Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-08-04
Especial to the New York Times


Especial To the New York Tlmcs.1
BEFORE PETERSBURG, July 3O--As soon
after daybrcak as was practicable, troops
were to move in cooperation an immense
mine, reaching far away under the enemy $
line Of carthworks in front of Burnside S
corps, was fired. The explosion was the
signal for the discharge of every piece of
artillery we have in position from the Ap-
pottomax to our extreme left. The effect
was magnificent. Nincty-fve pieces of ord
nance fired simultaneously, that seemed as
if they might have been discharged by the
pull of the same lanyard. The firing thus
ficrcely opened was kept up in the same
manner, with scarcely perceptiblc lull for
at least an hour and half, when it slack
ened to some extent.
The result of the explosion of the mine
was almost to annihilate one regiment, and
burying three guns. Under cover of artil-
lery and pushing our vantage ground by the
the suddenness of the assault, the Ninth
corps advanced taking possession of the
works through the gap made by the explo-
sion, and driving the enemy to his second
line, which line of hill-tops are eastward of
the town. Nineteen of the Twenty second
South Carolina, buried by the explosion,
aayc been dug out alive, but badly bruised
and scratched, and some of them doubtless,
mortally hurt. The attack they pronounce
a surprise. The m inc was four hundred
feet long, constructed with two galleries di-
verging from the main passage, making
three chambers, in which train of pow
der, fifteen inches wide and deep, was laid.
The effect of the explosion was very disas-
trous. The grandeur of the artilcy fire
have never seen surpassed. The cnemy's
artillery played but fecby. A very few
minutes elapsed before the enemy's lines
were entirely shut from view by the smoke
and our gunncrs could only be guided in
their work by having obtained proper range
before. Many of the shells from the front
Of the Eighteenth corps must have struck
far into the streets of Petersburg. From
that direction heavy column of smoke
arose soon after the opening of the fire, ev-
idently from the burning buildings. After
the rebel lines were pierced, they made a
sudden movement to their left, and suffer-
ed heavily from an cnflading fire.
Gen Ledlc's division of Burnside 5 corps
led the attack, the l4th New York heavy
artillery having the advance About one
hundred prisoners so far have been brought
inte Burnsidc's headquarters. The can
nonading is still hot, and the rebels are
holding their positions obstinately. Our
infantry have just received orders for fur
ther advance.
The lIerald's special says the mine was
to have been sprung ut three o clock this
morning, and the Lieutenant General, ac-
companicd by his staff reached Burnside 5
headquarters about one. Mead and staff
arrived sooner at headquarters The ap-
pointed hour for the explosion of the mine
arrived, but for some reason it did not take
effect. The troops had been placed in a
position to move at the fret signal The
entire I'd corps was held in reserve, but up
to the hour OF writing this dispatch they
had not been called into action.
At o'clock a cloud Of dust was seen ris-
ing from the rebel intrcnchments. This
was followed by a general uphcaving of
carthworks reaching propably fifty feet. -
The whole mass looked like hugh fountain
Of earth and dust, and formed the most inn
posing spectacle. simultaneously with this
explosion, our batteries along the entire line
opened a most murderous and destructive
fire on the rebel breastworks, and the infan-
try, with defending cheers, rushed into the
of the enemy. A constant
lasting near one hour and
twenty minutes, has been going on. At 6
o clock our valiant troops had captured and
occupied the first line Of the rebel intrench-
ments Prisoners are constantly arriving
from the front. Several of our wounded
are also coming in. They report the slaugh-
ter inflicted upon the enemy by the cxplo-
sion and accurate range of our shells from
guns and mortars as terrible in the extreme
So far the victory is ours The air is thick
with flying missiles. We are pushing the
enemy steadily and surely occupying his
Notifications.
The World special says the movement
of the Second corps across the James river
was a faint, as they were brought back du-
ring the darkness of Friday night to their
old position. Sheridan, witha large force,
is operating around the rebel right wing,
and important results are anticipated.
The Worlds special from Frederick, of
the 3lst, says no rebel infantry force has yet
crossed the Potomac. Three regiments of
cavalry, with five pieces of artillery, penc-
tratcd Pennsylvania as far as Chambers
burg, and pcrhapsc beyond. Our cavalry
under Colonel Lowell hold the passes Of the
South mountain; also Boonsboro. The en-
envy has recrossed the Potomac, and no
force Of rebels is in Maryland.