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Robert E. Lee surrender order, 1865
Maine Historical Society
The month of April in 1865, Northerners, Mainers, and Biddeford and Saco residents faced a frenzy of emotions.
On April 3rd, the Union celebrated the capture of the Confederate capital, Richmond. The Union and Journal published the following message on April 7th, “The bells of Biddeford and Saco were running on Tuesday, and 100 guns were fired in honor of the fall of Richmond. In Saco in the evening the Town Hall was thrown open, which was packed by a joyful crowd. Speeches, singing and cheers were the order of the evening, and were appropriate and enthusiastic.”