The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-03-07
THE EVACUATION OF cHARLEsroN.


A Confederate officer who arrived in this town
direct from South Carolina, gives us some q, lh,ef-
esting items concerning the evacuation 0: Charles-
ton The evacuation took place on Friday night,
18th February and the city was occupied by about
500 Yankees, who landed in small boats, about IL
o'clock on Saturday All the cotton-some 5000
bales-and the shipping was destroyed, and tue
guns spiked, by the military authorities.
The city is now but little more than heap OF
ruins When the Yankees entered, nearly half OF
it was in ashes and terrible fire was still raging
The fire originated in two ways: quantity OF
damaged powder had been left at the depot of the
n Err r.. Company. along with number OF
other articles. A crowd of negroes, and citizens
of the lowe. class had assembled for the purpose of
page While there, boy, in sport, fired small
quantity of loose powder, which, communicating
with that in the boxes, ignited the whole, causing
terrific explosion, with considerable loss of life
The immense depot building was blown to atoms
aud the FIRE spread rapidly to the adjoining houses.
It burned with great rapidity, and extended as far
up on King Street as the Soldiers Wayside Home.
About the same time fire broke out in another
portion of the city caused by the burning of the
Savannah bridge. This fire was also very destruc-
tiye and the two combined extended from river to
river. Numerous other fires also occurred in DIFF
ferent parts of the cty-said to have been the
work Of the citizens themselves. All this occurred
before the occupation of the city by the Yankees.
Our forces under General Hardee have gone in
the proper direction. 1t is not permissible to
state where they are, but they will be found where
..,,ey are most needed.-FdyetxviUe Telegraph.
THE YANKEE ACCOUNT.
From the New York papers we take the follow
ing particulars of the occupation of the aHy:
The evacuation of Charleston discovered by
our forces, under General Schimmelfennig, from
James Island. Exactly at what time il not yet
reported, though the occupation OF the city and OF
the Notifications took place at about ten O'Clock IN
the forenoon Of the 18th FEB
The departure of the rebels from Forts Sumter
and Moultrie was, it is understood, seen from our
picket boats which reconnoitYe the hsrbor at night;
and the operations of the rebel garrisons began
about twelve hours before the evacuation was
completed-namey, at ten o'clock on the evening
of the 18th Early in the morning of the 18th,
two terrific explosions in Charleston were heard
from our feet Fire, smoke and burning frag
ments filled the air for great distance, and the
shock was severely felt by all our vessels. Soon
afterwards, and before daylight, fires were set in
other places, and extended throughout the upper
uart of the city. It has since been asceralned
that many thousand bales of cotton burned in
consequence of the explosions Of the warehouses
and other public buildings that were fired by the
rebels
Our forces took possession of the city in the
tennig was unopposed, the rebels leaving the
Union troops came in sight There was not even
show of resistance.
1t appears that the rebels who remained to the
last were not we'll organised, and szsnajority Of
them were thieves, whose object in staying was
plumber. 1t is reported by the inhabitants of the
city that these men we're guilty Of many disgrace
full acts. They had little difficulty in etfectng
their escape with their booty. Several hundred
rebel deserters were concealed in the houses in
Charleston, and when our troops entered they sur
rendered, declaring that they were tired of the
rebellion, and would no longer fight for it They
were received prisoners. Crowds Of negroes
met our 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 proposed to take up against
their masters
There is information that the evacuation Of
Charleston began nearly three weeks ago rebel
officer, who deserted and was examined at Port
then believed Since that time the rebels have
been at work removing stores; though all the
heavy supplies were left. The only information in
regard to the rebels is that the direction taken by
them in their flight northward, and that their
number was about fourteen thousand.
Previous to the enemy evacuating, they fired the
upper part of the city, by which six thousand bales
of cotton were burned, and it is supposed that be-
fore they could subdue it two-thirds of the city
would be destroyed.
A fearful explosion occurred in the Wilmington
Railroad depot, the cause of which was unknown.
Several hundred citizens lost their lives The
building was used by the company, and was siua-
ted in the upper part of the city!
WAR NEWS