Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-02-25
WEEKLY TELEGRAPH.
AsHTA LA,
Saturday Morning, February as, 1865.
WAR NEW 9.

FALL or CuARLEsrox ---FIRr, EXPLOSION
AND MuruLArroH OF WOMEN, CHILDREN. NC.
Charleston the cesspoo OF poliicnl corruption
has Submitted to the ignomnious, fate, which lie
blusser aud pretension aud conspiracy aud
rebellion adapted IT, Ia the darkness Of night
Its defenders. skulkea hom It's defeaces, aud
left the helplessuess Of age, aud the defence
iessnsss Of sex and childhood to want and the
sufferings from mstilation, by fire and explosion,
The city was deserted on the night OF the 18th,
and the discovery was made the next morning.
This dispatch says--Previous to the enemy
evacaatiag they fesd tae upec part Of the
city, by which 6,0)0 bales of cotton we're
bsraee, aud II is supposed that before the fire
could be subdued, two-thrjs OF the city was
destroyed. A fearful explosion occurred 10
the Wilmington depot-cause unkowp-oy
which several hundred ctiz,nJ lost their lives
The building was used for comnssary pur-
poses, and situated 10 the upper part OF the |
city.
Admiral DahIgreu was the first 10 run up to
the city, where he arrived at about two o'clock.
General Gilmore followed soon after General
Scbimmelp lpleanig, being the first ,Geural officer
in the city, snd for the present in command J
The renal CT two iron clads were fonud
which the eremy DESTROYED by blowing them
up previous 10 the evacuation. The blockade
runner Cyrcuc, Just arrived from Nassau, fell |
iuto our hands.
The first flag over Sump.er was raised by
Cap. Henry NJ. Bragg, on Gen. Gmore's
staff. The houses 10 the lower part of the
city, were completely ridilel by our shot and
shell. The wealthy part of the population
have deserted the city aud now all that remain
are the poorer classes who are suffering Tor
the want of food. A movement had been made
by the forces under General Hatch which re-
suited in the capture Of six pieces OF artillery .
The Tribuues correspondents gives the fol-
lowing. Early 10 the evening Brgadier
General Schimmelpfennig commanding the
Northern District of the Department Of the
South, discovered some indications which led
him to believe that the rebels were about to
evacuate Charleston aud its defeuces, and he
accordingly ordered his pickets and picket
beats to keep bright look out and report
immsdistey any movement on the part Of tie
enemy
About half past three on the morning otths
15th terrible explosion took palce 10 Charles
ton which shook every ship ia the harbor and
IN the bar, and almost simultaneously with
distinctly seen in different parts OF the city.
It appears the frsi explosion took place
at the Wilmington Depot, the FIRE from
which rapidly communicated with the adjs.
cent buildings, causing general condig' o.
aioa Of all the dwelling hou es in the vicini-
", and it was while the unfortunate nhabi.
tants we're trying to exlingulsh his fire bat
the second explosion took place. which re-
suited SO dissstrousy. causing q terrible
loss of life among the women aud children.
WHO are represented as having been horri.
bly, mutifsted.
About six o'clock General Schimmelp
fennig moyed his forces aud occupied tn,
eiy and its deeeuce.. The formidable
eaftbworks on James Island were foun(
abandoned and the guns spiked.
Al 8 o'clock q detachment was sent t.
take possession OF Fort Sumter aud rails,
the flag which Gen Anderson hauled
down nearly four years ego AT niue
o'clock the old aag was raised, amidst deaf
eniug cheers.
As fast as forces could he thrown into
the city they we're set TO work to put out
the fire, which, up 10 the time Of leaving
was raging fercely in fferent parts Of lhe
city.
All the men, women aud children werr
rushing frs0ticslly 10 and fro, in an OgoDy
OF despair at the loss OF their homes aDo
the killing and nutlating of their fl euds
1t is impossible 10 estimate The amosut ol
cotton destroyed by the rebels. Severa'
thousand bales we're collected in differeu
parts OF the city, and set oD f,e Amos
simultaneously.
With all the principal depots and ware
houses, there is no doubt but the rebesls n
tended TO burn the city to the grouud,
despite the misery it would entail on hous
ands of the women, children sRd old men,
of which class rhesinhabitaDs Of Charleston
is now almost entirely composed.
1t was the opinion OF Gen. Gilmore's
staff that in all probability two thirds of
the city would be deslf Dyed before ,he FIRE
could he extuguished with the imperfect
means at hand.
Tue last or rear guard OF the rebels left
Charleston at 4 AN aud there are serious
rumors and conjectnres as to their des iua.
tion, but the prevalent opinion is that they
Intend concentrating 10 the yicniy of Flor
ence, to which point they have railroad
communication from Charleston, unless it
has been recently destroyed by the expedi.
tion seat 80 Bulls Bay
u Hundred Of rebels secre,ed themselves
ndifersut parts of the ciiy when the
main column was rstreaing They have
given themselves mp and tell be usual stor
of being tired Of war. half starved, Re
They express desire 10 be alowed to tax,
the oath Of allegiance to our Government
and remain in the city
The N. Y Heralds correspondent says
A IsF,y Of sseridsn's cavalry, consistin
OF l26 men Of the l4ih Pennsylvania, wen
-. tha WaiIav af tha Shanaadoah H. ot L n