Garnett, James S., lost a leg; since died. Harris, Joseph N., died since the war. Jones, Levi, died since the war. King, George H., was the last man killed at Gettysburg in his company, a few yards from the enemy's line. Merryman, James, died soon after the war. Meador, Robert J., wounded at Gettysburg and died since. Meador, Mike, died since the war. Meador, John L., died in 1861. Shores, Thomas, died since the war. Wootton, John and A. W., died since the war. There were twenty-eight wounded and five who lost limbs during the war, and one had his leg, which was wounded, amputated since the war. [From the Richmond, Va., Dispatch, July 4, 1897.] RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. THE EVACUATION OF THE CITY AND THE DAYS PRECEDING IT. How the News was Received in Danville-Some of the Closing Scenes of the Confederacy Vividly Recalled. (Colonel J. H. AVERILL in Nashville Banner.) The coming of the remnants of that army in gray, whose deeds so astonished the world a third of a century ago, and the presence among us here of the last survivor of the cabinet of President Davis, brings vividly back some of the closing scenes of the Southern Confederacy, in which the writer participated, and which were several years since written out, and are here retold at the request of the Banner. The scene I will describe pertains to the evacuation of Richmond and the fifteen days immediately following. The writer was at the time trainmaster of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, and stationed at Danville, Va., the road then running only from Richmond to Danville, there connecting with the Piedmont road to Greensboro, N. C. How this railroad line, then the mainstay of the Southern Confederacy, the only line of communication between its capital and the Southern States, has grown and extended its lines; how the old Richmond and Danville went down, as the Confederation of States it supported, and how, from that wreck, has arisen the now well-known Southern Railway, permeating every Southern State! Can the growth of that system in any way be attributed to the rapid growth and improvement of the South, and can we paint the picture of the two eras as having any connection? But to our story: It is well remembered by all who lived in the closing days of the Confederacy that the first official news of the intended evacuation of Richmond on that Sunday in April was communicated to its citizens in church, and through the hurried calling. of the President from church. Our first intimation of it was not in being called from church, but at noon on that quiet Sabbath day in Danville, for it was quiet there, 140 miles away from the city, which was so soon to witness the sad dest scene in its history. On being awakened from a sound sleep, the first I had enjoyed for twenty-four hours (for in those days a railroad-man slept when he could, and that was not often), by the telegraph operator with the information that "Richmond says come to the key at once." Reporting there as soon as possible, I soon received the following: "Hold all trains in Danville; send nothing out." Having heard nothing of impending danger to Lee's army, or of the probability of the evacuation, I asked the reason for the order. None was given, and our construction of it then was that Richmond had news of a raid out from the Federal army, and that it was feared that our lines would be cut between Burkeville and the Staunton river. We took our local wire and interrogated the operators on the line for news of the raiders, but they knew nothing. It was time for the regular passenger train to leave for Richmond. Many passengers were gathering, and the question was frequently asked, "Where is the train? Why is it not at the platform? What is the matter?" Leaving time had come and passed. Then those of the passengers who lived in Richmond grew anxious and suspicious. I was questioned on all sides, but could tell nothing. Soon, however, another message came as follows: "Come to Richmond with all engines and empty passenger and box-cars you can pick up. Bring no freight or passengers. " We got the four engines we had in the yard ready to run with what cars we had, and reported for running orders, and were told to await. further instructions. They came. I have them yet. The message was short, and read as follows : "Too late. Richmond is being evacuated. We will all leave this P. M. Arrange for all track room possible in Danville." Now we must tell the waiting, expecting passengers. It was a scene never to be forgotten. One man shed tears as he came and offered any amount I would name for an engine to take him to Richmond, where his wife and children were. Others seemed to be completely crushed and unable to express themselves. Some walked off looking as though they had lost their all. Soon Danville knew the story, and the noble people of that Virginia city began their preparation to receive and take care of as many of the refugees as possible. Daylight brought the first trainthe President of the Confederacy, his Cabinet, their families and many members of Congress. Other trains soon followed. There were women and children in box-cars, many without baggage, few with anything to eat. It was a sad scene, but the doors of the Danville houses were wide open, an old Virginia welcome met the refugees, and they were soon housed as comfortably as possible. We then knew all in regard to the evacuation of Petersburg, and that Lee and his generals, with that gallant remnant of our Army of Northern Virginia were (we could not realize it then), in retreat, as we supposed, moving to join Johnston's army, and we were ordered to prepare to take trains of supplies to them at Mattoax Station, where they would cross the railroad. There were large government storehouses in Danville, all filled to the ceiling, as well as many loaded cars, awaiting shipment. Trains of supplies were made up, but it was slow work. The yard was crowded with cars. Cabinet Ministers and their families and other prominent people, living in box cars, were in our way, and we could not get rid of them, but did the best we could. Our first train was ready when the order came to hold it. Lee had not been heard from. The next we heard it was too late; he had crossed the road, going in the direction of Appomattox, and no provisions in sight to feed the starving soldiers, while there were thousands of rations in the storehouses and cars in Danville, soon to be raided and plundered by a mob. Some one blundered Time passed rapidly. There was no opportunity for sleep or rest. I was in the yard busily engaged in getting a train off for Greensboro'. The assistant superintendent came up and said: "John, come here." I joined him. "Lee has surrendered." I felt as though the ground had opened up under me. He was an operator, and had caught the news off the wire as it was flashed to President Davis. It was then 3 P. M., and at 5 P. M. an aide of the President came down and ordered an engine, a flat-car, a stock-car a box-car, and a passenger coach, to carry President Davis and party to Greensboro', then held by General Johnston. The train was made ready, but one after another of the President's Cabinet and men of prominence arranged with the President's staff officer for their box-car to be taken on. All this took time, but, with as much haste as possible, car after car was added, until ten cars composed the train. We told them we could take no more. They, however, insisted, and two more were added. The engine was in bad order, and blew out a cylinder-head five miles from Danville. More time was lost in getting another engine to take its place. When the morning dawned the operator said the wire to Greensboro' was gone, and it was impossible to obtain information of the President's train. We did not, however, wait long. Soon the tick, tick of the instrument was heard. I asked the operator who it was. He said Beneja," a station eleven miles from Greensboro'. What?" said he. "Ah, this is the reply: 'Watchman at Big Troublesome Trestle is here. Says just at dawn as train passed going to Greensboro', Yankees came out and burned trestle, missing train by only two minutes.' The President had a narrow escape; the road was broken, and we were cut off from the South. Soon, however, we had the wires in working order, but the dawn of day brought other trouble to us in Danville, and we gave very little thought to the Greensboro' end. Shifting the scene, I come down to the picturesque old town of Washington, Ga., where recently I had pointed out the house in which President Davis and his party stopped on' their retreat. Here was held the last official meeting of the Confederate government; here the President and his Cabinet gave up the cause as lost, and each member undertook to provide as best he could for his own safety. Had I the notes of the memorable journey from Danville to Washington, Ga., the meeting with Johnston at Greensboro', pages could be written of this meeting. The journey from Greensboro' to Charlotte, the flight from that point through South Carolina, and last, that final meeting at Washington, are all events of greatest interest, and columns could be written; but these notes cannot be obtained in time for this article. AN EXPLOSION. But to resume our story at Danville. As stated before, there were warehouses filled with provisions, stores, etc., for the army. The neighboring hills of Virginia and North Carolina and the valley of the River Dan were well populated. The news of the fall of Richmond, the surrender of Lee, and the flight of the Confederate Government had been carried to them. Many stragglers from the army had already reached Danville; in fact, they had been coming daily since the retreat of Lee from Petersburg. With the dawn of day women and children, old and young, began to pour in from the surrounding country and congregated in crowds around the warehouses. There was a rear guard of two companies left to protect the property; they tried to stop the rising storm. The crowd only waited for a leader. Soon one was found in a tall woman, who, with the cry, "Our children and we'uns are starving; the Confederacy is gone up; let us help ourselves," started in, followed by hundreds. Aided by the stragglers, the unresisting guards were soon swept out of the |