The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-17 00:00:00

THE ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG.

The following are the details of Grant's futile
assault on Petersburg :

Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac,
July 30, 9 p.m.

After the explosion, at an early hour this morning, every-
thing betokened a brilliant victory ; but soon after matters
assumed a different aspect, put of the attacking force
bevies given way, thee exposing the balance to an enfilading
fire from both artillery and infantry. The programme was
as follows : —The mire was to be exploded at 3 o'clock in the
morning, the batten's to open at once along the satire line
immediately at ter the explosion, and the 9th corps to make
the charge, supported by the 18th corps, Ayres' division of
the sth corps, and the 3rd division of the 2nd corps. The
greater part of the arrangement was carried out LI ordered,
although the commencement was later than the hour dung-
mated, on account of the fuse going oat twice.
The explosion took place at precisely 4.40 a.m. The roar
of artillery that immediately followed was almost deafening.
At half-put 5 a.m. the charge was made, and the tort with
part of the line each side was carried in the most brilliant
style.
The second division, which was in the centre, advanced
and carried the second line, a short distance beyond the fort.
and bore rested, holding their ground with the utmost de-
termination. It wee at this time that the coloured division,
under the command of Brigadier-General White, was pushed
forward, and ordered to charge and carry the crest of the
bill, which would have decided the contest. The troops
advanced in good order as far as the first line, when they
received a galling fire which checked them, and although
quite a number kept on advancing, the greater portion
seemed to become utterly demoralised, part of them taking
refuge in the fort, and the balance running to the rear as
fist as possible. They were rallied, and again pushed
forward, but without swam, the pester part of their of-
ficers being killed or wounded.
Daring this time they seemed to be withoat anyone to
manage them, sod finally they fell hack to the rear, and out
of the range of the volleys of canister and musketry that
were plowing through their ranks.
Their looses are very heavy, partimilarly is officers.

The loss in the second divisice of the 11th imps, General
Lathe commanding, was very severe, and is estimated
at from 1,000 to 1,200, while many make the hums larger.
Among those miming I regret to announce the name of
General Bartlett. He suoceeded in reaching the fort with
his command, but baring accidentally brokso his cork leg,
he was unable to get off the field. He, however, held pos-
session of the ground for several hours, and only surreodered
when all hope of escape was gone. Some 200 men, both
black and white, were with him at the time, a few of
whom managed to get back to our lines amidst a storm of
bullets.

Nearly all of Gemmel Bartlett's staff were captured at
the same time. Colonel Marshall, cominandiog the sewed
brigade of this divisioo, was also taken prisoner, with several
of his staff.

Colaud Wild, of the 56th ILuesehwiette, le also reported
s prisoner.

Colonel Gould, of the 59th Mateschusetts, lost a leg.
Major Button, of the 179th New York, lost • leg.
Lieut..Colooel Barney, 2nd Pennaylvsais, was wounded.
Major Prescott, 57th Massachusetts, was lolled.
Lieut.-Col. Rees, Slat United States Coloured, last a leg.

This division, having been a good deal in advance of the
rest of the line, held its position for several boars ; but it
was finally compelled to fall back, suffering severely while
doing so.
The loss is the Ist sad 3rd divisioos was also severe. The
latter have 400 in the hospital.
The 18th corps occupied • point of the hoe on the
right, but their loss was not very greet. We took about 280
prisoners, mostly South Carolinians, and five battle flags.
All is quiet this morning.

A letter from Fortress Monroe says : "Later
advice. from the front show that we were unable
to hold all the ground gained in the assault on
Saturday, it being mostly commanded by an inner
line, and that the works taken by our forces were
re-captured by the enemy."

Headquarters, Army et the Potomac,
Sunday July 31, 9 p.as.

The exact lame in the battle of yesterday before Peters-
burg bare not yet beeo o63eullt iucertained, bat as near
se ono bejudged they will foot up about 2,500, Dot including
the missing ; and many believe the Spires will taro out to
be larger. (Latest despatch, via Cape Ram, officially pleas
the Federal lamest 3,640 men.)
A large number of wounded are Wog on the ffeld Woes,
the two Hose, wbo emooot be got, off.
A 6ag of trues wee sent out to lb. enemy fin-day, for lb.
pummel of getting tbe ronainder of our wounded off the
bald, sod is was refused, the mama not being gives. Gene-

The number of primmer, captured and brought In wm two
bandied sad fifty-two, the highest is mak among them
being a captain. They ere s healthy-looking set of roes, but
their drempresents the usually dirty and tagged ewes/seep ot
rebel soldiers. The reports sent yesterday mornieg that
the coloured troops captured an entire rebel brigade bad so
fonedation in fact, every prisoner taken haring been brought
in by whits men.

Headquarters, Arley of the Potomac,
Monday, August 1.
A flag of truce is now prevailing. and a party have goes
out to bury the dead and being in the wounded. The oem•
ber is represented an being quite large. The Confederate
regimeet which was blow, up by General Grant's mine is
treat of Petersburg waa the First North Carolina Regiment,
feenterly of Jenkins brigade, and commanded by Colonel
Hagod. At the time of the explosioe it numbered but 250
met, baring been badly cot up in preview service.

The excitement in Pennsylvania continued un-
abated, and the usual number of rumours were still
in circulation, but nothing definite was known of
the movements of the Confederate invaders or of
the Union forces. General Averill was vigorously
pursuing the raiders. Considerable excitement w.is
occasioned at Pittsburg by a message from General
00ece,-tazioasoiag that that city might have to
• turn out 16,000 men for defence. There is no
doubt of the total destruction of Chatnbersburg.
The number of houses burnt is estimated at 266,
and include the finest part of the town. All the
hotels at Harrisburg were crowded with refugees
from Chambersburg. The people of Chambersburg
seem to be highly incensed against General Couch
for bis utter abandonment of their town.

All businsea bad beeu euspended in the cities of
Pittsburg and Allegheny by recommendation of
the respective mayors, in order to permit of the
enrolment of the citizens for home defence.

The Governor of Penneylvaniahadissued a pro-
clamation calling a special meeting of the Legis-
lature for the 9th of August, to adopt such
measures as the exigency of the occasion may de-
mand.

THE JEWS IN MOROCCO.