Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-01

From Grants Army I!
One of the Enemy's Princi-
pal Forts Blown Up.
The Siege Commenced in Earnest |!
Grant Opens with l2o Guns.
Rebel Invasion Of Pennsylvania
cHAMBERsBURc IN RUINS !
IIASTY RETREAT OF
THE ENEMY.
ssfF "a fstgr .TaE ~ -..Lrs -'Ff " ErT
Rebel Invasion Of Pennsylvania
cHAMBERsBURc IN RUINS
NEWS FROM OTHER PLACES.
Glorious News from Grants Army
-.-The Siege Of Petersburg Conn
menced i'm Earnesf--.One of the
. Principal Rebel Batteries blown

menced i'm Earnesf--.Onc of the
Principal Rebel Batteries BIown
Up. I.. GO
HARRISBURG, July 81, 8 p. M.-We have
the glorious news from Grants army by the
Old Point, that the siege Of Petersburg has
had an ausplcious commencement. The
news received this morning is as follows !:
The siege of Petersburg opened in earnest
| this Saturday morning, and at daylight
we blew up one of the principal rebel bat
| teries, consisting of sixteen guns, and had
| three tiers of the earthworks of the rebels
before the mail steamer lett City Point this
morning.
BALTIMORE; July 31.-All doubt as to the
good news from Grants army seems to be
removed. A later dispatch, just received,
says the assault csmmenced at four o'clock
on Saturday morning by terrible explo-
sion, which completely destroyed one of
the enemy's principal forts in front of Pc
tersburg, containing sixteen guns. This
was rendered mass of ruins. Upon this
explosion our artillery opened with one
| simultaneous and continuous roar along our
entire line. Up to the leaving of the mail
boat at ten o'clock, we had captured two
other earthwUrks, and also the entire outer
line of the rebel intrenchments. The bat
tie continued to progress with the greatest
fury. .....-.- ......... N.;.,.,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
July 30, 10 A. M.-The great event so long
anticipated, namely: The explosion of the
mine under the rebel fort in front of the 9th
army corps, came off this morning at forty
minutes past 4o'clock. Picket firing was
kept up all night, and in fact at the time the
match was applied to the mine the skir-
mishers were still engaged on both sidef.
ha af 1srt
thrown up three hundred feet in the air.
The 9th corps at once charge the works,
driving the rebels to their second line of
intrencments, and akiug number of
prisoners, some of whom were dug out of
the dirt badly bruised. These rebel priso-
ners state that only about dozen remain Of
their regiment, South Carolina one.
30 AS soon as the explosion took place 120
guns Immediately opened on our front,
while the musketry played in one continued
fire along the front of the 9th and part of
the 10th corps. Prisoners say they were
completely surprised, those in front being
mostly asleep at the time. They also state
there were four guns in the fOrtitications,
which, of course, were buried far out of
sight. One of the prisoners stated that they
were busy mining under our works, and
that in two days more they would have been.
ready to blow them up. We got the start
of them, however, and it is hoped that long
ere this reaches you that Petersburg will
be in our possession.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
July 80 z. P.M.-Reports just In say that we
have possession of the entire first line of
the rebel works, with a large number of
prisoners. Our loss in the charge was Sc
we're, as our men had to cross an open field
TO reach the rebels. The troops engaged
were the 9th corps, with the 18th support
ing them, the I'd and 9th in reserve. The
firing is still going on with great fury.
Generals Grant and Meade, with all the
corps Generals are at the front watching
the progress of affairs. ,.r sr .,.-t.H-s-I
rata lTribune's Special
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG, Saturday, July
3O-S A.M.-The grand conflict commenced
in earnest this morning. A loud and con-
tinuous roar of cannon all along the lines,
startled the whole country from its slum-
Der, and spreading throughout our army
the widest excitement and enthusiasm.
Grants new flank movement has entirely
changed the aspect of affairs here. By 1t
his right was thrown on the north side of
the James river, within ten miles of Rich
mond, enabling him to switch his entire
force upon either side of the river in very
few hours, and compelling the enemy to
cover Richmond with large force as well
as Petersburg and the exterior lines, which
they could not do, and have to risk gene
raj engagement at the same time. The ar
tillery duel progresses magnifcently at this
hour. The musketry have not yet come
much into action, but the whole army is
under arms and in line of battle. -.
New YORK, July 31.-The Herald CORES
nnnIant naar Dean ROttnp, on tho O2th
says: Prisoners report that when it was
discovered the second corp was north of
the James river, the enemy Immediately
commenced pouringin reinforcements both
from Petersburg and Richmond. Gen. Lee
was taken entirely by surprise, and was
obliged to use the utmost dispatch to rush
troops to the threatened point. Outing
last night the enemy continued strength
ening the splendid narural position he held,
which, in the morning, were found, to-
gether with the numerous reinforcements,
too strong to assail, All the roads to Rich
mond between the James river and White
Oak swamp were strongly defended. o
Last evening Merritt's brigade of cavalry
drove Hampton's troops from an important
point on the Central read, which was held
until TO A. M. the next day, when the reb-
els came out in three brigades of infantry,
making steady assault upon Merritt's
force. who had dismounted and were falling
back in order to a reserve brigade. Both
delivered a destructive vOlley and then
charged; the rebels broke and fled in con-
fusion, leaving their dead and wounded on
the field. At the same time Gen. Griggs'
division became engaged at another point
with superior force, and the fighting was
very severe; Davies brigade receiving the
largest share, he was obliged to yield por-