The Fall of Richmond

On April 3, the Union Army took control of Petersburg and Richmond. They immediately set out to extinguish fires in the city, which had been set by fleeing Confederate officers hoping to destroy supply storehouses before they could fall into Union hands. The city was officially surrendered by its mayor, and the Union officers established a temporary military government. Confederate troops fled west in an attempt to combine with General Joseph Johnston’s troops, but were closely pursued by the Union army.