Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-07-29
Under FIRE AL GHARLESTnN.

On the 2lst August, at halEpast one a m
was lying on my bed 10 the Charleston Ho-
tel, unable to sleep from the excessive heat, and
listening to the menOtonous sounds of the
cannonade kept up on the enemy's position
from the batteries on James Island Restless
and weary Of night, 1 had lighted candle in
defiance of the mosquitoes, and sought to pass
away the time with volume of LES AItser-
abLes." 1t happened to be the one containing
the account OF the battle Of Waterloo and
while deeply interested in the description of
the rushing squadrons Of cuirassers, was
startled by noise that, from connection with
my reading, resembled the whirr Of phan-
tom brigade of cavalry galloping in the mid
air.
My first feeling was that of utter astonish-
ment; but crash, succeeded by deafening
explosion in the very street on which nv
apartment was situate, brought me with
bound into the center of the room. Looking
from the widow, saw smoke and fire issu-
ing from house 10 which were stored the
drugs of the medical purveyor. A watchfaa
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 of alarm practiced among the
Charleston police. At first I thought mete-
or had fallen but another awful rush and
whirr over the hotel, and another explosion
beyond, settled any doubts l might have
had-the city was being shelIed. People are
not generally given TO laughing under such
circumstances, but will defy any one who
witnessed what / witnessed on leaving my
room, not to have given way to mirth in mod
Grafton.
The hotel was crowded with spectators,
who had heen attracted to the city by the
sale of some blockade cargoes, and the corri-
dors were filed with these terrified gentlemen,
rushing about in the scantiest of costumes
and the widest alarm. 0ae perspiring indi-
vidual, of portly dimensions, 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. 10 his excitement and terror,
he had forgotten the number Of his room, from
which he had hastened az the first alarm.
and his distress was ludicrous to behold
Another, 10 a semistate of nudity, with d
portion of his garments on his arm, barked
the shins of every one in his way in his efforts
to drag All enormous trunk to The staircase
On reaching the nall l found a molly, crowd
some of whom were cursing the Federal COM
manders. Whirr come another she'll over
the roof, and down on their faces went every
man in tobacco-ju juice and cigar ends and clat-
tering among the spittoonS. L need not say
that this is a class of men from whom the Con
federacy hopes nothing on the contrary, by
their extortion, practiced GU suffering peo-
pie they have made themselves execrated. II
fell IN, 1-tr i
terminated the whole race of hucksiers, ii
would have been of great benefit to the South
The population was now aroused, the street
filed with women and children, making to the
upper part of the city, where they would find
comparative safety.
The volunteer fire brigades brought out
their engines, and parties OF the citizens re.
serve were organized rapidly and quietly, to
be in readiness to give assistance when requir.
ed. The first engine that reached the house
struck by the shell was one belonging to a ne
gro company, and at it they went with u will
subduiug the fire in marvellous short time
At every successive whirr above them the ne
grees shouted quaint invsctives against "cusseC
bobolitionists," scattering for shelter until the
danger was passed. Through the streets
went aud down to the Battery Promenade
meeting on my way sick and bed-ridden peo
pie carried from their homes on mattresses
and mothers with infants in their arms run
ming they knew not whittier. Reaching tht
Promenade, cast my eyes toward the FEEDER
al position, and presently, beyond james Is
land, across the marsh that separates it from
Morris Island, came flash, and then dul
report, and, after an Interval of some seconds
frightful rushing sound above me told tn
path the she'll had taken; its fight must hav
been five miles, CornhiH Magaetne.