B19, RRB 4/2/1865

P. 44
   In line with my duties in the Department of Railroad Transportation I was, under orders of General Lee, kept very active day and night from Friday morning, March 31, until about noon on Sunday, April 2, 1865, personally superintending the movement of troops by train between Richmond and Petersburg. Having had no sleep and little to eat during that time, I had hardly retired for a few minutes to adjust my clothes then in poor shape, when shortly after twelve o'clock I was called upon by Major D. H. Wood. He excitedly informed me that President Davis just received, while in St Paul's church, a telegram from General Lee announcing that Richmond and Petersburg would be evacuated that night. *** He ordered me to report immediately to the War Department to General A R Lawton, Q. M. G. Him I quickly found and received instructions to have prepared at once a special train to move over the Richmond & Danville Rail Road to carry the President, his Cabinet, their effects and horses and further to prepare, in quick succession, all the available engines & cars to move from the city the gold and other many valuables of the Treasury and the archives of all the other Departments. *** it was Sunday, and the train crews were much scattered *****

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