Good Morning...The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

[Okla-homey]

April 3, 1865: Richmond captured

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President Lincoln's drive through Richmond after its fall to Federal forces

144 years ago today, the Rebel capital of Richmond falls to the Union, the most significant sign that the Confederacy is nearing its final days.

For ten months, General Ulysses S. Grant had tried unsuccessfully to penetrate the city's ring of defenses. After Lee made a desperate attack against Fort Stedman along the Federal line on March 25, Grant prepared for a major offensive.

He struck at Five Forks on April 1, crushing the end of Lee's line southwest of Petersburg. On April 2, the Yankees struck all along the Petersburg line, and the Confederates collapsed.

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Federal assault of one of the forts anchoring the concentric rings of Confederate defenses around the Rebel capital.

On the evening of April 2, the Confederate government fled the city with the army right behind. Now, on the morning of April 3, blue-coated troops entered the capital.

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Inside Richmond after its fall

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Ruins of the Richmond arsenal

Richmond was the holy grail of the Union war effort, the object of four years of campaigning. Approximately 40,000 American lives were lost trying to get it or prevent its loss.

Now, the Yankees came to take possession of their prize. One resident, Mary Fontaine, wrote, "I saw them unfurl a tiny flag, and I sank on my knees, and the bitter, bitter tears came in a torrent."

As the Federals rode in, another wrote that the city's black residents were "completely crazed, they danced and shouted, men hugged each other, and women kissed." Among the first forces into the capital were black troopers from the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry, and the next day President Abraham Lincoln visited the city.

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Statue of the Second Greatest American erected by the people of Richmond to commemorate his visit on April 4, 1865, just a few days before his murder at Ford's Theater

For the residents of Richmond, these were symbols of a world turned upside down. It was, one reporter noted, "...too awful to remember, if it were possible to be erased, but that cannot be."

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[olevetonahill]

Dayum yankees

[Turd_Ferguson]

gawl durn yankees

[LoyalFan]

Homey,

There seems to be evidence that the 5th Mass. Cavalry neither rode nor marched into Richmond. For one thing, they were never issued mounts but were employed as infantry and, apparently, were kept away from Richmond until being shipped elsewhere (Texiz).
It's all here:

http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/5TH_MASS.HTM

If, indeed, they were kept out of the city it may have been due to a fear on the part of Union brass that they might commit indecencies upon White Southern Womanhood. Sad to say, such did occur at times although white troops on BOTH sides (with the notable exception of one Private S.E. Baylor, Company F, Waco Volunteer Zouaves, CSA,) were guilty of the same crimes.

Here's another bit re the 5th.
"5th Regiment Cavalry (Colored)

Organized at Camp Meigs, Readville. 1st Battalion moved to Washington, D.C., May 5-8, 1864. At Camp Stoneman, Giesboro Point, Md., May 8-12. Dismounted and moved to Camp Casey, near Fort Albany, May 12. 2nd Battalion moved to Washington May 6-8, and to Camp Casey May 9. 3rd Battalion moved to Washington May 8-10, and to Camp Casey May 11. Regiment moved to Fortress Monroe, Va,, thence to City Point, Va., May 13-16. Attached to Rand's Provisional Brigade, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, May, 1864. Hinks' Colored Division, 18th Army Corps, to June, 1864, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps, to July, 1864. Point Lookout, Md., District of St. Mary's, 22nd Army Corps, to March, 1865. Unattached, 25th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to June, 1865. Dept. of Texas to October, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty at City Point, Va., as INFANTRY until June 16, 1864. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16-28. Moved to Point Lookout, Md., June 30, and duty there guarding prisoners until March, 1865. Ordered to the field and duty near Richmond, March; Petersburg, April; near City Point, May, and at Camp Lincoln until June 16. Ordered to Texas and duty at Clarksville until October. Mustered out October 31, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 7 Enlisted men killed and 116 Enlisted men by disease. Total 123."



LoyalFan
(Armored)Cavalry Officer, Emeritus
Drive The Saber To The Hilt For Garryowen!

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

"Virgil Kane is my name, and I come on the banjo? train."-Robbie Robertson

[SicEmBaylor]

"Virgil Kane is my name, and I come on the banjo? train."-Robbie Robertson

It's the Danville Train.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

It's the Danville Train.I never could quite make that out.(Or I just didn't remember) It's a great song. One of the best by The Band. "Up on Cripple Creek" is its main contender for me.