First Sentence

"A CITY of ruins, of desolation, of vacant houses, of widowed women, of rotting wharves, of deserted ware-houses, of miles of grass-grown streets, of acres of pitiful and voiceful barrenness is Charleston, wherein Rebellion loftily reared its head five years ago, on whose beautiful promenade the fairest of cultured women gathered with passionate hearts to applaud the assault of ten thousand upon the little garrison of Fort Sumter!"