The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-25

THE FALL OF CHARLESTON-CONGR
LATORY ORDERS-SALUTES FIRED &c.
The steamer Fulton has arrived at
New York with the intelligence of the
fall of Charleston. The following is the
official announcement:
WASHINGTON, February 21.
To Major General Dir, Nep York:
This Department has received the
official report of Major~General Gilmore
announcing the surrender of the city Of
Charleston, South Carolina, to the United
States forces, under his command, at
nine o'clock on Saturday morning, the
18th instant.
Among the captured property are two
hundred pieces Of good artillery and a
supply of fine ammunition. The enemy
burned their cotton warehouses, arsenals,
quartermaster stores, railroad ridges.
two iron-clads and some vessels in the
ship-yard. EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
From the New York papers we take
the following particulars of the occupa-
ton Of the city:
The evacuation of Charleston was dis
covered by our forces, under General
Schimmelfennig, from James island
Exactly at what timeis 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 in
slant.
The departure Of the rebels from Forts
Sumter and Moultrie was, it is understood,
seen from our picket boats, which recon
noitre the harbor at night and the ope
rations of the rebel garrisons began
about twelve hours before the evacuation
was completed-namely, at ten o'clock
on Intervening Of the 17lh.
Early in the morning of the 18th, two
terrific explosions in Charleston were
heard from our feet. Fire, smoke and
burning fragments filled the air for
great distance, and the shock was Sc
verely felt by all our vessels.
Soon afterwards, and before daylight,
fires were set in other places. and ex.
tended throughout the upper part of the
city. 1t has since been ascertained that
many thousand bales of cotton were
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 forenoon, as already reported
General Schimmelfennig was unopposed,
the rebels leaving as the Union troops
came in sight. There was not even q
show of resistance.
1t appears that the rebels who re-
NAMED to the last were not well organ
lied, and majority of them were
thieves, whose object in staying was
plumber. 1t is reported by the inhabi-
tants of the city that these men were
guilty of many disgraceful acts. They
had little difficulty in effecting their
escape with their booty.
Several hundred rebel desertcrs 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 as pri>
SOners.
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 bro.
posed to take up arms against their mas.
ters.
The population of Charleston con-
sisted entirely Of the poorer classes, who
were unable to get away; the rich had
for several days been removing. The
persons who remained were in want; they
had nothing to eat and no means of ob-
talning anything. Their situation is de-
scribed as much worse than that Of the