Words were, at that hurried moment, quite inadequate. An explanation of the loss of the shoes came later. We had removed a small stove and left the pipe hole open on the side between two tents, and during the night some ambitious contraband probably had squeezed into the small space between the tents, and with a long stick had “gobbled” my only pair of decent shoes.
What could I do? I must go somewhere, as the party were not willing to go without me. Fortunately, Miss Dupee, assistant in the Maine State Agency, had a pair which fitted quite well and she very kindly loaned them to me. One of the pleasant associations of agency life in camp was the camaraderie that made all things in common, just as the soldier shared his last ration or his last dollar with another comrade in the field.
Owing to this delay, we were barely able to catch the boat as it was pushing off at City Point Dock. A pleasant sail on the James River brought us to the dock of the Seven-Hilled City, directly into the burned and still smoking district.
The fleeing citizens in their short-sighted frenzy, had determined to destroy the whole city. But thanks to the efforts of the Federal soldiers, chiefly colored, the greater part of the city was saved for them, while the factories and warehouses continued to smoke and burn for many weeks.
It was this same obstructed wharf and destroyed dock over which the President climbed, holding little Tad by the hand. They passed through the burned district, against the protest of a small escort, while jostled by a rough crowd.
Blessed by the grateful negroes crowding around the great Emancipator, some kneeling and kissing the hem of his coat, he strode fearlessly on among enemies and friends.
A significant fact to be forever cherished by the freed race is that General Weitzel, with the 25th Corps d’ Afric, took possession of the conquered city; and further that a colored soldier carried the President’s United States flag before him into the heart of Richmond, where it was raised over the Capitol, and Richmond was once more and forever in the Union.
The Capitol, a modest building with white columns and dome, was uninjured. There were many comfortable-looking detached houses, with yards or gardens pleasant to see after the bare tent life at City Point Hospital.
We dined at Spotswood Hotel, still managed by a Confederate host, where we greatly enjoyed fresh peas and corn. We were rather disappointed by the plainness of the gray mastic front of the three-storied double medium house of Jefferson Davis, both inside and out, with only a door yard in front, where I gathered some leaves which are still in my possession.
We saw the entrance to the tunnel that was dug by starving, desperate Yankee prisoners, almost in full view of the guards, quite near Libby prison, and by which many had escaped to freedom, thus bringing more deprivation and abuse upon the despairing prisoners left behind.