The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-02-22
Evacuation Of Charleston Con.
flrmed.
The City Fired.
5000 Bales Cotton Burned at
Charleston.
TWO-ThirdS Of the City Burnt.
Several Hundred Citizens Lose
their Lives.
lrOn-CladS Destroyed.
Observation-Disclosures Captured.
The Old Flag Waving Over Fort
Sumter.
Later from Europe.
Rebel Dash Into Cumberland.
Gems. Crook and Kelly Captured.
Gen. GtllmOre's Report or the DC.
cupaliOn OF Charleston.

Gen. GIllmOre's Report or the DC.
cupalIOn OF Charleston.
New York, Feb. 21.-The steamer Fulton,
Captain NolestOn, from Port Royal and
Charleston Bar on the 18th at .. NJ. arrived
to-day. Purser Tom McManus furnished
US with the following memoranda:
Charleston was evacusted by the enemy
on the night of the 18th, leaving the sever
al works uninjured, besides two hundred
guns, which they spiked. The evacuation
was first discovered at Fort Moultrie in the
morning. AT 10 A. n. part Of the troops
stationed at James Island crossed over in
boats, and took possession of the city with
out opposition. The upper part of the city
was on fire.
| NEW YORK, Feb. 2I.-Previous to the en-
envy evacuating Charleston they fred the
upper part Of the city, by which six thou
sand bales of cotton were burned, and it is
supposed that before the FIRE could be sub
dued two thirds of the city would be de-
stroyed. 4 fearful explosion occurred in
the Wilmington Depot, by which
several hundred citizens lost their lives.
| The building was used for commissarv pur-
poses, and was situsted in the upper lpart
ofthe city. Admir- Dahlgren was the first
to run up to the city, where no arrived
about o'clock. Gen. Gilmore followed soon
after and had an interview with General
Schuilenfug, he being the Grst General
officer in the city, and for the pres
ent in command of the city. The
remains Of two iron -clads were found.
which the enemy had destroyed by blowing
them up previous to evacuation. The
blockade runner Irene, just arrived from
Nassau, fell into our hands, and two others
were expected to run in on The night Of the
18th. The first flag on Sumter was raised
by Captain Henry NJ. Bragg, aid on Gen.
| Gilmores staff.
The houses in the lower part of the city
were completely riddled by our shot and
shell. The wealthy part of the population
have deserted the city, and now all that
remains are the poorer classes, who are
| suffering from want Of food.
A movement had been made by the force
under General Hatch, which resulted in
the capture Of elk pieces Of artillery.
The Tribuns's correspondent, who a.
rived by the Fulton, gives the following
aceou Mt of Charleston harbor February
18th Fairly last evening General Fen
ming, commanding the northern district of
the Department of the South, discovered
some indications which led him to believe
the rebels were about to evscuate Charles
ton snd its defences, and he accordingly
ordered his picket and picket boats to keep
| bright lookout and report Immediately
any movement on the part Of the enemy.
About half past three o'clock this morning
| a terrific explosion took place in Charleston.
which shook every ship in the hsrbor and
of the bar, and almost simultaneously with
the explosion flames broke out, which
| could be distinctly seen in different parts
of the city. 1t appears the first explosion
took place at the Wilmington depot, the
FIRE from which rapidly communicated with
buildings, causing q general eOnHagratiOn
of all dwelling houses in the vicinity, and
it was while the unfortunate inhabitants
were trying to extnguish this FIRE that
the second explosion took place, which
resulted odisassrously, causing terrible loss
Of life among the women and children, who
are represented SIS having been horribly
mutilated.
About 8 o'clock this morning Cen.
Feinnng moved his forces and occupied
the city and its defences. The formidable
earthworks on James Island were found
abandoned and the guns spiked.
At eight o'clock this morning detach-
ment was sent out to take possession Of
Fort Sumter and raise the flag which Gen.
Anderson hauled down nearly four years
ago. At 3 o'clock the flag was raised amid
dssfening cheers. As fast as 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 feroely in diff
ferent parts Of the city. Old men, women
and children rushed frantically 10 and fro
in al agony Of despair st the loss Of their
| friends.
1t is impossible 20 estimate the amount Of
cotton destroyed by the rebels. Several
thousand bales were collected in different
parts of the city and set on FIRE almost 81
simultaneously with the principal depots and
warehouses.
There is no doubt but the rebels intended
to burn the city to the ground, despite the
misery it would entail on the thousands Of
women, children and old men, Of which
class the inhabitants of Charleston is now
almost entirely composed. Il was the opiu-
ion of Gen. Gilmore's staff that in all prob
sbility wo-thirds Of the city would be de-
stroyed before the fire could be extinguish-
ed with the imperfect means Of subduing
II at hand
The last or rear guard Of the enemy LEFT
Charleston st O'Clock this morning, and
there are many rumors and conjectures IS
to their destination; butthe prevalent opin-
ion is that they intend to concentrate in the
vicinity Of Florence, at which point they
have railroad communication from Charles
ton, unless it has been destroyed recently
by the expedition sent 70 Bulls Bay.
Several hundred rebels who secreted
themselves in different parts Of the city
when the main column was Tetrsstng,
have given themselves up, and tell the
usual story Of being tired Of the var, half
starved, &c. They express 3 desire 10 DO
allowed 70 take the oath Of allegiance TO
our Governments and re main in the city.
PoETLLSD, Me-, Feb. 21.-Ths steamer
Nova Scotia, from Liverpool eth, via
Queenstown 10Th, arrived to-day, with Two
days later news.
The Paris correspondent Of the London
Times says that pending the recognition Of
thu prnnaro- Macmillan by President Lin