Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-02-19
A picture ., Charleston Under Ere.

A correspondent of the Augusta (Ga.) Con.
stitutionalizt, writing from Charleston, gives
the following picture of that city under the
bombardment:
In localities most exposed to the shells the
old tide of business is suspended. Here and
there a pedestrian moves hurriedly along, and
the rattle of the cart or dray is heard for
whole SQUARE The blinds are closed, vases Of
rare exotics droop and wither on the lonely
window sill, because there is no tender hand
to twine or Hourish them. The walks glisten
with fragments Of glass, ratified thither by the
coucussisn of exploding shells, and little TUFTS
of bright green grass are springiug up along
the pave, once vocal with the myriad tongues
of busy trade IF this be food for exultation
for the malevolent foe, he is welcome to the
tender morsel. 1 do not mean to say that
any part of the city is abandoned Here and
there stores are opened, machine shops are &C
tive. and labor incident to the public defense
is pushed vigorously forward even IN the most
exposed districts Still many branches of or
binary business, and most of the residences
are removed, because it would be foolhardy for
those not impelled by social duty to remain.
The Mills House and Charleston Hotel,
| those princely abodes Of comfort and good
cheer, are closed the Pavilion still invites the
soiourner to its hospitahe roof; most of the
habitues OF Hayne aud 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 has not penetrated is d" map of
busy life The newspapers, postofiee, ex-
press Office, and many business houses are in
successful operation, and the streets present a
scene OF animation not at all suggestive of a
state of siege.
The Wilmington, North Carolina Journal
says: i" Gradually the constant dropping ol
the enemy's shot and shell is beginning to tell
upon the lower portion of the city of Charles
ton. Their chief spite, from what we can
learn, appears to have been turned against
4 Broad street; at least its effects are most ap
parent in that vicinity. The street IS consi
derably incumbered with bricks and other de
bris knocked out by the enemy's projectiles
1t will take much time and money TO repail
, the damage.
For want of means of transportation for thC
materials used 10 making gas at Charleston
the GasIight Company, advertises a suspen
sion Of the gas supply until further notice
The Mayor of Charleston summons all slavt
holders within the city, to furnish the military
r authorities forthwith one fourth of all thei
male slaves, between the ages of fifteen AM
D fifty, to labor upon the Notifications. Tht
: penalty announced in the case Of failure tt
t comply with this requisitiOn, is fine of tw
r hundred dollarseEor every slave not forthcom
5 ing. Compensation is allowed at the rate c
S four hundred dollars year. All free NAL
:, persons OF color, between the ages of iftee
d and fifty, are required to give themselves u
for the same purpose. Those not complying
e will be imprisoned and set at work on the fort
fcations along the coast. To free negroes n
e other compensation than rations is allowed.