Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-28
NEWS OF The WEEK.
THE WAR.
The Evacuation of Charleston, and its 0ceu-
patton by our Forces

To MAJOR Gen. HdlleGk, Chief Of Staff:
Generals The City OF Charleston and all its
deiences came into our possession this morning
with abou 200 pieces Of good artillery and a
supply of fine ammunition. The enemy com
menced evacuatng all the works last night, and
Major McBeth surrendered the cityto the troops
of General Schemmelhning at o'clock TINS
morning, at which time it was occupied by our
forces.
Our advance on the Edsto from Bu!ls Bay
fastened the retreat OF the rebels.
The cotton warehouses, arseDals, quartermas-
tiers stores, railroad bridges and two iron cads
were burned by the enemy. Some vessels in the
shipysrd were also burned Nearly all of the
inhabitants remaining behind are Of the poorer
class Very respectfully,
Q. A. GILMORE Maj Gen. Com.
New YoRE, Feb. 81
Orr CHARLESTON, Feb. 18th, 2P.M.
The old flag waves over Sumpter, Moultrie and
the city of Charleston. can sec it, crimson
stripes and iadeless stars waving in the warm
sunlight of this glorious day
Thanks be to God WhO giueh US The pidory. The
movements of Gen. Sherman into the interior,
threatening Brancnvile and Augusta with his
main column, while Gen. Hatch moved along
the coast distracted The rebels and they commit.
ted the fatal error Of attempting 10 hold line
more than hundred miles loug against bis army
with force greatly inferior
The blockading vessels which have watched
for months are riding at their anchors Their
work Is done--their occupation gone
Tomorrow will be Sabbath Of rest and Joy
TO officers and salloIe alike.
NEW York, Feb. 81
The Fulton left Charleston bar on the 18Th
at p. M. The rebels in their haste, left the
several Notifications uniniured but spiked the
guns. Previous. to the enemy's eyacuating they
fired the upper part Of the city by which 600J
bales Of cotton were burned and 1t is supposed
that before they could subdue the flames two
thirds Of the city will be destroyed A fearful
explosion occurred in the Wilmington Depot,
cause unknown, by which several hundred citi-
Gems lost their lives. Admiral Dahlgren was the
first to run up to the city, where he arrived
at about2 o'clock, p. NJ Gen. Gilmore fol-
lowed soon after, and had an interview with
Gen. STRENGTHENING, he being the first general
officer in the cty,and for the present in command.
1t is supposed that Beauregsrd evacuated
Charleston IN order TO concentrate his forces and
give Sherman battle.
The first flag over Sumter was raised by Capt.
Henry NJ Bragg Of Gen. Gilmores staff, having
for staff an oar and boat hook dashed together.
The houses in the lower part of The city have
been completely rlddled by our shot and shell.
Tue wealthy part of the city isdasertedand now all
that remain are ofthe poorer CLASSES, who are sui.
fering for want Of food.
A movement was made by the forces under
Gen. Hatch, which resulted in the capture of
six pieces Of artillery which the rebels had aban-
doned. The carriages were destroyed.
The World says kilograms received BY
parties from Washington state that Lee has sent
$4,000 men to Beauregard /; thar Gen. Grant is
aware of it, aud the Army of the Potomac is IN
motion. Also, that Gen. Sheridan Is advancing
with heavy force on Gordonssllle or Lynch
burgh.
The Herald's dispatch says there are again
strong Indications that Lee is preparing to eyac-
uate Richmond and fall back to Lynchburg for
final stand. Ii is positively stated that the
valuable machinery and medical stores have
already been removed, and it is anticipated that
within fifteen days the capital will be abandoned
The following interesting particulars respect.
ing matters at Charleston were brought to New
York by the steamer Fulton
The departure oil the rebels from Fort Sum
ter and Moutre was, il lie understood, seen
from our picket-boats which rsconnoiter the
harbor at night and the operations of the
rebel garrison began about twelve hsuTs before
the evacuation was oompleted-namsly, at ten
o'clock on the evening Of the 18th.
Early in the morning OF the lSth, two t.rridc
explosions in Charleston were observed from Jur
fleet. Fire, smoke and burning fragments q led
the air for great distance and the shock was
severely felt by oil our vessels
Soon sfterward, and before daylight, free
were SGT in other places, and extended through
out the upper part Of the city. Ii has since
been ascertaned that many thousand bales Of
cotton were burned in consequence OF the eX-
plosons OF the warehouses and other public
buildings that were fired by the rebels.
Ii appears that the rebels who remained &c
the last were not well Organzei, aud majority
Of them were thieves, whose object in stsylnl
was plumber. Il is reported by tbs inhabitan /,
OF the city that these men were guilty OF many
disgracelul acts. They had little difficulty il
ehecting their escape with their booty,
Several hundred rebel deserters were conceal
ed In the houses at Charleston, and when ouI
troops entered they surrendered, declaring tha
they were tired oil the rebellion, and would nj
longer fsht for it. They were received as pris
oners.
Crowds OF negroes met our troops, and mad,
many denominations Of joy. There were men
women and children. They wanted food man,
Of them said they would be glad to work SOM
proposed to take up arms against their masters
The population Of Charleston consisted entire
ly of the poorer classes, whe we're unabe to ge
away; the rich had for several days been remoy
ing. The persons who remained were in want
they had nothing to eat, and no means Of obtain
ing anything. The situation is described a
much worse than that Of the inhabitants OF Sa
vannah after the capture Of that city
The swer part Of the city within reach OF GU
guns was in effect a ruin, and was almost un
inhabited. Comparatively few persons dare
10 remain there. Some Of the house. wtr
knocked down brick and timbets were lyn
everywhere, and the streets IN particular wen
strewn with the fragments, 10 many places en-
tirely sbstructing travel. Shells were lyn
among the ruins. The appearance OF the city
the lower part uninhabltabe and the uppe
part IN iiamss--is described us dreary and de,
olate in the extreme.
There is information that the evacuation Q
Charleston began nearly three weeks ago.
rebel ohcsr, who deserted and was examined a
Port Royal, gave some Of the dealls, but the
were not then believed. sinoe that time tn
rebels have been at work removing stores, thong
all the heavy supplies were left. The only II
formation IN regard 10 the rebels 10, that ia
direction taken by them IN their flight wa
northwMd. and that their number, was abou
fourteen thousand. An expedition of Unto
troops to Bulls Bay short time before tn
evaesatlon was, it 10 understood, intended to Gu
the railroad north oil the city but, II success
full, il could have prevented the escape Of only
few Of the rebels