Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-01
TELEGRAPHlG NEWS.
The Virginia Campaign.
ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG.

The Virginia Campaign.
ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG.
Mine Exploded by our Forces-A Terrific
SPec;acie-The Works Lifted into the
Air-Men and Guns Buried a Ruins
Great Artillery and N lusketry fire-Rsb.
el Works Assaulted-The Entire First
Line tarried-Enemy Completely Sur.
Prised-Great Slaughter Of the Rebels
Many Prisoners CaPtured-Mevement on
the James River.
FORTRESS MONROE, July 90 The mail
steamer from City Point has just arrived with
important news from Gen Grants army. The
siege OF Petersburg opened in earnest this
morning. At daylight We sprang the mine ana
blew mp one Of their prip cipal batteries In
front OF Petersburg, containing sixteen guns,
and subsequently carried the outer line Of
works by assault.
FORTRESS MONROE. July 80, p. m.-Just as
the boat is about leaving for Baltimore your
correspondent gathers the folio wing additional
The explosion took place shortly after four
O'Clock this morning. 1t was terrific, and de-.
siroyed one OF the enemy's strongest fortifica-
tionf, which, as before stated, contained six
teen guns. The work was rendered mass of
TpiHs. ,- - ..-.-
Immediately after the explosion the artil.
hry opened with one simultaneous and con.
tin nous roar along tho entire line of our army.
q. No., two other earthw works had been carried,
and also the epemy's entire outer line of en-.
trenchments, and the battle was progressing
with great fury.
From Another Associated Press Cores
wAsp,seror tsly RsTasn.. s1.1osormstion from
headquarters of the Army of the Potomac,
dated yesterday, says:-The great event SO
long anticipated, viz, the explosion OF the
mine under the enemy's fort IN front OF the
4.4O.
Picket firing has been kept up all night. and
In fact, at the time the match was applied, the
skIrmishers we're still engaged on both sides.
The volume of dirt thrown up was immense,
rising over 800 feet into the air, resembling an
immense fountain of dirty water more than
anything else.
The 9Th corps at once charged the works,
driving the enemy to their second line and
taking numb ber OF prisoners, some of whom
were dug out of the dirt badly bruised.
Theee prisoners state that only about dozen
OF their regiment remain out Of the entire mum.
Der. It was South Carolina regiment.
As soon as the explosion took place one hum
dred and twenty guns were opened on the
enemy along our front, while the musketry
blazed in one continuous line of fire along the
front Of the 9th and parts Of the 5th and 18th
corps. The scene was one long to be remem
bfred by all who witnessed it. But the smoke
from the guns soon obscured the view, and the
first particulars of the success was Cleaned
from those who came in With the prisoners.
tort were asleep at the time OF the explosion.
They state that there were sixteen guns in the
fortificatiop, which Of course were buried far
ont OF sight.
One prisoner states that they were actively
engaged mining under our works, and that in
two days more they would have been ready to
blow us mp, but we got the start OF them.
1t is hoped here that long ere this despatch
reaches yon Petersburg will be in our posses
sion.
The Latest.
lafc oh lott
ports just in cay that we have possession of the
entire first line Of the enemy's works, with q
large number of prisoners.
Our loss in the charge was, Of course, Sc
we're, as our men had to cross an open field to
reach the rebel lines.
The troops engaged were the 9th corps, with
the 18th supporting them. The 2d and 5th
beingiu reserve.
The firing is still going on consisting prin.
cipally OF musketry. Gems. Grant and Meade,
with all their corps generals, are at the front
W aiching the progress OF affairs.
Arrival Of 400 Prisoners-More Captures
Reported.
FORT MoNEOE, July 29-Four hundred pri.
soners, captured by the 2d corps opposite
Jones' Point, on the James river, on Wednes-
day morning, have arrived, and 1t is reported
that our advancing forces have captured three
r. bel brIgades, with arms, equipments, &c
We have also captured several guns. The
cooperating.
The Operations North OF the James River.
NEW YORK, July 3i.-The Herald's CORES.
pondent north of the James river, under date
Of near Deep Bottom, July 2s, says, prisoners
report that W hen 1t was discovered that the I'd
corps was north OF the Jane river, the enemy
Immediately commenced pouring 10 reinforce
ments, both from Petersburg aud near Rich.
mopd. General Lee was taken entirely by
surprise, and was obliged to use the utmost
dispatch TO rush troops to the threatened
points
strength the naturally strong position he
held, which, in the morning, were found,
together with the strong reinforcements he had
received, too strong to assall. ALI the roads to
Richmond, between the James river and White
Oak Swamp, were strongly defended also
Last evening Msrrttt's brigade OF cavalry
drove Hampton's rebel cavalry from an im-
portant point on the Central road, which he
held until lO o'clock next day, when the rebels
came cut with three brigades Of infantry,
making steady assault upon Merritts force
who had dismounted. railing back in good
order to their reserve brigade, both delivered a
desil uctive volley and then charged, when the
rebels broke and fed In confusion, lea wing their
dead and wounded on the field.
At the same time Gen. Gregg's division pe.
came engaged at another point, with supe-
rier fcrce, and the fighting became very severe
Dawes brigade receiving the largest share, he
was obliged to yield portion Of the ground
end lost one gun, bat ne soon railted, checked
the advance Of the rebels, and finally drove
them back.
Gen Kautz took possession of Malv Hill,
which had been abandoned by the rebels TO
protect one of the Richmond roads. Gen. Glib
bons, after the repulse of the rebels, relieved
the cavalry with his infantry, skirmisning
with the enemy, and at night took Hp posi-
ton. - -..ar ...4. - 81. ..r....-
The Herald's 18th corps correspondent Of the
Goth says: An election was held day before
yesterday among the North Carolina troops,
and, Notwithstanding the intimidatIons Of the
re bel leaders, nearly half OF the votes cast
were for Holden for Governor against Gov.
ernor Vance. One regiment gave a majority
for Holden
The Assault upon Petersburg, and Blow.
ing Up Of the Rebel Fortifieations