Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-02-24
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAPTURE
ID

4 OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAPTURE
OF CHARLESTON.
New York, Feb 2l.-A dispatch from Sec
retary Stanton to Gen. Dix announces The re-
ception of an official report Of Major General
Gilmore of the capture of Charleston. General
Gilmore's report is as follows:
CHARLESTON, S. c., Feb. I8, via
New York, Feb. 81, 1865.
MAJOR General HaiIeck, Chief of Sqf:
GENERAL:-The City of Charleston and its
defenses came into our possession this morning
with about 200 pieces of good artillery and a
supply Of fine ammunition. The enemy COM
menced evacusting all the works last night, and
Mayor Mackbeth surrendered the city to the
troops of General Schimmelpfennig at 8 o'clock
this morning, at which time it was occupied by
our forces. Our advance on the Edisto from
Bulls Bay, hastened the retreat. The cotton
warehouses, arsnels quartermasters' stores, rail
road bridges and two iron-clads were burned
by the enemy; some vessels in the shipyard
were also burned. Nearly all the inhabitants,
remaining behind belong to the poorer classes.
q. A. GILMORE, Gen. Comdg.
New York, Feb 2l.-Previous TO the enemy
evacuating Charleston, they fired the upper part
of the city, by which 5000 bales of cotton were
burned, and il is supposed that before the fire
could be subdued two-thrds of the city would
be destroyed.
A fearful explosion occurred in the Whining
ton railroad depot, (cause unknown by which
several hundred citizens lost their lives. The
building was used for commissary purposes, and
situated in the upper part of the city.
The Trib1aeS correspondent, who arrived by
the Fulton, gives the following account:
Charleston Harbor, Feb l8.-Early last eve
ming Brig. Gen. Schimmelpfennig, command
ing 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 and its defenses, and he
accordingly ordered his pckets and picket boats
to keep bright look out, and report immediate
ly any movement on the part of the enemy.
About half-past three this morning a terrific
explosion took place in Charleston, which shook
every ship in the harbor and off the bar and al
most simultaneous with the explosion, flames
broke out and could be distinctly seen in diff
ferent parts of the city. 1t appears that the
first explosion took place at the Wilmington
depot the fire from which rapidly spread to the
adjacent buildings, causing general confagra-
ton of all dwelling houses in the vicinity, and
it was whilst the unfortunate inhabitants were
trying to extingush this fire, that the second
explosion took place, which resulted so disas-
",
women and children, who are represented as
having been horribly mutilated.
Admiral Dahlgren was the first to run up TO
the city, where he arrived at about p. M
Gen. Gilmore followed soon afterward, and had
an interview with Gen. Schemmelpfennig, he
being the first general officer in the CITY, and
for the present the commander.
The remains ofthe two iron-clads were found,
which the enemy destroyed by blowing them
up previous TO the evacuation. The blockade
runner Cyrene, 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 over Sumter was raised by Capt
II. NJ. Bragg, A. ID. G. on Gen. Gilmore's staff
The houses in the lower part of the city were
completely rddled by our shot and shell. The
wealthy part of the population have deserted
the city, and now all that remains are the poor
er classes, who are suffering from the want of
food.
A movement has been made by the force un-
der Gen. Hatch, which resulted in the capture
of six pieces of artillery.
About o'clock this morning Gen. Schim-
melpfennig moved his forces and occupied the
city and its defenses. The formidable earth
works on James Island were found abandoned
and the guns spiked.
At O'Clock this morning detachment was
sent TO take possession of Fort Sumter and raise
the flag which Gen. Anderson hauled down
nearly four years ago. At o'clock the flag
was raised amidst deafening cheers.
As fast as forces could be thrown into the
city they were set at work to put out the fire.
which up to the time of leaving, was raging
hercely in different parts of the city. Old men,
women and children were rushing frantically
to and fro in an agany of despair at the loss of
their homes and the killing and mutilating of
their friends. 1t is impossible to estimate the
amount of cotton destroyed by the rebels. Sew
eral thousand bales were collected in different
parts of the city and set on fire almost stimuli
taneOusly with the different depots and ware
houses. There is no doubt that the rebels in
tended to burn the city to the ground, despite
the misery it would entail on thousands of wo-
men and children and old men, of which class
the inhabitants of Charleston are now almost
entirely composed. 1t was the opinion of Gen.
Gilmore's staff that in all probability two-thirds
of the city would be destroyed before the fire
could be extinguished with the imperfect means
for subduing it at hand.
The last rear guard of the rebels left
Charleston at A. M. this morning, and there
are rumors and con lectures as to their destina-
ton, but the prevalent opinion is they intend
concentrating in the vicinity of Florence, to
which point they have railroad communication
from Charleston unless it has been recently des-
troyed by an expedition sent to Bulls Bay
Several hundred rebels, who secreted themselves
in different parts of the city when the main col
umn was retreatiDg, have given themselves up
and tell the usual story of being tired of the
war, half starved, &c. They express desire to
be allowed to take the oath of allegiance to our
Government and remain in the city.