The National tribune., 1886-08-19
THE BOD PA
The First to Enter Charleston. =. C.-GraDhie
Account OF the Evacuation.

lie flrst TO Inter Charleston =. C.-Graphie
Account OF the EylcuatiOn.
To THE EDITOR When Sherman's arnvigot
in the rear of Charleston the proud and def
ant city was faaked, and the COnfederates
wisely concluded to abandon the 10 them al
most sacred place, which with It's ifhpregnable
defenses that they had 50 successfully defended
for three years against the most formidable and
persevering siege and bombardment recorded
in history.
Eas.. on the morning Of Feb. 1s, 1866. it was
discovered that the rebels were evacuating, and
the sd Pa, OF which every man was an expert
Oarsman, embarked in rowbodts at Cummings
Point ON Morris Island, and with strong arms
and light hearts and an ingoing tide RULED for
the mother city CT secession. Scrg'J Johnson
OF Co. q, in charge OF the Gen Rlplcy, a H.
cared boat, was sent 70 Fort Sumter and hOisted
the boat flag on the fort, and the Stars and
Stripes once more kissed the breeze Of that
historic fort, the first time since Mai Anderson's
surrender. Serg't Johnson then re- EN- barked his
crew and followed in our boats wake 10 Charles
ton. Company A of the SD Pa commanded
By Capt J. w. Gilchrist, was the first to land at
the wharves. Capt. Giichrist sent Lieut. L. g.
hillan. of the same company with a detach-
ment oil men and the regimental headquarters
flag to the Custom House. Lieut. hillan took
the flag IN his own hands and carried il to the
top OF tine Custom House and flung il 70 the
breeze amidst the almost deafening cheers of
the regiment. The sd Pa therefore has the
honor of being first in Charleston aud Lieut..
killian (now of PittSton Pa that of first rails
ing the glorious emblem of liberty in the rebel
lious city.
Capt. Gilehrist, who was a daring and eff
Gent officer, IS at present Tax Receiver in the
city of Wilkes Barre, Pa.
when we entered the city Gen. Hardees
eyacuating army could be seen on nearly every
street applying the torch, with the evident in
tentlOn OIL leaving nothing but ruins to mark
the spot occupied by one OF the most beautiful
cities IN the country They fired every ware
house ana shed containing cotton; also all quar-
termaster stores, arsenals, railroad bridges and
depots besides two irOnclads and large GUAM
tity OF other shipping in the harbor
AT the Northwestern Railroad depot there
were large quantities OF provisions, gunpowder
and cotton. ThHcotton was fired 10y tine rebels,
ana hundreds OF women and children hOcxed
TO the burning building to secure as much as
possible OF the commissary stores before the fire
tiend should complete its work. Some OF the
children were amusing themselves by throw
ing handfuls of powder on the burning cotton,
ana by this means the flames were commune
Gated to the powder, and one of the most terri
Bile explosions ever witnessed was the result
The earth and sea were shaken for miles from
the city, and every vessel inside the outer bar
ialriy rocked from its moOrings.
Between 200 and 800 of the POOR, unfortunate.
halt-famished women and children were killed
and mutilated beyond recognition The Fire
Department turned out promptly, but could do
nothing but prevent the fire from spreading on
the western side of the city, and before it could
be subdued four squares bounded by Chapel,
Aexander and Washington streets were en-
tirely consumed.
The retreating rebels were followed to
Monke's Corner, about 40 miles, when we were
cOuntermarched to Charleston, where we
shipped TO MoOrehead City, n. g., and marched
to GoldsborO, where we were assigned TO the
First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third
Corps.
would say, in conclusion, that it pains me to
see evidences of emnity between Eastern and
Western soldiers. Ny experience during my
four years service with regiments from nearly
every State was that all were about equal in
emergencies when equally commanded The
39th ILL.,, cd and 9th Ohio, 56th n. v. Sd X.
/. Ii. A, Sd n. H., 9th and 10th Conn. lIth
Me-, and many others that / could mention
from both East and West were regiments that
were tried and found TO contain the true mettle
Now, let us drop all such controversies and
march shoulder TO shoulder and close up the
ranks as our comrades fall by the way, for it
will not be many years until the last cOmrade
shall have answered the last roii-call.-S. w.
TAYLOR, Co. A. SD Pa, HarveyvilIe, Pa.