The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-02

L
pankine, and some say the guns Of the fort The
noise OF the explosion inoonsiderabe. greater
shock expected but the depth at which the mine
situatedover wonty foe-unquestionably had much
70 do with mufiing the sound. While the huge mass
stood poised moment In the air II magnificent
object OF contemplation The inersces wbin-h SEEM
ed made Of layers and shafts of sandwere liz with
tho lurd fash OF the exploded gunpowder and the vare
gated aspect OF tho whoe--here dark, thero llumi-
nated-reminded Of the pictures Of Mounts vesuvius
and Ena eruption. After pausing moment, down it
sank again, like fountain when tho water Is suddenly
\ shut OIL, and the air became flied with dust
No unnterestng feature OF the moment was the dense,
sharply defined cloud OF smoke which ensued upon the
explosion and which then waited lazy through Ihe
| air.
l THE EFrEcrs OF THE EXPLOSION.
or the effects OF tho explosion now Informed
through OF the victims who escaped with only few
scraches Tney that such the terror created
other parts OF the line that the cannoners deserted
their guns and ran away rot knowing which fort was
next 10 80 up. Some say there many as three
regiments fort blown up; but about this there Is,
think, Doubt II is certain, however, that one
regiment-thc Twenty second South Csrolinawas within
and the vicinity, and that almost entirely buried
Its colonel Fcmns s reported to have pershed with It.
The garrison asleep at the time with the exception Of
the guard and IL s reasonable therefore, to sup
pose that complete surprise The terrific
concussion Witnessed poor wretch whom ksaw.
/ There external wound upon bis body as he
brought back prisoner but every few minutes the blood
weled up into his mouth, telling Of the fearful shock
| within.
BoMgARnnEsT.
We have been accustomed heretofore TO point 10 Fred
ericksburg Malvern a instances Of .he severest
cannonadng We shall In future, think, speak Of that
Petersburg and make it the basis OF comparison The
explosion OF the hardly when the artillery
beched forth. First Rodman thirty two FOUNDER on
front plainly distinct but soon the whole length
Of the line envecped in the discharges and the
air lucd with the tremendous conclusion For tine
the rebel artillery did responda proof OF the
already spoken of having been created among gun
ners by the springmg OF the nine Bui thor officers
rallied them, and ere many minutes the rebel line too
| was ablaze.
| eTAReE
Under OF The night Infantry had been formed
behind the outer works. The charge 10 have been
| made when the explosion took place. The brigade OF
Colonel Marshall OF the First division, had the advance
but the terrific OF earth oomet so suddenly
| and near them momentary fear iet that it was
Of forts which had been mined by the enemy.
The deiusion optical one but still had It's effect in
restraining the impetus Of the rs onset, will not say
.he became psnioetrickcn but they hestated
aud the he of battle swayed AT last the efforts OF the
officers prevailed, and tbs brsadebut not until some
| i've ten mipues had elapsee--chsrged with wild
The First brigade under the gallant Bartlett,
| at their heels, and together Ledes whole division
charged through the breach What few OF the enemy.
| were by surrendered without shot. The
| breach fiied with rebels, who strug
Cling TO Chamber OF the eand These,
| fortunate than their comrades, bad been
but partially buried detail rapidly made, and
went TO work TO exhume all they could, really as
anxious now to dslnter oil whom few minutes before
they had been anxious bury AZ fast extrlcated
the rebels. with the other prisoners sent TO the
the wounded TO the hospitals where they arrived
with the first OF own injured. Indeed, the one
ambulance filled with Union and rebel soldiers
unfortunately. Following came the Thirty NTH regi
OF the engineers OF the division, who
with their tools the slope Of the
rebel line OF ntrenchmens and open up covered way TO
the works behind. Their efforts, however, were but
vainiy employed, ss the sequel shows
Potters division OF Ledlie's and followed
into the rebel line, engaging the enemy. who sl re-
NAMED in position upon The right flank.
Wiloox's division went further 70 the left and occu
| pied the works IN that direction.
Would that could end my record bere. Would that
the days work with capture Of that 6rst
line And the event Of the hour, the turning
point Of the day.
taARes coloRHD DIvraoN.
In OF the main column OF attack the colored div
l formed a
divisions, when they had gained the cutter line and
making this starting point for the continuance Of the
charge The First division held the CENTRE with the go
cond and Third either flank and now the Fourth ad
vanced beyond. The troops were in two columns, each
brigade constituting acoumn Their splendid discipline
could rot observed and tho early part Of the
contest no soldiers behaved more gaarty. They
charged upon the hext and interior line OF the enemy,
and for time gained decided advantages as atested
~
OF with them. Bat the rebels, sxasperatcd a. We
know them 70 have been a sight Of the negroes,
fought with the fuSy Of devils and reinorcemsns coming
TO their aid-our signal officers counted six brgades bur
ried from camp beyond the town-tne tide OF battle
turned The coorcd troops gave way, broke IN conu-
son whsnQthe rebels having repulsed their charge,
charged them turn and then they ran,
an dsordsred mass fugtives the Of the white
sroops In vain their officers sndeavored 70 raHy them
with all the persuasion Of tongue, sabre and pistol
Whatever OF dscredt attaches the troops hemseyes
their effcers are beyond reproach.
fm TERRIFIC CHARGE on Im nxpna
Ard the victorious, flushed enemy bore down upon
the white divisions, and the shock fearful one.
The hesdIong charge stayed and repused again and
again Numbers OF our had huddled into the crater
Of the exploded FORT and the enemy,s mortar shells
burst amongst the, causing large sacrifice Of NO. The
enemy at the time pressed ho fsnvs Of our army
with infantry and ennlsded them with artillery. Al
length tbe order to fall back; but II was not
accomplished without additional and heavy loss
| In prisoners Generals Grinnn and Har,raut narrowly
escaped General Bartlett, less fortunate, is in the
cncmy's hands. He had been advised TO retire Al a
time could have done IN comparative safety
bu lie waited with his brigade TO the last moment and
eventually became = prisoner. Hc went into the nght
hb cane, and reported that his wooden les was
twice hit by the enemy's bullets. His bravery Is the
subject OF universal commsn throughout the corps aud
his capture ID deeply regretted.
/
Ieannoi jet ascertain fully the extent Of loss.
The killed and wounded number certainly than
eighteen hundred and fully Thousand prisoners have
been taken. A number OF wounded fell into the