The Shasta courier., 1863-08-29
Springing a Mine.

- CoTfe>ponuenl OF the New 4Ork Herald,
writing from Vicksburg. while the siege was
pending, gives in the following paragraphs
graphic idea of what mining means in
military parlance:
fhe working party engaged on the mines
was formed of detail from the various regi-
ments of Logan's division, a call being made
to forward to headquarters all practical min.
ers IN the different regiments Accordingly,
IN few hours fifty picked men. chiefly W elsh,
Scotch, etc., of much experience in the old
country, were Immediately orgapized into
corps, under the direct command of Lieuten-
ant Thomas Russell, an officer of the Seventh
! MlssourisTa miner of reputation in his cwn
as well as in this country.
1t maybe supposed by some that the run
ming OF mines is the mere operation Of the
pick or shovel, without interference on the
part OF the enemy by means of the same in
struments, as well as by his rihemen picking
OH the men as they approach, or by throwing
har d grenades and shell over the parapets
among the men. The idea is quite different
from the reality. A few facts connected with
last nights June 24th) proceedings may en-
able the reader to form some notion of the
dangerous operation. After dark, the work
ing party returned to the mine, which now
had attained depth of thirty five feet, which
was the entire number of feet of the main gal
lery. The men had but fairly commenced
when they heard, as they supposed, near by,
the picking and shoveling OF another party
which they knew to be the enemy, endeavor
ing to intercept our mine. The men of our
side at once desisted from their labors and
applied their ears to the walls of the gallery
in order to detect the direction of approach,
if possible ofthe enemy IS counter mine. Soon
however, the enemy himself ceased his la
Our men once more resumed operations. and
worked until midnight, the enemy working
at the same time, and seemingly approach
ing our shaft.
At three O'clock on the Goth, a messenger
arrived from the mine, bringing information
that everything was in readiness to apply the
match. The troops in the outer works were
all Withdrawn, with the exception of small
body OF sharpshooters, which were retained
to keep un a demonstration until the fuse was
ignited, when they also were to retire hastily
10 respectful distance under cover of one of
the parallels.
Aspart the grand programme, Leggett's
brigade was ordered under arms, and march.
ed into the trenches as near the front as safe
ty would permit. Here they rested, await
ing the preconcerted signal, when they we're
heels of the forlorh hope This Gangerou
duty was set apart for detachment of one
hundred men from the Forty -fftR Illinois in.
fantry and an other hundred from the Twen
ty-third Indiana. These bodies were thrown
out in the extreme advance, with iustruc ions
for the orty fifth Illinois to assault on the
right on Fort Hill the moment the explosion
had taken place, and the Twenty third Indi-
ana was to rush out the sap running TO the
left and attack the curtain of the fort extend.
ing toward the town.
As a support to the brigade of Leggett, Gen
eral Stevenson'S command was ordered to
hold itselfin readiness to move at amoment's
notice. As an additional force and kind of
reserve to the support Of the Seventeenth
Iowa and Fifty-sixth Illinois, OF General John
E. Smiths division, and the Seventeenth Wis.
consih, of Ransom S brigade, McArthur's d.
vision were brought to the center and held
in the rear to await the Development of the
struggle. These troops carried nothing with
them but their muskets and cartridge boxes
many of them were in their shirt sleeves, ev
identity anticipating warm work il engag ged.
At length all was in readiness the fuse
train was fred, and it went fixing and pop /
ping through the zigzag line Of trenches, un
til for a moment it vanished. Its disappear
ance was quickly Succeeded By the explosion,
and the mine Tas sprung. Soterrible a spec
tacle is seldom witnessed Dust, dirt. smoke, |
gabions, stockades, timber, gun carriages, |
logs-in fact everything connected with the !
fort-rose hundreds of feet into the air, as if |
vomited forth from a volcano. Some who |
were close spectators even say that they saw |
the bodies of the poor wretches who a mo-
ment before lined the ramparts of the work
No sooner had the explosion taken place
than the two detachments acting as the for
lorn hope ran into the fort and sap, as al
ready mentioned. A brisk musketry FIRE at
once commenced between the two parties.
with about equal effect upon either side. No
sooner had these detachments become well |
engaged than the rest of Leggett's brigade
Joined them and entered into the struggle. |
The regiments relieved each other at intervals. |
The contest now grew severe; both sides,
determined upon holding their own. were do
ing their best, and volley followed yolley in
quick succession.
At last, after fierce contest of half an nour, |
the flag of the United States was planted on |
the summit ofthe work. Thus fell the strong
hold on the high hill overlooking the others |
which SURF und Vicksburg"