| 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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