The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-02-23
THE WAR.
SHERMAN HEARD FROM !!
CHARLESTON AND COLUM+
BIA TAKEN!
The Old Flag Floats Again
Over Fort. Sumter.
CHARLESTON IN ASHES.
FulS Account Of the Capture Of
Charleston.

Fuls Account Of the Capture Of
Charleston.
New York, Feb. 2l.-The steamship
Fulton from Port Royal and Charleston Bar
18th arrived this morning.
Charleston was evacuated by the enemy
on the night of the 18th leaving the several
Notifications uninjured, besides 200 guns
which they spiked.
The evacuation was discovered at Fort
Moultrie, in the morning at 10 o'clock
Part Of the troops stationed at James
Island crossed over IN boats and took pos.
session Of the city without opposition. The
upper part Of the city. is on, FIRE.
Previous to the enemy evacuating they
fred the upper part of tho city by which
5000 bales of cotton we're burned and it il
supposed before the flames could be sub.
dued two thirds OF the city will be destroy.
ed. A fearful explosion occurred in the
Wilmington depot, cause unknown, by
which several hundred citizens lost their
lives. The building was used for commits
sary purposes and situated in the upper
part Of the oity
Admiral Dahlgren was the flrst to, rum up
to the city. where he anchored at 2 o'clock
Gent Gilmore followed soon after and had
fan Interview with General Schemelefing, he
being the first general officer in the city and
for the present In comspanh. The remains
oftwo iron. clads were found, which the en-
envy destroyed by blowing them up ppevi.
Gus to the evacuation
The blockade runner Irene. just arrived
from Nassau fen into our hands. Two 9th.
ers were expected to run in on the night Of
the 18th.
The first flag over Sumpter was raised b.
Capt Henry NJ. Bragg A. d. G. on Ger.
Gilmors's staff.
The houses in the lower part Of the city
were completely rdd!ed by our shot and
shell.
The wealthy portion Of the population
have deserted the city and now all that re.
main are the poorer class, and who are suf.
fering from want of food.
A movement has been made by the for.
ces under Gen. Hatch which resulted in
the capture Of six pieces OF artillery.
The Tribune's correspondent who arrived
by the Fulton gives the following account:
Charleston Harbor. Feb. 10.
Early last evening, Brig. Gen. Schemel.
fng, commanding northern district depart
ment of the South, discovered some indica-
tons which led him to believe the rebels
were about to evacuate Charleston and its
detenses, and accordin, ely ordered his pick
cts and picket boats 20 keep bright look.
out and report imm ediately any movement
on the part of the enemy.
About three o'clock this morning ter
rife explosion took place IN Charleston.
which shook every ship in the harbor and
off the bar, and almost simultaneous with
the explosion flames broke out and 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 the adjacent
buildings, causing general confagration Of
all dwelling houses in the vicinity, and it
was while the unfortunate inhabitants were
trying to extinguish this fire that the second
explosion took place which resulted so dis.
astrously, causing a horrible loss of life
amongst the women and children who are
represented as having been very much mu
tilated.
About o'clock this morning Genera
Schemelefing moved his forces and occupied
the formidable earthworks on James Island
which were found abandoned and the gun.
spiked. At 8 o'clock this morning de-
tachment was sent to take;possession of For
Sumter and raise the flag which Gen. An
derson hauled down nearly four years ago
At Q o'clock the flag was raised amidst deaf
ening cheers.
As fast as forces could be thrown into the
city they were set to work to put out the
fire, which up to the time of leaving wa
raging fiercely in different parts of the city
and old men, women and children rushing
frantically to and fro in the agony Of des
pair at the loss of their homes and the burr
ing and mutilating Of their friends. It Il
impossible to estimate the amount OF cottor
destroyed by the rebels. Several thousant
bales were collected in different parts of th'
city and set on fire almost simultaneously
with all the principal depots and warehouses
There is no doubt but the rebels intended
to burn the city to the ground, despite tn,
misery it would entail on thousands of WON
en-. children and old men, of which class III,
inhabitants of Charleston is now almost en-.
tirely composed. 1t was the opinion o
Gen. Gilmore's staff that in all probabilit,
two: thirds Of the city would be destroyed
before the fire could be extinguished will
the imperfect means for subduing it At hand
The last or rear guard Of the rebels lef
Charleston at four this morning, and ther.
are various rumors and conjectures as t
their destination, but the general opinion !,
they intend concentrating In the vicinity o
Florence, to which point they have rail
road communication from Charleston, unless
It has been recently DESTROYED by the expe