their battles in the Mississippi valley, and received the final surrender of the principal army opposed to them in North Carolina. The armies of the East commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of their old antagonists at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories, removed all sectional jealousics-of which we have unfortu nately experienced too much-and the cause of crimination and recrimination that might have followed had either section failed in its duty. All have a proud record, and all sections can well congratulate themselves and each other for having done their full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of territory belonging to the United States. Let them hope for perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood, however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of valor.-[" Grant's Memoirs," Vol. II, p. 632.

In this spirit of appreciation of each other's services, and of magnanimity toward the South, in which the North was fast coming to appreciate their disadvantages, and the desolations they had suffered from the war, the review closed. And these 200,000, who represented the million and a half of men who had been engaged in the service, laid by their arms and uniforms and sank back into their citizenship again. And it took place as naturally and quietly as the snows of winter melt into the returning spring and freshen the verdure which is to hide the ravages of war.

With the review and disbandment of our armies, and the testimony of these two great commanders to their heroic qualities and equal merits, came the relief and satisfaction, both to the South and of the North, that the war was over. As showing what this state of feeling was at the capital of the Confederacy, the personal observations of the writer, soon after the evacuation, are given in the form of "A Visit to Richmond." A photograph of Governor Buckingham's hasty letter to his brother, announcing the evacuation of the city, and its being first occupied by some of his colored troops, is also given.

Richmond was evacuated by the rebels

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419

CHAPTER XXVI.

A VISIT TO RICHMOND.

Personal Observations in the City Soon After its Evacuation-The Temper of the People-The Disposition to Accept the Result of the War and Cultivate Friendship.

In May, 1865, a month or six weeks after the city fell into our possession, the writer left Springfield, Mass., with a dozen friends, to find out what we could of the condition of things there. The city was under martial law and full of Confederate prisoners gathered there to be sent by our government to their homes. Not only were these prisoners fed by our government, but the inhabitants of the city were mostly dependent for their daily bread upon the same supply. For the close blockade and long investment of Richmond, and especially the blowing up by the Confederate commanders before they left, of the warehouses and provision depots of the city, and the destruction of the railroad bridges, and leaving the city on fire, which destroyed one-third of the business part of it, left the inhabitants as destitute of all needful supplies as can well be conceived. The best residences, and such as had not been reached by the fire, had evidently not been repaired or painted since the war began. It was the days of hoop skirts among the ladies, but not one was seen there; they were not manufactured and they could not be imported. Their clothing was scanty and out of fashion, showing how they had suffered in this respect. It was enough to change all resentment into pity, to witness their condition. And the fortitude and self-respect with which the people bore their

humiliation, and the freedom with which they consulted us, as to what could be done for their relief, won our highest respect.

The impression among them at first was that our party must be a government commission, sent to get information, or to regulate affairs. But when answered that we had no connection with the government, and that if we could do anything for them in the way of advice, or influence with the government, we were ready to use it, they gave us their confidence, so that we mingled freely with the citizens and with the prisoners, and soon found that a visit of curiosity might be made a mission of helpfulness, both to them and to the government, and this we endeavored to make it. Mr. Lincoln had been assassinated, and they knew they had lost their best friend. Mr. Johnson, the Vice-President, who had succeeded to the presidency, they feared, for though a Southerner, he was a man of strong prejudices and freakish disposition. "What are you going to do with us, now that you have conquered us?" was their inquiry. "We have done all we could to have a separate government, but have failed. And now do you want to shut us out of our old privileges and punish us all you can, or will you make us citizens again, and let us go home, and help us build up the ruins of the South?" This, we assured them, was what the North was anxious to do, and if in the bitterness of the strife we had felt revengeful, it was now over, and like Mr. Lincoln, and General Grant, and General Sherman, we only wished them to become good citizens again, and enjoy greater prosperity than they had ever known under the old Union. The easy terms of surrender, and the permission given to their officers and soldiers to take their horses and mules, and to begin again the cultivation of their lands, was heartily approved of by the North. And if they would allow social intercourse, and Northern business to come in, we should in time

become a more united nation than we ever had been, and the South a much richer portion of it. Such views and feelings, especially in such circumstances, were not likely to encounter much opposition. And we soon found ourselves with opportunities enough for helping the South and helping the government.

Several of our party had either lived in Richmond or been there on business, and they found their acquaintances glad enough to see them and get the benefit of their advice. We were specially invited to meet one evening several of the principal men of the city, and talk over the situation of affairs. The question with them, as with everybody, was: "What are you going to do with us? How does your government propose to treat us? And what can we do on our part to secure the most favorable treatment?" All their difficulties were frankly stated, and their fears expressed. They were under martial law. They were mostly dependent upon the government for daily rations, and some member of those old Virginia families, often the lady of the house, or her youthful daughter, attended by her colored servant, was obliged to take the oath of allegiance at the lips of some young lieutenant, as the only condition of obtaining aid, while her servant, perhaps, was rejoicing over her humiliation. The property of the city was virtually confiscated by the government, at least their places of business and manufacturing establishments were closed, and work stopped. Those thousands of prisoners who were being gathered into the city from every quarter and sent off as fast as possible, made it impossible that ordinary business should be done there for a long time. No wonder all were asking for advice. And when, at that first conference, the whole subject was opened with us, we were glad to honor their confidence and give them all the information and advice that we could furnish. As for information, I remember, when