THE FALL OF RICHMOND.

Evening Post, Issue 117, 26 June 1865, Page 2

THE FALL OF RICHMOND.

(MOM THE ALTA* CALIFORNIA, APRIL 4.) The despatch to Mr. Carpentier, announ ing the fall of the rebel capital, and the evacuation of Petersburg, was no sooner received last evening, and spread upon the bulletin boards of the Alta and Bulletin, than crowds commenced to gather in Montgomery street, and the wildest excitement prevailed on every side. The public had been so often misled by premature despatches, founded on speculations of army correspondents of the East, or well planned canards, gotten up to effect the New York gold and stock markets, that few fully believed the glorious news when it came in authentic shape. Still everybody felt that the end of the war was at hand, that the last blow at rebellion was being dealt by hands used to the work^ directed by officers who never learned how to fail, and that in any event the hour of final triumph was at hand, if not already come. The Stars and Stripes were run up in a twinkling all over the city, and the irrepressible Sam Brannan had bonfires burning at differents points along Montgomery street, as soon as the material could be got together, and in a few minutes more a splendid band on the balcony of his building, between Sacramento and California streets, was playing the glorious " Battle Cry of Freedom " to a vast concourse of excited people. " The Union Right or Wrong," " Star Spangled Banner," "Red, White and Blue," "John Brown," and other national airs followed in rapid succession, the air was rent with cheers, and in response to the calls of the multitude, a number of gentlemen, including- Ira P. Rankin, Dr. Gibbons, Samuel Platt, and others came forward and made short, pithy speeches, appropriate to the occasion.Fireworks were let off in profusion, and the exeitcment was still at a boiling point at half-past nine o'clock, when Sam Brannan proposed that the Band should head a procession. The hint was taken at once, and the crowd started with music playing and colours flying, and shouting the " Battle of Freedom " at the top of their lungs on a long tour through the principal streets. During the procession a salute was fired by Bluxome's Battery, and on the return to the starting point) cheer after cheer was given, and the crowd finally reluctantly dispersed. At Maguire's Opera House, at the close of the performance, Mr. Anderson read the despatch announcing the fall of Richmond, which was received with cheers by the audience ; and up to a late hour of the night groups of enthusiastic citizens could be seen at every street corner, discussing the news and rejoicing over the most glorious event of our country. The unexpected suddenness with -which the news arrived left no time for extensive preparations for a celebration to be made, and everything was therefore extemporaneous, but the enthusiasm of our people made up for the lack of preparation, and San Francisco celebrated the capture of the last great stronghold of the rebellion with a spirit and a will.