From the diary of Frances Ann Sutton Doswell
April 2nd, 1865
When I returned from church and went up to my room I found my husband waiting for me, to inform me that the news from General Lee was bad and that Richmond it was thought would be evacuated in about 24 hours. After conversing together about what was best to do, I determined to go (if agreeable) to Mr. Walker's where I had been kindly invited and Mr. Doswell said he would return to his office and try and find out more of the particulars of the evacuation. He did so and in a few hours returned telling me that we must pack up and move directly as he would have to leave town that night. The excitement by this time had become great, everybody was moving things to the Danville cars that wish to leave while several of the boarders in the American Hotel were moving to private houses. By four ½ of o'clock I had my things packed up that I wished to Mr. Walker's. About ½ 10 o'clock Phil brought the carriage to take us up to Mr. Walker's. Whilst on my way up, sitting by my dear husband and feeling that probably that would be the last time we would ever sit together on earth, my heart felt almost broken, and I could not refrain from weeping. After remaining a few minutes at Mr. Walker's, he took leave of us - - feeling, I doubt not, equally as sad as myself. It was now about 12 o'clock at night, but I felt too sad to sleep so I determined not to undress, but to gratify Cousin Kate, I laid by her on the bed and after being there a few minutes, I heard a horse stop in front of the door. I immediately inquired from the window who it was, much to our surprise and delight found it was Seddon, who had called by to see if he could render us any assistance. He also said he had orders to remain in the City until the Enemy came in. He stayed about an hour with us and when he left I asked him to ride by Mr. Doswell's office and see if he had left. He soon returned and reported that he had been gone several hours. O how sad and lonely did I feel, yet I preferred his going, and for his sake as well as for my country, I determined to be of good cheer. About daybreak we heard a loud explosion which shook the house so much that we were all frightened. I heard afterwards it was a magazine. A few minutes after that a bell was rung and in a few minutes the City was filled with smoke from the fire at Mayo's bridge and the warehouses. Sue Taliaferro and I determined now we would sit by the window and watch for the Enemy. We had scarcely been seated five minutes before we heard an explosion that seemed to shake the whole earth. This jarring broke many of the window glass and did much damage elsewhere. I must acknowledge this completely unnerved me and I felt still more frightened when I saw the tremendous fires in the direction of Main Street. In the midst of my excitement Major Carrington called to say goodbye. Never did I feel more delight at seeing him or experience more grief at parting with him and I can never cease to forget the kind and affectionate manner in which he talked to me. I now had to prepare myself to see the Enemy. In about half an hour or perhaps an hour, some negroes were seen hastening to welcome them in the capitol square. About 8 o'clock Sue and I saw the first Yankee on horseback, dashing by. In a short time afterwards some thirty or forty came by on horseback. By this time the fires had become alarming. Shells were bursting every minute and it was feared the whole City could be burned. Plundering had also commenced and negroes by twentys were passing by their baskets filled with cloth, tobacco and other stolen articles. While a squad of Yankee cavalry were passing by Mr. Sutton's they spied a negro man with a wheelbarrow filled with smoking tobacco, and such squabbling over it I never saw, several of their horses were on the pavement and for a minute there was some excitement, but the commanding officer soon ordered them to fall in a line, which order they promptly obeyed. At 1 o'clock the fire seemed still on the increase, although negroes had been made to work the water pump and try and put out the fire. We packed up a few things in baskets preparing to move if necessary in a few moments. By this time the cry was, the house is on fire, and looking out the window found the porch burning but by a little water being thrown on it was soon extinguished. But we would hear so many reports during the evening about the City being on fire that it kept me miserable. About 2 o'clock Mr. Walker and Brother came both nearly exhausted from fatigue. Having been cut off from home they had to walk a long ways. Several of the ladies got protection papers by this time from the officer commanding who was Col. Riply. Sister Jane, Mrs. Parker and Sue Taliaferro went to the City Hall and got one. A guard was stationed on Fifth Street and told Brother if the soldiers disturbed us, to call for him, that after 8 o'clock no one would be allowed to be on the street but the guard. After supper the door bell rang and when the door was opened who should come in but a drunken man wanting clothes, etc. Immediately the guard was called but before he came the soldier had made his escape. The American Hotel was burnt in the middle of the day and I lost all my furniture. The servants behave upon the whole quite well but they were heard to make many insulting remarks. I did not undress Sunday or Monday nights. The first negro soldier I saw had one of our poor soldiers prisoner walking by his side and he on horseback.
April 2nd, 1865
When I returned from church and went up to my room I found my husband waiting for me, to inform me that the news from General Lee was bad and that Richmond it was thought would be evacuated in about 24 hours. After conversing together about what was best to do, I determined to go (if agreeable) to Mr. Walker's where I had been kindly invited and Mr. Doswell said he would return to his office and try and find out more of the particulars of the evacuation. He did so and in a few hours returned telling me that we must pack up and move directly as he would have to leave town that night. The excitement by this time had become great, everybody was moving things to the Danville cars that wish to leave while several of the boarders in the American Hotel were moving to private houses. By four ½ of o'clock I had my things packed up that I wished to Mr. Walker's. About ½ 10 o'clock Phil brought the carriage to take us up to Mr. Walker's. Whilst on my way up, sitting by my dear husband and feeling that probably that would be the last time we would ever sit together on earth, my heart felt almost broken, and I could not refrain from weeping. After remaining a few minutes at Mr. Walker's, he took leave of us - - feeling, I doubt not, equally as sad as myself. It was now about 12 o'clock at night, but I felt too sad to sleep so I determined not to undress, but to gratify Cousin Kate, I laid by her on the bed and after being there a few minutes, I heard a horse stop in front of the door. I immediately inquired from the window who it was, much to our surprise and delight found it was Seddon, who had called by to see if he could render us any assistance. He also said he had orders to remain in the City until the Enemy came in. He stayed about an hour with us and when he left I asked him to ride by Mr. Doswell's office and see if he had left. He soon returned and reported that he had been gone several hours. O how sad and lonely did I feel, yet I preferred his going, and for his sake as well as for my country, I determined to be of good cheer. About daybreak we heard a loud explosion which shook the house so much that we were all frightened. I heard afterwards it was a magazine. A few minutes after that a bell was rung and in a few minutes the City was filled with smoke from the fire at Mayo's bridge and the warehouses. Sue Taliaferro and I determined now we would sit by the window and watch for the Enemy. We had scarcely been seated five minutes before we heard an explosion that seemed to shake the whole earth. This jarring broke many of the window glass and did much damage elsewhere. I must acknowledge this completely unnerved me and I felt still more frightened when I saw the tremendous fires in the direction of Main Street. In the midst of my excitement Major Carrington called to say goodbye. Never did I feel more delight at seeing him or experience more grief at parting with him and I can never cease to forget the kind and affectionate manner in which he talked to me. I now had to prepare myself to see the Enemy. In about half an hour or perhaps an hour, some negroes were seen hastening to welcome them in the capitol square. About 8 o'clock Sue and I saw the first Yankee on horseback, dashing by. In a short time afterwards some thirty or forty came by on horseback. By this time the fires had become alarming. Shells were bursting every minute and it was feared the whole City could be burned. Plundering had also commenced and negroes by twentys were passing by their baskets filled with cloth, tobacco and other stolen articles. While a squad of Yankee cavalry were passing by Mr. Sutton's they spied a negro man with a wheelbarrow filled with smoking tobacco, and such squabbling over it I never saw, several of their horses were on the pavement and for a minute there was some excitement, but the commanding officer soon ordered them to fall in a line, which order they promptly obeyed. At 1 o'clock the fire seemed still on the increase, although negroes had been made to work the water pump and try and put out the fire. We packed up a few things in baskets preparing to move if necessary in a few moments. By this time the cry was, the house is on fire, and looking out the window found the porch burning but by a little water being thrown on it was soon extinguished. But we would hear so many reports during the evening about the City being on fire that it kept me miserable. About 2 o'clock Mr. Walker and Brother came both nearly exhausted from fatigue. Having been cut off from home they had to walk a long ways. Several of the ladies got protection papers by this time from the officer commanding who was Col. Riply. Sister Jane, Mrs. Parker and Sue Taliaferro went to the City Hall and got one. A guard was stationed on Fifth Street and told Brother if the soldiers disturbed us, to call for him, that after 8 o'clock no one would be allowed to be on the street but the guard. After supper the door bell rang and when the door was opened who should come in but a drunken man wanting clothes, etc. Immediately the guard was called but before he came the soldier had made his escape. The American Hotel was burnt in the middle of the day and I lost all my furniture. The servants behave upon the whole quite well but they were heard to make many insulting remarks. I did not undress Sunday or Monday nights. The first negro soldier I saw had one of our poor soldiers prisoner walking by his side and he on horseback.
From the diary of Frances Ann Sutton Doswell
April 2nd, 1865
When I returned from church and went up to my room I found my husband waiting for me, to inform me that the news from General Lee was bad and that Richmond it was thought would be evacuated in about 24 hours. After conversing together about what was best to do, I determined to go (if agreeable) to Mr. Walker's where I had been kindly invited and Mr. Doswell said he would return to his office and try and find out more of the particulars of the evacuation. He did so and in a few hours returned telling me that we must pack up and move directly as he would have to leave town that night. The excitement by this time had become great, everybody was moving things to the Danville cars that wish to leave while several of the boarders in the American Hotel were moving to private houses. By four ½ of o'clock I had my things packed up that I wished to Mr. Walker's. About ½ 10 o'clock Phil brought the carriage to take us up to Mr. Walker's. Whilst on my way up, sitting by my dear husband and feeling that probably that would be the last time we would ever sit together on earth, my heart felt almost broken, and I could not refrain from weeping. After remaining a few minutes at Mr. Walker's, he took leave of us - - feeling, I doubt not, equally as sad as myself. It was now about 12 o'clock at night, but I felt too sad to sleep so I determined not to undress, but to gratify Cousin Kate, I laid by her on the bed and after being there a few minutes, I heard a horse stop in front of the door. I immediately inquired from the window who it was, much to our surprise and delight found it was Seddon, who had called by to see if he could render us any assistance. He also said he had orders to remain in the City until the Enemy came in. He stayed about an hour with us and when he left I asked him to ride by Mr. Doswell's office and see if he had left. He soon returned and reported that he had been gone several hours. O how sad and lonely did I feel, yet I preferred his going, and for his sake as well as for my country, I determined to be of good cheer. About daybreak we heard a loud explosion which shook the house so much that we were all frightened. I heard afterwards it was a magazine. A few minutes after that a bell was rung and in a few minutes the City was filled with smoke from the fire at Mayo's bridge and the warehouses. Sue Taliaferro and I determined now we would sit by the window and watch for the Enemy. We had scarcely been seated five minutes before we heard an explosion that seemed to shake the whole earth. This jarring broke many of the window glass and did much damage elsewhere. I must acknowledge this completely unnerved me and I felt still more frightened when I saw the tremendous fires in the direction of Main Street. In the midst of my excitement Major Carrington called to say goodbye. Never did I feel more delight at seeing him or experience more grief at parting with him and I can never cease to forget the kind and affectionate manner in which he talked to me. I now had to prepare myself to see the Enemy. In about half an hour or perhaps an hour, some negroes were seen hastening to welcome them in the capitol square. About 8 o'clock Sue and I saw the first Yankee on horseback, dashing by. In a short time afterwards some thirty or forty came by on horseback. By this time the fires had become alarming. Shells were bursting every minute and it was feared the whole City could be burned. Plundering had also commenced and negroes by twentys were passing by their baskets filled with cloth, tobacco and other stolen articles. While a squad of Yankee cavalry were passing by Mr. Sutton's they spied a negro man with a wheelbarrow filled with smoking tobacco, and such squabbling over it I never saw, several of their horses were on the pavement and for a minute there was some excitement, but the commanding officer soon ordered them to fall in a line, which order they promptly obeyed. At 1 o'clock the fire seemed still on the increase, although negroes had been made to work the water pump and try and put out the fire. We packed up a few things in baskets preparing to move if necessary in a few moments. By this time the cry was, the house is on fire, and looking out the window found the porch burning but by a little water being thrown on it was soon extinguished. But we would hear so many reports during the evening about the City being on fire that it kept me miserable. About 2 o'clock Mr. Walker and Brother came both nearly exhausted from fatigue. Having been cut off from home they had to walk a long ways. Several of the ladies got protection papers by this time from the officer commanding who was Col. Riply. Sister Jane, Mrs. Parker and Sue Taliaferro went to the City Hall and got one. A guard was stationed on Fifth Street and told Brother if the soldiers disturbed us, to call for him, that after 8 o'clock no one would be allowed to be on the street but the guard. After supper the door bell rang and when the door was opened who should come in but a drunken man wanting clothes, etc. Immediately the guard was called but before he came the soldier had made his escape. The American Hotel was burnt in the middle of the day and I lost all my furniture. The servants behave upon the whole quite well but they were heard to make many insulting remarks. I did not undress Sunday or Monday nights. The first negro soldier I saw had one of our poor soldiers prisoner walking by his side and he on horseback.
April 2nd, 1865
When I returned from church and went up to my room I found my husband waiting for me, to inform me that the news from General Lee was bad and that Richmond it was thought would be evacuated in about 24 hours. After conversing together about what was best to do, I determined to go (if agreeable) to Mr. Walker's where I had been kindly invited and Mr. Doswell said he would return to his office and try and find out more of the particulars of the evacuation. He did so and in a few hours returned telling me that we must pack up and move directly as he would have to leave town that night. The excitement by this time had become great, everybody was moving things to the Danville cars that wish to leave while several of the boarders in the American Hotel were moving to private houses. By four ½ of o'clock I had my things packed up that I wished to Mr. Walker's. About ½ 10 o'clock Phil brought the carriage to take us up to Mr. Walker's. Whilst on my way up, sitting by my dear husband and feeling that probably that would be the last time we would ever sit together on earth, my heart felt almost broken, and I could not refrain from weeping. After remaining a few minutes at Mr. Walker's, he took leave of us - - feeling, I doubt not, equally as sad as myself. It was now about 12 o'clock at night, but I felt too sad to sleep so I determined not to undress, but to gratify Cousin Kate, I laid by her on the bed and after being there a few minutes, I heard a horse stop in front of the door. I immediately inquired from the window who it was, much to our surprise and delight found it was Seddon, who had called by to see if he could render us any assistance. He also said he had orders to remain in the City until the Enemy came in. He stayed about an hour with us and when he left I asked him to ride by Mr. Doswell's office and see if he had left. He soon returned and reported that he had been gone several hours. O how sad and lonely did I feel, yet I preferred his going, and for his sake as well as for my country, I determined to be of good cheer. About daybreak we heard a loud explosion which shook the house so much that we were all frightened. I heard afterwards it was a magazine. A few minutes after that a bell was rung and in a few minutes the City was filled with smoke from the fire at Mayo's bridge and the warehouses. Sue Taliaferro and I determined now we would sit by the window and watch for the Enemy. We had scarcely been seated five minutes before we heard an explosion that seemed to shake the whole earth. This jarring broke many of the window glass and did much damage elsewhere. I must acknowledge this completely unnerved me and I felt still more frightened when I saw the tremendous fires in the direction of Main Street. In the midst of my excitement Major Carrington called to say goodbye. Never did I feel more delight at seeing him or experience more grief at parting with him and I can never cease to forget the kind and affectionate manner in which he talked to me. I now had to prepare myself to see the Enemy. In about half an hour or perhaps an hour, some negroes were seen hastening to welcome them in the capitol square. About 8 o'clock Sue and I saw the first Yankee on horseback, dashing by. In a short time afterwards some thirty or forty came by on horseback. By this time the fires had become alarming. Shells were bursting every minute and it was feared the whole City could be burned. Plundering had also commenced and negroes by twentys were passing by their baskets filled with cloth, tobacco and other stolen articles. While a squad of Yankee cavalry were passing by Mr. Sutton's they spied a negro man with a wheelbarrow filled with smoking tobacco, and such squabbling over it I never saw, several of their horses were on the pavement and for a minute there was some excitement, but the commanding officer soon ordered them to fall in a line, which order they promptly obeyed. At 1 o'clock the fire seemed still on the increase, although negroes had been made to work the water pump and try and put out the fire. We packed up a few things in baskets preparing to move if necessary in a few moments. By this time the cry was, the house is on fire, and looking out the window found the porch burning but by a little water being thrown on it was soon extinguished. But we would hear so many reports during the evening about the City being on fire that it kept me miserable. About 2 o'clock Mr. Walker and Brother came both nearly exhausted from fatigue. Having been cut off from home they had to walk a long ways. Several of the ladies got protection papers by this time from the officer commanding who was Col. Riply. Sister Jane, Mrs. Parker and Sue Taliaferro went to the City Hall and got one. A guard was stationed on Fifth Street and told Brother if the soldiers disturbed us, to call for him, that after 8 o'clock no one would be allowed to be on the street but the guard. After supper the door bell rang and when the door was opened who should come in but a drunken man wanting clothes, etc. Immediately the guard was called but before he came the soldier had made his escape. The American Hotel was burnt in the middle of the day and I lost all my furniture. The servants behave upon the whole quite well but they were heard to make many insulting remarks. I did not undress Sunday or Monday nights. The first negro soldier I saw had one of our poor soldiers prisoner walking by his side and he on horseback.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
