The Portland daily press., 1864-09-03
The Swamp Angel at Charleston.

On the 2lst OF August, at lali-paSt one, A.
NJ, L was lying on my bed in the Charleston
/ Hotel, unable TO sleep from the excessive
heat, and listening to the monotonous sound
of the cannonade kept up on the enemy's po-
sition from the batteries on James Island.
! Restless and weary of the night, had light
ed candle in defiance of the mosquitoes, and
| sought to pass away the time with volume
of Lies Miserables." 1t happened to be the
one containing the account of the battle of
/ Waterloo; and while deeply interested in the
cuirassers, / was startled by noise that.
from connection with my reading, resembled
the whirr of a phantom brigade of cavalry
| galloping in mid-ar.
| My first feeling was that of utter astonish-
ment; but crash, succeeded by a deafening
/ explosion in the very street on which my
! apartment was situated, brought me with a
bound into the center of the room. Looking
from the window, saw smoke and fire issu-
ing from house in which were stored the
drugs of medical purveyor A watchman
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 practised amongst
the Charleston Police. At first | thought
meteor had fallen; but another awful whirr
and rush right over the hotel, and another
explosion beyond, settled any doubts might
have had-the city was being shelled. Peo-
pile are not given to laughing under such cir
cumstances, but | viii defy any one who wit
messed what witnessed on leaving my room,
not to have given way to mirth in modera-
ton.
The hotel was crowded with spectators,
who had been attracted to the city by the
sale of some blockade cargoes, and the corri-
dors were filed with these terrified gentle
men, rushing about in the scantiest OF cos
tunes and the widest alarm. One perspiring
individual, Of portly proportions, was trot-
ting TO and fro. with one boot on and the 9TH
er in his band, and this was nearly all the
dress he could boast Of. In his excitement
and terror he had forgotten the number of
his room, from which be had hastened at the
first alarm. and his distress was ludicrous to
behold. Another, in semi-state of nudity,
with a portion Of his garments on his arm,
barked the shins of every one in his way, in
his efforts to drag an enormous trunk to the
staircase.
On reaching the hall | found a motley
crowd; some of whom with the biggest of
words were cursing the Federal commanders
Whirri came another shel over the roof, and
down on their faces went every man of them
into tobacco juice and cigar ends and clatter-
ing among the spittoons. need not say that
this Is class of men rom whom the Confed-
eracy hopes nothing; on the contrary, by their
extortion practiced on suffering people,
they have made themselves execrated. If
shell could have fallen Ia their midst and ex-
terminated the whole race of hueksters, it
would have been of great benefit to the South.
The population was now aroused, the streets
filled with women and children, making 10 the
upper part of the city, where they would find
comparative safety. -.
The volunteer fire brigades brought out
their engines, and parties of the citizen re-
serves were organized rapidly and quietly to
be in readiness TO give assistance when re-
quired. The first engine that reached the
house struck by the first shell was one belong
ing to negro company, AMI at 1t they went
with will, subduing the fire in marvellous
ly short time. At every successive whirr
above them the niggers shouted quaint inyee-
tiyes against 'cussed bobolitionists,' scattering
for shelter, until the danger was passed.
Through the streets / went on down to the
Battery Promenade, meeting on my way sick
and bed-ridden people, carried from their
homes on mattresses, and mothers with infants
in their arms, running they knew not whittier.
Reaching the Promenade, cast my eyes to-
wards the Federal position, and presently be-
yond James Island across the marsh that
separates it from Morris Island, came flash
and then dull report, and after an interval
Of some seconds, a frightful rushing sound
above me told the path the shell had taken;
its flight must have been five miles Corn
hill Magazine.