AEMY OPERATIONS. 



47 



yesterday, bound for Charlotte, N. C., and that it 

 was feared that Sherman had already intercepted 

 their march. It is reported, on similar authority, 

 that the last of Hood's army, 12,000 strong, passed 

 through Augusta last Sunday, the 19th, on the way 

 to Beauregard. Georgetown has been evacuated by 

 the enemy, and is now in our possession. Deserters 

 are coming in constantly. We have over 400 already. 



Q. A. GILLMORE, 

 Major-General Commanding. 



The following is the report of Col. Bennett, 

 who was the first to enter the city : 



HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, | 

 CHARLESTON, 8. C.,_February 24, 1865. ) 

 Captain J. W. Dickinson, Acting Asst. Adjt.-General. 



CAPTAIN : I have the honor to submit the following 

 report of the evacuation and occupation of Charles- 

 ton. On the morning of February the 18th I received 

 information that led me to believe the defences and 

 lines guarding the city of Charleston had been de- 

 serted by the enemy. I immediately proceeded to 

 Cummings Point, from whence I sent a small boat 

 in the direction of Fort Moultrie, which boat, when 

 forty yards east from Fort Sumter, was met by a boat 

 from Sullivan's Island, containing a full corps of band 

 musicians abandoned by the enemy. These confirmed 

 my belief of an evacuation. I had no troops that 

 could be available under two hours, as, except in a 

 few pontoon boats, there were no means whatever 

 of landing troops near the enemy's works or into the 

 city. I directed Major Hennessy to proceed to Fort 

 Sumter and there replace our flag. The flag was re- 

 placed over the southeast angle of Fort Sumter at 

 nine (9) o'clock A. M. I now pushed for the city, 

 stopping at Fort Ripley and Cast.le Pinckney, from 

 which works Rebel flags were hauled down and the 

 American flag substituted. The guns in these works 

 were in good order. There was mounted in Fort 

 Ripley one Quaker gun bearing southeast. I landed 

 at Mill's wharf, Charleston, at ten (10) o'clock A. M., 

 where I learned that a part of the enemy's troops yet, 

 remained in the city, while mounted patrols were out 

 in every direction applying the torch and driving the 

 inhabitants before them. 



I at once addressed to the Mayor of the city the 

 following communication : 



HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, ) 

 CHARLESTON, February 18, 1SG5. j 

 Mayor Charles Macbeth, Charleston: 



MAYOR : In the name of the United States Government I 

 demand a surrender of the city of which you are the executive 

 officer. Until further orders all citizens will remain within 

 their houses. 



I have the honor to be, Mayor, very respectfully, your obe- 

 dient servant, 



(Signed) A. G. BENNETT, 



Lieut. -Col. commanding U. S. Forces, Charleston. 



My whole force consisted of five (5) officers and the 

 acmed crews of two (2) small boats, comprising in all 

 twenty -two (22) men. Both officers and men volun- 

 teered" to advance from the wharf into the city ; but 

 no reinforcements being in sight, I did not deem it 

 expedient to move on. 



Public buildings, stores, warehouses, private dwell- 

 ings, shipping, etc., were burning and being fired by 

 armed Rebels, but with the force at my disposal it 

 was impossible to save the cotton and other property. 

 While awaiting the arrival of my troops at Mill's 

 wharf, a number of explosions took place. The Rebel 

 commissary depot was blown up, and with it is esti- 

 mated that not less than two hundred (200) human 

 beings most of whom were women and children 

 were blown to atoms. These people were engaged 

 in procuring food for themselves and their families 

 by permission from the Rebel military authorities. 

 The Rebel ram Charleston was blown up while lying 

 at her anchorage opposite Mt. Pleasant Ferry wharf; 

 in the Cooper River. Observing a small boat sailing 

 toward the bay under a flag of truce, I put oft' to it, 

 and received from a member of the common council 



a letter addressed to the General commanding United 

 States forces at Morris Island or to the officer in com- 

 mand of the fleet. The following is a copy of the 

 letter : 



CHARLESTON, S. C.. February 18, 1865. 

 To the General Commanding the Army of the United 



States at Morris Inland : 



SIR: The military authorities of the Confederate States 

 have evacuated the city. I have remained to enforce law and 

 preserve order until you take such steps as you may think 

 best. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



CHAELES MACBETH, Mayor. 



The deputation sent to convey the above letter rep- 

 resented to me that the city was in the hands of either 

 the Rebel soldiery or the mob. They entreated of me 

 in the name of humanity to interpose my military au- 

 thority and save the city from utter destruction. To 

 this letter I replied in the following terms : 



HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, CHARLESTON ) 

 HARBOR, NEAR ATLANTIC WHAKF, Feb. 18, 1865. f 

 Mayor Charles Macbeth : 



I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- 

 munication of this date. I have in reply thereto to state that 

 the troops under my command will render every possible 

 assistance to your well-disposed citizens in extinguishing the 

 fires now burning. 



I have the honor to be, Mayor, very respectfully, your 

 obedient servant, ' A. G. BENNETT, 



Lieut. -Col. commanding U. S. Forces, Charleston. 



Two (2) companies of the 52d Pennsvlvania regiment 

 and about thirty 050) men of the 3d R"hode Island vol- 

 unteer heavy artillery having landed, I proceeded with 

 them to the citadel. I here established my headquar- 

 ters, and sent small parties in all directions with in- 

 structions to impress negroes wherever found, and 

 to make them work the fire apparatus, until all fires 

 were extinguished. I also sent a strong guard to the 

 United States Arsenal, which was saved. As the 

 troops arrived they were sent out to points in the 

 city where were located railroad depots or any large 

 buildings containing property, such as cotton, rice, 

 tobacco, etc. It being apparent to me that I could 

 not effectually save all that remained, I concentrated 

 my guards wherever was stored the largest quantities. 



I cannot at this time submit any account of, or es- 

 timate any value to, the property that has fallen into 

 our possession. The most valuable items consist in 

 cotton and rice. The cotton has not yet been secured. 

 The rice is being given to the poor of the city to sup- 

 ply their immediate necessities. 



Every officer and soldier exerted himself to a most 

 willing performance of every allotted duty, yet I do 

 not deem it invidious for me to make special mention 

 of Lieutenant John Hackett, Co. M, 3d Rhode Island 

 artillery, who volunteered to go alone to Fort Moul- 

 trie and there raise the flag. As also to speak of 

 Major John A. Hennessy, Captain Samuel Cuska- 

 den, and Lieutenant P. M. Burr, all of the 52d regi- 

 ment Pennsylvania volunteers ; and Lieutenant James 

 F. Haviland, Acting Assistant Inspector-General of 

 my staff, who accompanied me to the city ; all of 

 whose services were most highly valuable to me. 

 Captain H. H. Jenks, 52d Pennsylvania volunteers, 

 Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, also rendered im- 

 portant services. Although he remained at Morris 

 Island, he was very efficient in facilitating the em- 

 barkation of my troops from there. 



The flags from Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinckney, and 

 Fort Ripley, and seventeen (IT) signal pennants found 

 in the city, were secured by the troops under my 

 command. 



I have the honor to be, Captain, 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



(Signed) A. G. BENNETT, 



Lieutenant-Colonel 21st regiment U. S. C. T, 



A copy of the report of the evacuation and occupa- 

 tion of Charleston. JAMES F. HAVILAND, 



First Lieutenant 127th Reg't N. Y. V., A. A. I. G. 



Gen. Hardee, with about 12,000 men, moved 



