. Shells were placed in all the warehouses where
the tobacco was stored, to prevent the saving of any.
The War Department
was burned after I returned yesterday; and soon after the flames were arrested,
mainly by the efforts of the Federal troops.
Gen. Weitzel
commanded the troops that occupied the city upon its abandonment.
The troops do not
interfere with the citizens here any more than they do in New York—yet. Last
night everything was quiet, and perfect order prevails.
A few thousand
negroes (mostly women) are idle in the streets, or lying in the Capitol Square,
or crowding about headquarters, at the Capitol.
Gen. Lee's family
remain in the city. I saw a Federal guard promenading in front of the door, his
breakfast being just sent to him from within.
Brig. Gen. Gorgas's
family remain also. They are Northern-born.
It is rumored that
another great battle was fought yesterday, at Amelia Court House, on the
Danville Road, and that Lee, Johnston and Hardee having come up, defeated
Grant. It is only rumor, so far. If it be true, Richmond was evacuated prematurely;
for the local defense troops might have held it against the few white troops
brought in by Weitzel. The negroes never would have been relied on to take it
by assault.
I see many of the
civil employees left behind. It was the merest accident (being Sunday) that any
were apprised, in time, of the purpose to evacuate the city. It was a shameful
abandonment on the part of the heads of departments and bureaus.
Confederate money is
not taken to-day. However, the shops are still closed.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 470
