Existing comment:
Some of the most dramatic events in Richmond's history occurred during Three Days in April 1865 when the city fell to the Union army after four years of Civil War.
Sunday, April 2 Quotations
"It is absolutely necessary that we should abandon our position tonight."
-- General Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis
"The war will end now... The young men's lives will be saved."
-- Elizabeth Van Lew, Union spy
"Upon you is devolved the duty of destroying your ships tonight."
-- Confederate Naval Secretary Mallory to Admiral Semmes
"We may never meet again."
-- The Reverend Moses Hoge to his Second Presbyterian congregation
"Smith, I may feel like a woman, but I can act like a man."
-- Elizabeth Smith, telling her husband, Governor "Extra Billy" Smith, she will take care of the household evacuation
Monday, April 3 Events
evacuating troops set fires that spread through Richmond
the last bridge across the James River is destroyed
Richmond surrenders
Union troops occupy the Capitol
Monday, April 3 Quotations
"Sir! I think Richmond is burning. The sky is red."
-- Union soldier to General Edward H. Ripley
"The earth seemed to writhe in agony…stupendous thunders roared around."
-- John Leyburn, Presbyterian minister
"All over, goodbye; blow her to hell."
-- Confederate Brigadier General Martin W. Gary at Mayo's Bridge
"We had to run with all our might... No soldiers could have crossed this bridge after we did."
-- Confederate Captain D. B. Sanford
"We found Capitol Square covered with people who had fled there to escape the fire."
-- Union Aide-de-Camp Thomas Thatcher Graves
"At daylight the approach of the Union forces could be plainly discerned."
-- Confederate Captain Clement Sulivane
"The whole riverfront seemed to be in flames... I rode on with a distinctly heavy heart and with a peculiar sort of feeling of orphanage."
-- Confederate General Porter Alexander
"Better lay the whole city in ashes than give the enemy…one drop of aid and comfort."
-- Kate Mason Rawland, Confederate nurse
"I could not move, but watched a blue horseman ride to the city hall…bitter tears came in a torrent."
-- Mary Fontaine, Richmond resident
Tuesday, April 4 Events
martial law is imposed on the city
President Lincoln visits Richmond
Tuesday, April 4 Quotations
"The song, ‘On to Richmond!,' was ended -- Richmond was in the hands of the Federals."
-- Nellie Grey, Richmond resident
"Nothing new here. The fires are out and perfect quiet reigns."
-- Union Major General Godfrey Weitzel
"You are free -- free as air... you can cast off the name of slave and trample upon it."
-- President Abraham Lincoln
"I know that I am free, for I have seen Father Abraham."
-- An African-American woman in the crowd surrounding Lincoln at Capitol Square
"My heart is too full for words."
-- Mary Custis Lee, wife of General Robert E. Lee
"Thank God that I lived to see this."
-- President Abraham Lincoln
"You should be sadly grieved to see the desolation of our beautiful city."
-- Margaret Ellis, Richmond resident, to her husband, Powhatan Ellis |