Our newspapers, with the exception of the "Whig" and the "Sentinel," shared in the general wreckage. A Northern gentleman brought out a tiny edition of the former in which appeared two military orders promulgating the policy General Weitzel intended to pursue. One paragraph read: "The people of Richmond are assured that we come to restore to them the blessings of peace and prosperity under the flag of the Union." General Shepley, Military Governor by Weitzel's appointment, repeated this in substance, adding: "The soldiers of the command will abstain from any offensive or insulting words or gestures towards the citizens." With less tact and generosity, he proceeded: "The Armies of the Rebellion having abandoned their efforts to enslave the people of Virginia, have endeavoured to destroy by fire their Capital.... The first duty of the Army of the Union will be to save the city doomed to destruction by the Armies of the Rebellion." That fling at our devoted army would have served as a clarion call to us--had any been needed--to remember the absent. "It will be a blunder in us not to overlook that blunder of General Shepley's," urged Uncle Randolph.[1] "The important point is that the policy of conciliation is to be pursued." With the "Whig" in his hand, Uncle Randolph told Matoaca that the Thursday before Virginia seceded a procession of prominent Virginians marched up Franklin Street, carrying the flag of the Union and singing "Columbia," and that he was with them. The family questioned if his mind were wandering, when he went on: "The breach can be healed--in spite of the bloodshed--if only the Government will pursue the right course now. Both sides are tired of hating and being hated, killing and being killed--this war between brothers--if Weitzel's orders reflect the mind of Lincoln and Grant--and they must--all may be well--before so very long." These were the men of the Union Army who saved Richmond: The First Brigade, Third Division (Deven's Division), Twenty-fourth Army Corps, Army of the James, Brevet-Brigadier-General Edward H. Ripley commanding. This brigade was composed of the Eleventh Connecticut, Thirteenth New Hampshire, Nineteenth Wisconsin, Eighty-first New York, Ninety-eighth New York, One Hundredth and Thirty-ninth New York, Convalescent detachment from the second and third divisions of Sheridan's reinforcements.