The city was in the most utter confusion.

The authorities had taken the precaution to empty all the liquor into the gutter, and to throw out the provisions which the Confederate government had left, for the people to gather up.

The city had been deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any notice whatever that they were about to leave.

In fact, up to the very hour of the evacuation the people had been led to believe that Lee had gained an important victory somewhere around Petersburg.
Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in Lee's army, there being still a great many men and even officers in the town.

The city was on fire.