Union Army Enters Richmond. . Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, commander of the Army of the James, entered Richmond about half a mile southeast of here on 3 April 1865 after receiving a note of surrender from the mayor of the Confederate capital, which had been set ablaze by retreating Confederate troops. First to enter the city was a small cavalry squad, followed by six regiments of Brig. Gen. Edward H. Ripley's Brigade of the XXIV Corps and U.S. Colored Troops from infantry and cavalry regiments of the XXV Corps. Weitzel received the formal surrender at City Hall at 8:15 AM, while Union troops extinguished the fire that had destroyed almost 40 blocks along the James River and north to Capitol Square and restored order.
Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, commander of the Army of the James, entered Richmond about half a mile southeast of here on 3 April 1865 after receiving a note of surrender from the mayor of the Confederate capital, which had been set ablaze by retreating Confederate troops. First to enter the city was a small cavalry squad, followed by six regiments of Brig. Gen. Edward H. Ripley's Brigade of the XXIV Corps and U.S. Colored Troops from infantry and cavalry regiments of the XXV Corps. Weitzel received the formal surrender at City Hall at 8:15 AM, while Union troops extinguished the fire that had destroyed almost 40 blocks along the James River and north to Capitol Square and restored order.
Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA-41.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1865.
Location. 37° 31.589′ N, 77° 25.257′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Shockoe Bottom. It is on Virginia Capital Trail west of Pear Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2803 Dock St, Richmond VA 23223, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker. The inscriptions are different.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
