Diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut: April 7, 1865

Richmond has fallen and I have no heart to write about it. Grant broke through our lines and Sherman cut through them. Stoneman is this side of Danville. They are too many for us. Everything is lost in Richmond, even our archives. Blue black is our horizon. Hood says we shall all be obliged to go West — to Texas, I mean, for our own part of the country will be overrun.

Yes, a solitude and a wild waste it may become, but, as to that, we can rough it in the bush at home.

De Fontaine, in his newspaper, continues the old cry. “Now Richmond is given up,” he says, “it was too heavy a load to carry, and we are stronger than ever.” “Stronger than ever?” Nine-tenths of our army are under ground and where is another army to come from? Will they wait until we grow one?

SOURCES: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 377

Reverend James Freeman Clarke to Anna Huidekoper Clarke, April 4, 1865

New York, April 4, 1865.

What good news! These things seem to come as apples fall when they are ripe; we pull at them in spring and summer and they hold on, but at last drop of themselves so quietly that we hardly notice it. Abolition of slavery, fall of Charleston, fall of Richmond, — when they arrive they are like things foreordained from the foundation of the world. But there is a sad story to follow of losses, — another great flood of grief to rush over the land, giving its pathetic minor to the music of thanksgiving. But let us hope that the end has come.  . . . We heard of the fall of Richmond, at Springfield. It startled Henry B. Rogers into such unwonted enthusiasm that he clapped a hand on each of my shoulders, and half embraced me. “Negro troops too,” said he, “think of that!” I did think of it, with grateful tears, in my heart if not in my eyes, to that great Wisdom who does all things well. . . .

I shall see Dr. Bellows this morning, — ride down Broadway to Wall Street, and see how the city looks, then come and work on my sermon till the last minute. Let us trust that whether it be good or bad, the Master may make it good to the hearers in its influence and results.

SOURCE: Edwin Everett Hale, Editor, James Freeman Clarke: Autobiography, Diary and Correspondence, p. 290-1

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Eliza Walter Smith, April 24, 1865

Headquarters District Of South Alabama,

Fort Gaines, Ala., April 24, 1865.

My Dear Mother:

You must not feel vexed, as you say you are, in reference to Carr's getting my command.

The rough and tumble of an active campaign in this climate at this season of the year, with my shattered constitution, would be fatal. The wear and tear of the last four years has told upon me, and I am constantly warned to guard against exposure. Here I am comparatively comfortable, and though I cannot hope while exposed to the baleful influence of malaria to be well, I may ward off prostrating sickness. So that, take the matter in all its bearings, it is probably for the best that I should have been disposed of as I am for the present.

You say in reference to the fall of Richmond that you “cannot but feel the key is reached and rebellion unsealed.” It may be that it is unsealed; but it is not yet crushed, and you need not lay the flattering unction to your soul that peace is at hand, or that the rebellion is crushed. I notice by the Northern papers that the people are drunk with joy and jubilee. Instead of maintaining a quiet dignity, tumultuous pressure has been made to grasp the enemy by the hand and to kill the fatted calf and welcome the prodigal back. The rebels laugh in their sleeves. The North has not yet learned how to make war upon its adversary. But I don't intend to croak or play the bird of ill omen; the signs of the times are pregnant; millions of people in this nation are going up and down smarting with a sense of personal injury, mourning brothers, sons, husbands, fathers, sweathearts slain, homesteads burned, altars desecrated, property destroyed. There is no peace with these in this generation. In my judgment, there is just one hope for us now, and that is a war with a foreign power that would have the effect of uniting the belligerents. I have now prisoners with me, three generals and their staffs, Liddell, Cockrel, and Thomas. I guarantee that I can enlist all or the major part of them to go with me to Mexico or Canada to fight under the stars and stripes. But they won't go home to be contented. Neither men nor women will consent to go back to ruined plantations, depopulated cities, abandoned villages, and, without the aid of the peculiar institution, essay to rebuild, reconquer the wilderness, recreate a fortune without grumbling, and the bitterness of spirit will soon find occasion for fresh outbreak

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 391-2

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith, April 11, 1865

Headquarters District Of South Alabama,

Fort Gaines, Ala., April 11, 1865.

I wrote you the day before yesterday, since which time the glorious news from Richmond I alluded to has been corroborated; and meanwhile we have had great success before Mobile. Spanish Fort has been reduced; carried by assault; five hundred prisoners and an equal number of the enemy killed and wounded. “Blakely” has also been carried, and two thousand five hundred prisoners captured. It is now with us only a question of time, though the garrison at Mobile and the fortifications are still making an obstinate defence. The enemy fights with great gallantry, but must ultimately succumb. Our navy, in this siege, has not displayed much enterprise or great gallantry. An excuse may be found in the demoralizing effect of the torpedoes that sunk three of their best ships. The particulars of the news you will get through the public prints before my letter reaches you. I hope my letters do reach you. I write often two or three or four times a week. No letters to me from anybody yet save the three from you dated at Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, and Cairo. I am really heartsick for letters from home.

I sailed up Mobile Bay yesterday through the fleet and close in sight of the city, whose spires and housetops, wharfs and boats, reminded me of the distant views I used to have of Vicksburg during the siege.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 386-7

Diary of Corydon E. Fuller: Tuesday, April 4, 1865

During the day great preparations had been made for the grand illumination to come off in the evening. About 7½ o'clock P. M., we rode to the city, with Bro. Summy's people, and remained until near 10½ o’clock. We rode down Seventh street, past the Post-office, to E street; then along that street to Ninth street; then down Ninth street to Pennsylvania avenue, and then up the avenue to the War Department, where we left the carriage and walked down Seventeenth street, past the War Department, nearly to the Navy Department. Four bands were at the War Department, and made excellent music all the evening. Over the north portico was erected a magnificent evergreen arch, beneath which was suspended a transparency with the motto, “The Union must and shall be preserved,” and beneath, the word “Richmond.” The pillars were wreathed with flags, and in each window were twenty-four lights. The effect was very brilliant. Several thousand people filled the avenue and Seventeenth street, both north and west of the War Department. The Navy Department, Winder's building, the “Art Hall,” and several other buildings near, were brilliantly illuminated, and added much to the effect. We then went around to the President's house, which was a blaze of light; while from Lafayette Square beautiful rockets were sent up, exploding in a shower of stars. We next went down the avenue past the Treasury. Over the north door of the State Department, which is in the Treasury building, was the motto, “At home, Union is Order, and Order is Peace; Abroad, Union is Strength, and Strength is Peace.” Over the east door the motto was, “Peace and good will to all nations, but no entangling alliances and no intervention.” Over the door of the National Currency Bureau of the United States Treasury Department, was the motto, “U. S. Greenbacks and U. S. Grant; Grant gives the Greenbacks a metallic ring.” Below this was another transparency presenting a facsimile of a ten dollar compound interest note. Jay Cooke's banking office had transparencies as follows: over the north window, “5-20”; over the south window, “7-30.” These were connected by another, bearing the inscription. “The bravery of our Army, the valor of our Navy, sustained by our Treasury, upon the faith and persistence of a patriotic people.” Hundreds of other buildings were illuminated, but I can not mention them. We walked down Pennsylvania avenue as far as Seventh street; then up Seventh street to the Post-office, and down F street, stopping in front of the Patent Office, where some ten or fifteen thousand persons were congregated, listening to speeches. We did not go up to the Capitol, as the cars were crowded and the walk too much for Mary. It was very brilliantly illuminated to the very top of the dome, and in the distance presented a magnificent spectacle. Taken as a whole, the illumination was by far the best I have ever seen, and is said to have been the best ever seen in this city.

SOURCE: Corydon Eustathius Fuller, Reminiscences of James A. Garfield: With Notes Preliminary and Collateral, p. 376-7

Diary of Corydon E. Fuller: Monday, April 3, 1865

Richmond has fallen! The flag of the Union waves in triumph over the rebel Capitol! The news reached the War Department about 11 o'clock this forenoon, and such a scene of rejoicing and shouting and general jubilee I have never before seen. Old men acted like boys, and young men are half crazed with delight. The first intimation we had of it in our office was from a wild hurrah from the next floor below, on which is Secretary Stanton's room, and within five minutes at least a thousand men were gathered about the west door, and shouting and shrieking in their wild delight. Every office was abandoned; the clerks determined to take a holiday, and the Secretary of War soon after issued orders to close all the offices. Speeches were made by Secretary Stanton, Vice-President Johnson, Gen. Nye, and others. Salutes were fired all about the city, and not less than five hundred guns spoke in echoing thunder of the glorious victory. Great preparations are being made for a grand illumination. The latest reports say that we have taken 25,000 prisoners, and that the capture of Lee's entire army seems certain.

SOURCE: Corydon Eustathius Fuller, Reminiscences of James A. Garfield: With Notes Preliminary and Collateral, p. 376

A Richmond Editor Alarmed

FORTRESS MONROE, April 14. – A Richmond paper contains an editorial exhibiting considerable fear for the safety of that city. It intimates that the Monitor, Naugatuck and [Galena], all armored vessels, might easily come up the James river, and by their invulnerability and powerful guns take and keep possession of the city. To prevent such a result, it proposes that the channel of James River shall be obstructed by stone, which it says is abundant for the purpose, and should be used at once.

The Merrimac has not come out, and nothing has been seen of her to-day. The tide has been low, and this may have kept her in.

Early in the morning a rebel tug ran out from behind Sewall’s Point but returned. Later in the day there was a large fire in the woods on the point, apparently from the burning of the brush, and gave rise to some speculation that the rebels were building a new battery there.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862

The Capture Of Richmond

The Richmond Examiner has the following editorial:

The Northern mind has settled down upon the purpose of overrunning Virginia and capturing Richmond, the Confederate capital, at every cost. In this enterprise all hearts are enlisted, and upon it all the energies of their Government are best. For this purpose they have assembled an army of 180,000 men, including that of Burnside, which they regard as one of the most formidable in machinery, discipline and equipment that ever took the field. Whatever be the grit and stamina of the men, there is probably no doubt of the fact that it possesses all the advantages which wealth and pains can give to troops.

It is certain that the North regards the demonstration against Richmond as the grand coup of the war, and we need not conceal from ourselves that the danger is serious and formidable.

It is believed that, while heavy bodies of troops will attempt to cross the country from different points on the Potomac, in conjunction with an army marching up the valley from Winchester, the heaviest columns of their forces will be landed from our river estuaries and a march attempted along our eastern peninsulas. No doubt remains that we are approaching momentous and decisive events, and that some of the most important battles that will have a place in history are soon to be joined.

It is not for us to speak of the heavy movements of our own troops that are constantly going on. It is sufficient to say that our Generals are cheerful and ready for the conflict.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Monday, April 14, 1862