Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-02
The Rebels Recapture Lost Positions.
Havoc Among Negro Troops

Havoc Among Negro Troops
The LOSS Among Officers.
Additional Details of the Move.
ment against Petersburg The
Negroes DemOralized ... Heavy
Losses. ." .#-sl
New YORK, Aug. 1.-Morning papers
have nothing later from Petersburg than
our dispatches yesterday, and but few adj
ditiond details. The following is all there
is of interest:
Especial to The Times.l
BEFORE PETERSBURG, July 30.-As soon
after daybreak as was practicable, troops
were to move In cooperation; an immense
mine, reaching far away under the enemy's
line Of earthworks in front of Burnsides
corps, was fired. The explosion was the
signal for the discharge of every piece Of
artillery we have in position from the APP
pottomax to our extreme left. The effect
was magnificent. Ninety-fve pieces of
ordnance fired simultaneously, that seemed
as If they might have been discharged by
the pull of the same lanyard. The firing
thus fiercely opened was kept up in the same
manner, with scarcely perceptible 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 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
South Carolina, buried by the explosion,
have been dug out alive, but badly bruised
and scratched, and some of them doubtless
mortally hurt. The attack they pronounce
q surprise. The mine was four hundred
feet long, constructed with two galleries
diverging from the main passage, making
three chambers, in which a train of pow
der, fifteen inches wide and deep, was laid.
The effect of the explosion was very dis
astrous. The grandeur of the artillery fire
have never seen surpassed. The enemy's
artillery played but feebly. A very few
minutes elapsed before the enemy's lines
were entirely shut from view by the smoke,
and our gunners 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
heavy black smoke arose soon after the
opening of the fire, evidently from the
burning buildings. After the rebel lines
were pierced, they made a sudden move
ment to their left, and suffered heavily from
an enfilading fire.
Gen. Ledlie's division of Burnside's corps
led the attack, the 14th New York heavy
artillery having the advance. About one
.oI 4.
into Burnsde's headquarters. The cannon
aiding is still hot, and the rebels are hold
ing their position obstinately. Our infant
ry have just received orders to advance.
The Herald's special says the mine was to
have been sprung at three o'clock this
morning, and the Lieutenant General ac-
companied by his staff, reached Burnside's
headquarters about one. Meade 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 first 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 cloud of dust was seen ris-
ing from the rebel intrenchments. This
was followed by general up heaving of
earthwOrks, reaching probably fifty feet
The whole mass looked like huge foun-
tain of earth and dust, and formed the most
imposing spectacle. simultaneously with
this explosion. our batteries along the entire
line opened most murderous and destruc-
tive fire on the rebel breastworks, and the
infantry, with deafening cheers, rushed in
to the embankments of the enemy. A con-
slant cannonading, lasting near one hour
and twenty minutes, has been going on. At
r. nv IL oil aak fxAA hoI
and occupied the first line of the rebel in
trenchments. Prisoners are constantly ar
irving from the front Several of our
wounded are also coming in. They report
the slaughter inflicted upon the enemy by
the explosion 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 Worlds special says the movement
of the Second corps across the James river
was feint as they were brought back du-
old position. Sheridan, with a 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,
penetrated Pennsylvania as far as Cham
bersburg, and perhaps beyond. Our caval-
ry under Colonel Lowell hold the passes of
the South mountain; also Boonsboro. The
enemy has recrossed the Potomac, and no
force of rebels is in Maryland. aii aa.,r saa
''.! SECOND DISPATCH. 'i
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac,
July 80, 9P. M.-After the explosion at an