The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-18
TO-DAY we CELEBRATE.
semI.c entenary Of the Evacuation Of
Charleston.

L m. N
One OF the most heroic and stub
born defenses ever made by a be
sieged city was that Of Charleston
S. c., the proudest city Of the Con
federacy, in the American Civil war
It was Just half a century ago that
the gallant defenders of the South
Carolina, metropolis were forced &c
give up the unequal contest and
eyacuate the city. After eighteen
months OF almost continual lombard
ment from land and sea-a period o.
famine, want and misery for the gar
rison and the citizens who had re
mained-the Stars and Bars were
hauled down from Fort Sumpter Oh
February IS, 1862 The approach O
Gen. Serman with his victorious army
which had occupied Columbia the pre-
yious day, made 1t necessary for the
small body Of Confederates to retire
in order to escape certain defeat
Charleston had been reduced to q
mass Of smoking ruins by the BON
tion was completed by Gen. Hardee
nardment, and the work OF destrnc
before he abandoned the city.
The fall Of Charleston was the occa
sion OF REHABILITATION in the North,
The South Carolina metropolis wa
looked as the source and fountain
head Of the ideas for which the Con,
federacy stood. The Civil war had
opened at Charleston In April, 1851,
when Major Anderson had beer
forced to evacuate Fort Sumpter, a
brick stronghold built on a shoal IN
Charleston harbor, about three n q
half miles from the city. Anderson
tho Federal commander at Fort sum
ter. had only eighty men under HIN
when attacked by Gen. Beaaregata
ON April IA, 1851, the Confederate
nag was raised over the fort, and
there it remained until February 10
o., yall, the cities Of the South
Charleston was most hated by Inc
people Of the North, and they clam
ored for its fall. In April. 1853, 9
fleet Of monitors was dispatchea
against the city, and on the seventh
~ that month the battle OF Charles
ton harbor was fought. 1t was q
disaster for the fleet, for the artil'
,erists OF Fort Sumpter made every
shot tell, The Confederate gunners'
according to European experts who
witnessed the conflict. did the best
work in the history OF warfare. ana
Union officers afterward declared
that the shots, rapid as the ticks OF
a watch" never failed to hit the
mark.
In July the Union forces resumed
the assault by land and sea. Batter
les we're erected on Morris island
about 1000 yards from Fort sumpter
and In. q week over 5000 pro1ectlles
weighing from 100 to 500 pounds each
were hurled against the fort. The
fort was demolished and Its guns sill
enced, but the devoted garrison held
on amid the ruins. Repeated as
saults we're made on Fort Wagner
and Sumpter, but the blue lines were
again and again hurled back will
fearful slaughter. In September tbs
garrison beat off another naval at
tack. In October a bombardmenl
was commenced which continued
forty days, and It was resumed II
1854. A veritable rain OF shot ant
shell poured upon Charleston. ant
death and destitution held high car
nival in the stricken city.
Gen. Gilmore, %despairing OF cap
turing Fort sumpter by assault, lait
siege to the city and its defense. The
sappers and miners gradually wor
their way to the battery and another
assault was to have been delivered
on the day the Confederates, hearing
OF the approach OF Sherman. aban
doned the city and completed the
work Of destruction.
The Confederate flag was hauled
down by the same men who hat
raised It, and when the Union force.
entered the city they found only
smoking ruins on which to plant the
banner which had %triumphed only af
ter months Of bombardment and the
sacrifice OF thousands OF lives. The
fall Of Charleston virtually sounded
the deathknell Of the ~Confederacy
and in the following April the surren
der OF Lee at Appomattox brought
the long and bloody conflict to ar
end.