, 1864-08-06


rebel who had been buried In the ruins.
Strange to say, he was uninjured, although
nearly suffocated by his premature burial.
The crater formed By the explosion was OBJ
long In shape, about one hundred and flfty
feet in length, and twenty-five in width. The
destruction Of the fort was complete. -Four
companies Of the 18th North Carolina Regi-
ment, with portion of another not known,
are supposed to have been buried In the de-
bris.
THE CHARGE OF TIE NINTH CORPS.
So tremendous was the explosion, that
many Of our mcp, on hearing the report and
seeing q vast column shooting into the air
only short distance 10 their front, were for
moment struck with terror Il was but
momentary, however. for In less time than
eau write 1t the column which had been
massed and waiting In the zaVine below
astoalshed rebels from portion Of their line
on the right and left Of the demolished fort,
capturing. several cplors, Of which the d.
vision o1 Gen. Lealte took two. The diyi-
zion Of Gen. 1edie, which WAS selected to
lead The charge, consists q tTo hrigaaes. ths
Of the 9Th, 2lst, S5th. 58th, 55th and 59th
Massachusetts regiments; that of Col Mar
shall Of the 100th Pa, 179th n. T., Sd Nd,
"a Pa Heavy Artillery and the 14th N. Y:
Marshall, leading the charge, with the 14th n.
7. Heavy Artillery In the advance.
The rebels occupied a strong line Of breast
works, with an abatis In front, and IN front
Of the latter tripping wires were strung sew.
eral inches from the ground, and concealed
wires and the abstis sharp stakes we're driven
for the purpose Of impalipg any who might
be thrown down by the wires.
On reaching the work. General Wilcox de.
| ployed to the left Of 1ed1fe and General Pot.
ter By tie right hank s3 to, to The 1lght: U9der a
ketry on either flank, they penetrated the
| abatiR, gaining the rutus Of the rebel fort,
and, reforming their shattered ranks, pre-
| pared to hold the position Wrested from the
! enemy at all hazards.
On the report Of the explosion Of the mine,
| the artillery along our whole line opened
| upon the enemy with fierce and. inceseant
| cannonade, which lasted for two hours. in
| order to divert the enemy from our main
| point of attack By inducing him to believe
That we were about to open general en-
| gagement.
It is evident, however, that the enemy soon
discovered our Intentions, as traiDs were
heard coming from the direction of Rich
mond, bringing fresh supplies OF troops.
which were soon massed in the rear Of the
crests beyond the demolished fort, It is i'm
possible to be minute In giving the exact po-
sitions Of regiments, exec ot that the line Fas
formed from left to right, as originally in
terded, viz: Wilcox on the left, Ledlie in
the center, and Potter on the right. Exposed
as they were in storming the works to 4 mer-
wns impossible to maintain perfect organiza-
tion, and in some instances portions Of regi-
ments Of one division were fighting gallantly
In another. As the possession Of the crest
hf IN f1ont Of our eSt 9es T1Y
their possession our troops would ultimately
be forced to fall back to their original posi-
tion. Sevez71 charges for Its possession were
made by our line. but each time the CALLING
fire compelled it to tall back to the works
were also frequently essayed BY the enemy,
but were in like manner rcpnlsed.
9o'clock Ferrero's division Of colored
troops were brought up to dislodse the enc
my from the hill, and, from the gallant style
II which they canse ,9 up, 1t vas believed that
jeeted to the same severe ordeal, they wav-
| cred moment, and then breaking IN dlsor-
der, in spite Of the entreaties and threats Of
their officers, who behaved splendidly, they
fell back in confusion through. our LINES, re-
pulsed and demoralized. Il was their first
baptism ia fire, and, when the severity of
the ordeal is considered, the fact that they
did tall back Ia matter Of no great eurprise.
Finally rallying, they again advanced toward
as ,aH S9t Ia {an r. It as on to again
|
their purpose. Finding the position untena-
h1e, Gen. Graht, who had come up to the
front before aaybreak, ordered our lines to
retire to their original position.
In the ruins around the immense crater
formed BY the explosion of the mine were a
I considerable number Of men and officers, in
Guiding Brig. Gen. Bartlett, commanding 1st,
and Col. Marshall, the I'd Brigade of Ledlie's,
both reported to dag as captured by the enc
my. From the position Of the ruins, escape
A1.-
; safety was impossible, IS the only exit was
, swept By grape and canister and covered by
the 1nuskets Of the enemy on either flank
In consequence 1t was deemed advisable tc
leare this party In the ruins until nightfall
wou}d permit Of their escape. It is believed
. however, that all were captured by the cue
my. Gen. Bartlett, 1t 10 stated to day, lost
; bis remaining leg by shell, and it is feared
bled to death from his wound. Col. Mar
shall is believed to be unhurt, and Col, Weld,
of the 56th Mass, is known to be but slight.
| " wounded.
slightly wounded In the side by spent balI
which struck small book In the pocket oi
his vest, and glanced off without fnfltcting q
severe wound, although painful one. Gen.
L. refused to leave the field, and continued
bis Pofst Until tie ' s1 sotsas
9th corps to-day number ,450, Of which 600
belong to Ferrero7s, 308 to pottefs, 932 to
Wilco1's, and 205 to Ledllc's division. As O
large number were left On the field, the total
loss Of the corps will probably reach 9, 900.
Arrangements were being Enade this after.
| noon tor flag of truce to bury the dead and
remove the wounded, and 1t is believed thai
detaila will be satisfactorily arranged Ar
Informal truce, however, hds exieted all day
and both parties have suffered each other Il
carry water to the wounded In aud around
| | the ruined fort.
Full hospital lists Of the 9th corpeawit1
! the exception Of that Of Ferrerofs division
. are herewith forwarded.
| LIST OF CASUALTIES AMONG OFFICERS OF FERnE
nos (4IH) Dty1B1oS cpLnnED THo0Fs.
? Lieut. Tbos N Conaut, 18th q s, leg.
Capt " Brockway, 18th U s, fool, arm.
: Capt Woodruff. 3st U 8, arm.
| Lieut. Il Wilson, sd q s, face.
t Adjt O'Brien. 4Sd S. shoulder.
, Lieut. ] r steele, 4sd 3 s. shoulder,
> | Lieut. Ecully 4Sd s, leg.
= Lieut II II Fiye- 29th q 8, arm.
: | Capt Snow, sd S, hand.
: Lieut. VIM tsoberte, 2sth q S, hand and leg.
I Lteut Wm Flint. soth q 8. shoulder.
Capt O F Reed, S9,h q S, arm.
t | Lieut. Sherman Richardson, 18th 3, azM.
q Lieut. Adams, sah S, leg.
: Lent q It Westlakc, seth 8, contusiou back.
i Capt Woodward. a9th S. arm.
Cap. E " Fuller. sath y s. head.
: Major Rockwood, 10Th s. died.
e lleut silyezXood, 43d Q s. breast.
tisat ei5'fs5s sasae 2ss isa s IS s'fs Sie.s
Lieut. j B Mason, slet S, arm amputatea.
| Ueut Il q Kuebn, 23d s, thigh.
: | Cant n DaEEett, 29th 8. hip.
0 Lieut. Knapp, 10th Q s, back.