On April 3, 1865 occurred one of the most famous and momentous events of Richmond’s history. It was also one of the most shrouded in myth and misconception.

On April 23 1865, the Confederate government and military began to evacuate Richmond. Union forces had routed the Confederates at Five Forks and began a general assault at Petersburg. General Lee advised President Davis to begin to evacuate on the morning of the 2nd. Early the next morning, troops destroyed the bridges as the last soldiers left going south. Warehouses along the waterfront were set on fire to destroy any supplies and keep them out of Union hands. This was ordered by General Lee, and carried out by Richmond’s military commander, General Richard Ewell.

Our speaker, Robert M. "Bert" Dunkerly, will tell us the full story about this historic Event. Robert is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker who is actively involved in historic preservation and research. He holds a degree in History from St. Vincent College and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. He has worked at nine historic sites, written eleven books and over twenty articles. His research includes archaeology, colonial life, military history, and historic commemoration. Dunkerly is currently a Park Ranger at Richmond National Battlefield Park. He has visited over 400 battlefields and over 700 historic sites worldwide. When not reading or writing, he enjoys hiking, camping, and photography.