Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-07-28
Under Fire AT CharIestop.

Op the 2lst Of August, at hslfpast one
A. NJ, was lying on my bed in the Charles
ton Hotel, unable 70 sleep from the
exec ssive heat, and listening TO the mopot-
onous sound Of the canDoDade kept up on
the enemy's position frem the batteries on
j James Island. Restless aud weary OF the
night had lighted a candle in defiance Of
the mosquitoes, and sought tn. pass away
the time with volume Of Les Misrdbles.
II happened to be the one containing the
account of the battle Of Waterloo; and
and while deeply interested in the descrip-
ton of the rushing squadrons Of cuirassiers,
was star tied by noise that from conDec
ton with my reading, resembled the whirr
OF phantom brigade OF cavalry galloping
in uid-airID De jH'-''I y 'h. a''.i''' 70
My 6rst feeling was that Of utter aston
ishment; but crash, succeeded by q deaf
ening explosion in the very street on which
my apartment was situate, brought me with
4 bound into the center Of the room. Look
ing from the window, I saw smoke and FIRE
issuing from house 10 which were stored
the drugs of the medical purveyor. Awatch-
man was running frantically down the street,
and when he reached the corner just below
me- commenced striking with his staff
against the curb; a signal sf alarm prac-
ticed among the Charleston police. At first
thought meteor had fallen but another
swfifl rush aud whirr right over the hotel,
and another explosion beyond, settled any
doubts might have had-the city was be-
ing shelled. People are not generally given
to laughing under such circumsta ances, but
| will defy, any one who. witnessed what L
witnessed on leaving my room, not to have
given away to mirth in moderation.
The hotel was crowded with Spectators,
who had been attracted to the city by the
sale of some blockade cargoes, and the cor
riders were filed with these terrified gen.
tlemeH, rushing about in the scantlest OF
costumes and the widest alarm. One per-
spring individual, Of portly dimensions, was
trotting to and fro With one boot on and the
other in his hand, and this, was nearly all
the dress he could boast of. In his excite
ment and terror, he had forgotten the num-
ber of his room, from which he had has
ludicrous to behold. Another, in a semi
ments on his arm. barked the shins of every
one in his way in his efforts to drag an enor-
nous trunk to the staircase. [.
On reaching the hall found motley
crowd, some Of whom with the biggest of
words, were cursiug the Federal command
ers. Whirr came another shell over tho
roof, and down on their faces went every
man into tobacco juice and cigar ends, and
Gathering among the spi,toons. j need not
say that this is class of men from whom
the Confederacy hopes nothing on the con.
trary, by their extortion, practiced on suf-
fering people, they have made themselves
execrated. IF shell could have fallen in
the midst and exterminated the whole race
of hucksters. it would have been Of great
benefit to the South. The population va,
aroused, the streets filled with women anc
children, making to the upper part of the
city, where they would find comparative
safety. t....- ...- ... ......4 a.
The volunteer fire brigades brought out
their engines, and parties of citizen reserves
were organized rapidly and quietly, to be in
! readiness TO give assistance when required
! Tho first engine that reached the house
struck by the first shell was one belonginG
to negro company, and at it they went Will
a will, subduing the fire in a marvellously
short tune. At every successive whirr abov'
them the negroes shouted quaint invoctive
| against "cussed bobolitionists, scattering
for shelter until the danger was passed. =
! Through the streets | went, and down t,
the Battery Promenade meeting on III.
way sick and bed-ridden people carried from
their homes on mattresses, and mothers will
infants in their arms running they knew no
/ whittier. Reaching the Promenade, cas-
my eyes toward the Federal position, an
presently, Beyond, james Island, acress tn
marsh that separates il from Morris Island
came fash, and then a dull report. and
4 after an interval of some seconds, q fright
ful rushing sound above me told the pat
=, the shell had taken; its fight must hav
. been five miles!-- Cornhill Magazine. v