The evacuation of Virginia

On 2nd April 1865, Jefferson Davis and Confederate troops fled Richmond, Virginia and fled south, abandoning what had been the capital of the Confederate states. As they left, troops were ordered to set fire to bridges, the armory, warehouses and other supplies. The New York Times reported: The evacuation of Richmond commenced in earnest Sunday night, closed at daylight on Monday morning with a terrific conflagration, which, was kindled by the Confederate authorities wantonly and recklessly applying the torch to Shockoe warehouse and other buildings in which was stored a large quantity of tobacco.