Richmond Evacuation Fire
After midnight on 3 April 1865, Confederate
soldiers set fire to several tobacco warehouses
nearby on orders from Lt. Gen. Richard S.
Ewell, as the army evacuated Richmond and
marched west. Two distinct fires spread
rapidly throughout the commercial and industrial sections of the capital. The core of the
burned-out area, some 35 blocks, extended
from the James River in some areas as far
north as Capitol Square, and from 4th St.
east to 16th St. Frightened citizens huddled
in Capitol Square while looters rampaged
and firefighters battled the fires. The
Union army, which occupied the city early
on 3 April, finally brought the fires under
control in the afternoon.
Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and 9th Street, on the left when traveling east on East Main Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
