Washington telegraph., 1864-03-09
EFFECTS OF THE SHE'LL IN CHARLESTON

A correspondent of the Augusta Consti.
tutionalist, writing from Charleston, thus
describes the effects of the lombard
ment:
The God of Justice reigns, and from
the day when our flag was flung to the
breeze on Sumter till now, the marks Of
His favor have been Enthusiastically in
the preservation of the lives of the peo-
pie, and IN the success of our efforts for
defence. The limited destruction of pro-
perty by the protracted rain of shells
was as wonderful as the small loss of
life. | walked through the streets where
the effect of the shells is the most an
parent. Here is cornice knocked off
there Is small round hole through the
side of a building, and a remote inter
walls the earth lis torn where a shell ex-
ploded, and looks like the worker in
search of some hidden treasure.
Vendors of the staples of the market
sit serenely by their little stores, un-
mindful of the pyrotechnc salutation of
their Yankee deliverers.
bought delicious apples and cakes
at one-fourth the price charged two hun
dred miles away in the interior, where
abundance and extortion seem to 90
hand i'll hand.
In reply to a question if she were not
afraid, one of these old women replied.
Lor, mars, we no feerd now; we's
uscn to 'em. Dey make big noise and
throw trash all about-dat all de good
Lord pertects usw Thus is the reliant
trust Of these people exemplified even
in the spirit of this simple African. |
confess that could not feel thus indif-
ferent TO these missiles of destruction.
as they come screeching across the bay
felt an instructive inclination to change
3hy base Of observation.
Extending my rambes to other por-
lions of the city, the track of shells
were here and there discernable, but
they have not effected tithc of the in.
jury sustained 10y the great fire of two
tcars ago, whose blackened outline
stretches across what was once the
heart Of the city. In only two or three
have fires been occasion by them and
the loss was triiiin@. In localities most
exposed 10 the shells the old tide of bus
mess is suspended. Here and there
pedestrian moves hurridly along, and
the rattle of a cart or dray is heard for
a whole square The blinds are closed,
vases OF rare exotics droop and wither
upon the lonely window-sil, because
there is 10 tender hand to twine or nour-
ish them. The walks glisten with glass,
sattied thithcr by the concussion of ex-
ploded shells, and little tufts cf bright
green grass are springing up along the
pave, once vocal with the myriad tongues
OF busy trade. If this be food for ex>
ultation to the malsvolent foe, he is
welcome to the tender morsel. | do not
mean TO say that any part of the city is
abandoned here and there stores are
opened, machine shops are active, and
labor incident to the public defense is
pushed vigorously forward, even iii ths
most exposed districts still, many
branches OF ordinary business, and most
of tile residents, are removed, because
1T would be looIhardy for those not i'm
pcllcd by special duty to remain. The
Mills House, and Charleston Hotel
those princeIy ahodes Of comfort and
good chcer-are closed Iho Pavilion
still invited the scjcurncr to its hospita
bic roof, and most of the ha6itHes of
Hayne and PARTS of Meeting and King
streets abandoned the merchants desk
for the camp. or transferred their wares
to points secure from Yankee guns, that
part of the city to which the cowardly
vengeance of the foe is a mass of busy
life" The newspapers, postctlice, ex
press office, banks and many business
houses are in successful operation, and
the streets present scene not at all
suggestive Of siege
trust the allusion to the effects of
the bonn bardmcntwi not be contraband
| have penned them for the eye of those
who have known Charleston in other
days, and who feel an interest in its des-
tiny. 1t cannot aid or crafty the enemy
to know how fruitlcss are his efforts to
destroy a place which has so noLIy
foiled all his efforts for its conquest.
~ The New Orleans Times of the
24th says:
Our news from Gen Sherman's expe
dition is highly interesting, and gives
abundant prom Sc that we shall shortly
bavn stirrirU pauc from rho Som n wasf