On February 18, 1865, Harper's Weekly described the fire in Savannah, Georgia: 'On the night of the 27th of January an extensive conflagration broke out in Savannah, in the western part of the city. The fire broke out in a stable, and is supposed to have been caused by rebel incendiaries. Owing to the inactivity of the Fire Department the flames spread rapidly, and at midnight had reached the Arsenal on Granite Hill. A large quantity of shells was stored in the buildings just as it had been left by the rebels. There was a series of explosions during the next two hours. Several squares were destroyed by the fire, and hundreds of unfortunate women and children were driven front their homes into the streets. Nearly all the houses consumed were private residences.'
