Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-03-03
THE EVACUATION OF CHARLESTON.

THE EVACUATION OF CHARLESTON.
The following interesting particulars re-
specting matters at Charleston were brought
to New York by the steamer Fulton
The departure Of the rebels from Fort
Sumter and Moultrie was, it is understood,
seen from our picket-boats which reconnoiter
the harbor at night and the operations Of
the rebel garrison began about twelve hours
before the evacuation was completed-name-
y, at ten o'clock on the evening of the l7th.
Early in the morning of the 18th, two ter
rife explosions in Charleston were observed
from our feet. Fire, smoke and burning
fragments filled the air for great distance /;
and the shock was severely felt by all our
vessels
Soon afterward, and before daylight, fires
were setin other places, and extended throgh-
out the upper part Of the city. 1t has since
been ascertsined that many thousand bales
Of cotton were burned in consequences Of the
explosions Of the warehouses and other pub
lie buildings that we're fred by the rebels.
1t appears that the rebels who remained to
the last we're not we'll organized. and a maj or
ty of them were thieves, whose object in
staying was plumber. II is reported by the
inhabitants Of the city that these men were
guilty of many disgracefu acts. They had
little difficulty in efectipg their escape with
their booty.
Several hundred rebel deserters were con-
cealed in the houses in Charleston, and when
our troops entered they surrendered, deolar-
ing that they were tired of the rebellion, and
would no longer fight for it. They were re-
oeiyed prisoners.
Crowds of negroes met our troops, and
made many demonstrations of joy. There
were men, women and children. They want
ed food many of them said they would be
glad to work; some proposed to take up
arms against their masters.
The population of Charleston consisted en-
tirely of the poorer classes, who we're unable
to get away; the rich had for several days
been removing. The persons who remained
we're in want; they had nothing to eat, and
means Of obtaining anything. The situs-
ZION is described a. much worse than that OF
the inhabitants Of Savannah after the capture
of that city.
The lower part Of the city within reach Of
our guns was in effect ruin, and was almost
uninhabited. Comparatively few persons
dared to remain there. Some of the houses
we're knocked down; brick and timbers we're
lar we're stewn with the fragments, in many
places entirely obstructing travel. Shells
were lying among the ruins. The appearance
Of the city-the lower part uninhabitable and
the upper part in fAmes-is described as
dreary and desolate in the extreme.
There is information that the evacuation Of
Cha leston began nearly three weeks ago. A
tebel officer, who deserted and was examined
a, Port Royal, gave some Of the details, but
they were not then believed. Since that
time the rebels have been at work removing
stores, though ell the heavy supplies were left
The only information in regard to the reb-
ell, is that the direction taken by them in
their fight was northward, and that their
number was about fourteen thousand. An
expedition OF Union troops to Bulls Bay a
short time before the evacuation was, it is
understood, intended to cut the railroad north
OF the city but, il successful, it could have
prevented the escape of only few OF the
rebels.