Richmond in ruins Published April 27, 2017 at 2887 × 2032 in Richmond in ruins ← Previous Next → As the Union Army advanced upon Richmond on 2 April 1865, Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government fled the city and ordered military assets destroyed. This resulted in fire destroying a quarter of the Confederate capital. As the Union Army advanced upon Richmond on 2 April 1865, Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government fled the city and ordered military assets destroyed. This resulted in fire destroying a quarter of the Confederate capital.