| From the Hillsboro {N. C.} Recorder |
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| March 15, 1865 |
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| The Burning of Charleston |
| The Charleston Courier of the
morning of the 20th -- its last (Confederate) issue -- thus describes
the horrors of the evacuation of the city: |
| The terrible scenes through
which this community has passed since our last issue can only be
conceived by those who witnessed the dreadful reality. The saddest part
of all is the loss of life which occurred between eight and nine o'clock
Saturday morning from an accidental explosion of powder and the blowing
up of the Northeastern railroad depot About one hundred and fifty
persons -- including men, women and children -- were either instantly
killed or perished in the flames, and about two hundred wounded. Of the
immense destruction of property no estimate can be formed, but it will
amount to several millions. |
| Early Saturday morning, before
the retirement of Gen. Hardee's troops, every building, warehouse or
shed, stored with cotton, was fired by a guard detailed for the purpose.
The engines were brought out; but with the small force at the disposal
of the Fire Department very little else could be done than to keep the
surrounding buildings from igniting. On the western side of the city the
conflagration raged with great fury. On the wharf of the Savannah
railroad depot several hundred bales of cotton awaiting shipment on the
blockade runner; also, several thousand bushels of rough rice. On Lucas
street, leading to the depot, was a shed containing twelve hundred bales
of cotton, which, together with several other sheds and buildings filled
with cotton, belonging to private parties, fell a prey to the flames.
Lucas's mill, containing some thirty thousand bushels of rice, and Mr.
R. T. Walker's warehouse, at the foot of Broad street, filled with
commissary stores were also destroyed. |
| Shortly after eight o'clock
occurred the terrible explosion at the Northeastern railroad. The
explosion was tremendous and shook the whole city It appears, from all
accounts that the dreadful catastrophe was caused from the careless
handling of powder by some boys taking handfulls and throwing it into
the cotton fire at the depot. In doing this they unwittingly laid a
train to the apartment in which it was stored. The spectacle which
followed was horrible. In an instant the whole building was enveloped in
smoke and flames. The cries of the wounded, the inability of the
spectators to render assistance to those rolling and perishing in the
fire, all rendered it a scene of indescribable terror. The flames spread
with great rapidity, communicating to the adjoining buildings, including
the fine large residence of Dr. Seaman Deas, on the northeast corner of
Chapel and Alexander streets, all of which were destroyed. The buildings
on the opposite side of the street were soon enveloped in flames, and
the fire now became unmanageable. All the buildings embraced in the area
of four squares on Chapel, Alexander, Washington and Charlotte streets
to Calhoun street, with few exceptions, were destroyed. At about ten
o'clock, fire broke out in the large four story brick building of Madame
DaRee, at the northeast corner of East Bay and Laurens street. This,
with the adjoining building on the northeast corner of Minority street,
were all burned. Another fire broke out about 1 o'clock in a range of
buildings on the west side of Meeting street, next to the court-house.
Five buildings were burned; the walls only were left standing. The alarm
of fire Saturday night, in Ward four, was caused by the burning of the
inside of a millinery establishment on King street. |
| In addition to the above fires
the new bridge from the city to James island was set on fire and was
still burning on Sunday night. ***** |
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