Belmont Chronicle

What an Englishman Saw in the South.

An English officer, who got to Richmond just in time to witness the evacuation, writes home from Canada, which he was fortunate enough to reach, that he witnessed the last battles before Petersburg, the departure of one army, and the entry of the other. He says:

Every credit is due to the Americans for their conduct both in Richmond and Petersburg; they behaved with great moderation, and were thoroughly under control. The highest compliment one can pay them is that our own troops, with all their magnificent discipline, could not have behaved better. (Whew.)

"The Confederate army had no forage, no rations, little clothing, bad ammunition—in fact, nothing but their indomitable pluck—and were almost starving at the time of their surrender. I am not exaggerating; food everywhere was scarce, and I was hungry enough myself sometimes. There was no plundering, though much fear of it. On the night of the evacuation I was really frightened by a lady giving me two diamond rings for safety, thinking they were more secure with me than on her hand. I had three gold watches on me at the time in addition to my own. The Federal army was splendidly equipped, and found with every possible requisite, abundance of stores, fresh meat, vegetables, and everything a soldier could wish for; their wagon train was magnificent, and decidedly the best branch of their service. We have nothing at all like it."