Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-02-24
GLORIOUS NEWS!

patton By ne Union Tjoop--Gtem Espiosions,
G"nyf"gr"'ion and L0ss cf L!fe-Inseresfiig Facts
Lnciaents, ETC. .
New Yosr, Feb. q.
The steamer Fulton has arrived from
Charleston harbor. The New York Trib-
une's correspondent, who arrived by the
Fulton, gives the following account Of the
evacuation Of the city of Charleston nv the
rebels. and its occupation by the Union
forces
CHARLESTON RRoR Feb 49,
Early last evening. BrIgadier General
STRENGTHENING, commanding the Northern
District Of the Department Of the South.
discovered some indications which led him
to believe that the rebels were about to cyac.
uate Charleston and its defcnces, and he nc.
cordingly ordered his pickets and picket.
boats 10 keep bright look out and report
immediately any movement on the part Of
the enemy About half past 8 o'clock this
morning terrific explosion took place in
Charleston, which shook every ship in the
harhor and Cd the bar, and almost sinulta.
neous with the explosion flames broke on,
aud could be distinctly seen in difftren;
parts Of the city. Itsppears the first explo-
sion took place at the Wilmington depot,
the fire from which rapidly communicated
with the adjoining buildings. causing a gen.
ersl conf grafton of al dwelling houses in
the vicaity, and it was whilst the unfortu-
nate inhabitants were trying to extinguish
this fire that ~ cond explosion to, k place.
which resulted very disastrnnsly, causing n
terrible loss Of life among the women and
children, who are represented as having been
horribly mutilated. frl.'g IL.
At about SIX o'clock this morninr, Gen.
cIal mmeliinnng. moved bis forces, and
occupied the city and its deienses. The for.
midablc ear'hworks on James island we're
found abandoned aud the guns spiked
At eight o'clock this morning a detach
nient WAS sent to take poss, ssisn Of Fort
sumter. and rsiss the flag which General
Anderson hauled down nearly four wears
ago. At nine o'clock the BAG was raised
AMID drafenng cheers.
As fast az the forces could be thrown into
the city, they were set to work to put out
the Ere, which. up to the time of leaving
Was raging fercely in different parts of the
city. Old men. women and children were
rushing frantically to and fro in an agony of
despair at the loss Of their homes aud the
killing and mutilating Of their friends.
1t is impossible to estimate tn. amount Of
cotton destroyed by the rebels. Several
thousand bales were collected in different
parts Of the CITY and set on IRE, almost sim
u'aneousiy with all the principal dcpots and
warehouses. There is no doubt but that the
rebels intended to burn the city 10 the
ground, despite the misery it would entail on
Thousands of women. children, and old men,
Of which class the inhabitants Of Charleston
IL now almost entirely composed 1t was
the opinion Of General Gllmore's staff that
in all probability two-thirdS Of the city wo i
BE- destroyed before he fire could be extn.
gnished, with the imperfect means for sub.
dung il on hand
Tie last, or rear guard of rebels left
Charleston at four o'clock this morning, and
there are various rumors and coniectures as
to their destination, but the general opinion
is that they intend concentrating in the vi
entity OF Florence, to which point they have
railroad communication from Charleston,
unless it has been recently destroyed by an
expedition sent to Bulls Bay. s@a
Several hundred rebels, who secretcd
themselves in different paris of the city
when the main column was retreating, have
given themselves up, and relate the usual
story Of being sick Of the war, half starved
etc. They express desire to be allowed to
take the oath of allegiance to our Govern.
ment and remain in the city.