In his strong Southern accent, he replied: “Oh yes; you uns have us beaten, and we might as well make the best of it and go to work.”
During this memorable day in Petersburg we had visited our old friend Bob Eden, who became editor of the Petersburg Progress, a Confederate paper, immediately after the occupation of the city; and he, like his comrades, was wild with joy at the turn of things, political and national.
The following from “Grant’s” Petersburg Progress appeared the day after our visit. The paper is still in my possession, but it has nearly fallen in pieces. There was no supply of printer’s blank paper, and the Confederates had been obliged to use one side of wall paper, or anything else that would hold print.
“Grant’s Petersburg Progress,
Petersburg, Va., 1865, April 4th.
Vol. 1 No. 2
Proprietors: Major R. C. Eden, Captain C. H. McCreary.
Eternal vigilance is the price of peace, (and ten cents for our paper.)”
I copy from one column the following significant advertisements:
“NOTICE”
“All persons destitute of provision will apply as follows: In West Ward, to W. L. Lancaster, East Ward, to W. L. Lancaster, Central Ward, to W. L. Lancaster, South Ward, to W. L. Lancaster.”