Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-25
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FWV"& ee"st Ssfa~ 4.
ne have received United States papers OF the
a2d. including the afternoon edition of the Balti-
more American OF that date.
The news possesses several features Of rapport
ance The news from EUROPE SeesiS to indicate
prohabie complications between the United States
and the French Government, growing out Of the
reference made u tho ' Einpire in Mexico" few
weeks aso Ia the United States Senate.
THE EVACUATION 9F CHARLESTON.
Stanton has put forth the following
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN.
WAR DEPARTMENT, }
Washington, 2. NJ, Feb. 81, 1865
Major General John A. Dir, Aew lOr6:
This Department has received the Official report
of Major General Gilmore, announcing the surreu-
der of tho city of Charleston, South Carolina, to
ttbe United States forces under his command at y
O'Clock on Saturday morning, the 18th instant
Among the captured property are two hundred
pieces OF good artillery and supply Of fine am
munitiOn. The enemy burned their cotton, ware
houses arSenalS, quarterHasters stores, railroad
bridges two irOn-clads, aud some vessels in the
| shipyard. EDWIN W. STANTON,
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
| The Fulton brings the following additional par
tieuars to those already published OF the evacua-
tion of Charleston. the movements OF the Federal
and Rebel forces and the condition Of the city when
4 the Union troops entered 1t;
THE EVACUATION.
| As already stated, the evacuation of Charleston
MAS discovered by our forces under Gen. Schinl-
/ melfenuiug from James Island. Exactly at what
time is not yet reported, though the occupation OF
the CITY and of the fortcations took place at about
| ten o'clock in the forenoon of the 18th inst.
/ The departure OF the Rebels from Forts Sumter
and Moutrie was, il is understood, seen from our
picket boats (which reconnore the harbor at night,
and the operations of the Rebel garriSOns began
about lively, hours before the evacuation WAS conf
pIeted-namely, ~ ten o'clock ON the evening of
| the 18th.
THE REBELS FIRE THE CITY.
Early in the morning OF the 18th two terrific ex-
/ Missions in Charleston were heard from our fleet
Fire smoke and burning fragments filed the air for
great distance, aud the shock was severely felt by
II all our vessels.
| Som afterwards ana before day light fires were
set in other places, and extended throughout the
upper part of the city. IL has since been ascer-
tanned that many thousand bales OF cotton were
| burned in consequence OF the explosions Of the
warehouses and other public buildings thai were
fred BY the Rebels.
orr FORCES TAKING POSSESSION.
Our forces took possession Of the city in the fore
noon, as already reported Gen. Schimmeifennig
was unopposed the Rebels leaving as the Union
troops came in sight. There was not even show of
resistance.
REBEL THIEVES.
1t appears that the rebels who remained TO- the
last were not well organized, and majority of them
were thieves, whose object in staying was plumber
Ii is reported by the inhabitants Of the city that
these men were guilty Of many disgraceful acts
They had little difficulty in effecting their escape
with their booty.
REBEL DEsERTERs.
covoroI hundred rebel deserters were aled
in the houses in Charleston; and when our troops
entered they surrendered declaring that they were
tired of the rebellion and would longer fight for
it. They were received as prisoners.
NEGROES IN CHARLESTON.
Crowds of negroes met troops, and made
many demonstrations OF JOY There were men,
women and children. They wanted food; many OF
them said they would be glad to work some pro-
posed to take up arms against their masters.
THE POPULATION.
The population of Charleston consisted entirely
of the poorer classes who unable TO get away;
tue rich had for several days been removing. The
persons who remained were in want; they had moth
Ing to eat and no means OF obtaining anything
Their situation Is described as much worse than
thai of the inhabitants of Savannah after the cap
ture OF that city.
CONDITION OF CHARLESTON.
The lower part Of the city within reach of our
guns was in effect, ruin, and was almost unin,
6abited Comparatively few persons dared to re-
main there. Some Of the houses were knocked
down; bricks aud timbers were laying everywhere.
and The streets III particular were strewn with the
fragments in many places entirely obstructing
travel. Shells were lying among the ruins. The
anpearance OF the city-the lower part unnhab ita-
Die aud the upper part III names--is described as
dreary and desOlate IN the extreme.
The REBEL ARMY AND SUPPLIES.
There is-intormatiOn that the evacuation nj
liz skwu..
ohi,er who deserted and was examined AT Fort
Royal gave some OF the details bnt they were not
then believed Since that time the Rebels have
been at work removing stores, though all the heavy
supplies were lett.
The only iuior nation in regard to the Rebels is.
that the direction taken by them in their flight was
u, r Inward aud that their numba was about four
teen thousand.
An expedition of Union troops to Bulrs Bluff.
short time before the evacuation, was il Is under
stood. intended 10 cut the railroad north of the
city but it successful it could have prevented the
escape OF only few Of the Rebels.
THE EVACUATION or FORT ANDERSON.
The american says
We learn from passengers by the steamer Louis
lana from Fortress Monroe this morning that
Lieutenant Gushing came up and Proceeded TO
Warrington this morning As bearer of dispatches
from Rear Admiral Porter, bringing the gratifying
news that Fort Anderson was captured on Sunday
last, oIsning the way for an immediate advance On
Wilmington.
The bombardment OF Fort Anderson was kept up
bv the navy with great spirit on Saturday, and
Gen. SchOiield had prepared for grand assault OF
the works on Sunday morning. At an early hour
twas discovered that the enemy had commenced
the evacuation when the assault was ordered, and
the fort was in possession, with all its guns
uninjured, and before they had time to blow up the
magazine.
A nunlber Of prisoners were captured but the
larger portion of the garrison made good their
escape to Wilmington. pursuit was immediately
ordered, and at the time Lieut.. Gushing left with
his dispatches for Washington, Admiral Porter had
ordered the Moniteys- Apaa knock and Canonicus
with the gunboats, up To Wilmington. IL was ex-
pected that the city would be in possession vss
Monday, beyond doubt, as rnmors had preached the
feet that Bragg was rapidly evacuating it. Fort
A nderson was the only work of any imDorta nca