The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-08-09
The Assault on Petersburg.

It is with pain that We give to our
readers the following account Of the at
tack Of the Union army on the rebel
works at Petersburg, The least that
can be said Is that it appears to haye
been an awful failure:
HEADoUARFERs ARMY Of The Poto-
mac, July 80, 9 P. M.-After the ez-
plosioa At an early hour this morning
everything betnkened brilliant victory,
but soon after matters assumed a different
aspect, part IF the attacking force having
given way, thus exposing the balance to
an enflading FIRE fr N both artillery
and infantry. The programme was as
follows :, The mine was to be exploded at
3 A. n, and the bat,eri open at once
along the entire line aR er the explosion
The 9th Corps was to charge, supported
BY the 18th anl Ayers division Of the 5 b
Corps, and 81 Division Of the 81 Corps.
The greater part Of the arrangement was
carried out as ordered. although the
c announcement was later than the hour
designated on ace1u't Of the fuse going
out twice. The explosion took place at
precisely forty minutes past fur. The
roar Of artillery that Immediately followed
was almost deafeniBg. At 80 the charge
was made and the fort, with part Of TIE
line on each side, was carried in a most
brilieant style. The I'd division, which
was in the centre, advanced and carried
the second line, short distance b',yond
the fort, and here. rested, holding their
ground with the utmost determir ration.
It Was at tais time that the colored d.
vision, under command Of Brigadier-Gen.
eral White, was pushed forward aud Or
dered to charge and carry the crest of
the hill, which would have decided the
contest. The tro .ps advanced in good
order as far as the first ius, wbeie they
received a CALLING FIRE which checked
them, and although quite number kept
on advancing, the grtatrr portion seemed
n become utterly demoralized, part Of
them taking refuge in the fort and the
balance rum ng to the rear as fast as
p sible. They we're rallied and again
pushed forward, but without success.
TIE greater part of their officers being
killed or wounded during this time, ey
seemed to be without any one to manage
them, ami finally they fell hack to the
rear out Of the range OF the enemy's
canister and musketry that werc
plnWipg through the,r rlnks. Their losses
are very heavy, particularly in officers, as
will be seen by the following 6gu res: 23d
IT, s Colored, Is officers kill and
wounded, aud 400 men, Including the
missing; % h,U. s. Culnred, II officers
and about $50 men killed, Wourded and
missing. 27th U. S. clio, Ell, 6 officers
and out 40 men killed, wounded ami
missing 29h @. s. eoIorsd, 8 Oficers
and about 375 men killed, wnunded and
missing; 3Ist U. S. colorei, officers,
and about 200 men killed, wounled and
m ssing; 43d u. s. cOored, 8 officers,
and largendmber Of men killed, wound.
ed and missing; 3S'h u. S. eolorrd several
ofic rs and about ESQ men killed, wound
ed aud missing. The loss in the I'd
Division IF the 9Th Corps, Gen. Led.e
cOmmandi e, was very sewers, and is es-
timatcd at from 200, while many make
the figure larger. Among the missing
regret to announce the name Of Gen.
Bartlett. He succeeded in reaching th
fort with his command, but h wing acci-
dpntally broken his cork leg. he was una
bic to get off the Geld. He, however,
held possession Of the ground for seFeral
hours, and only surrendered when all
hope Of escape was gone. Some 200
men, brth black and white, were with
him at the time, a few of whom managed
to get back to our lines. Nearly all of
General -Barile:t's staff were cap ured at
the same time, Colonel NJ .rshall, com
the ID brigade of this division,
was also taken prisonar, with several of
his staff Colonel Wild, Of the 56tb |
Massal husetfs, is also reported tO-be q
prisoner. Colonel Gould, 59ih Massachu- |
setts, lost a leg Major Buxton, 18th |
New York, also losta leg. Lieutenant
Colonel Brrney, 2d Pennsylvania, was
" unded. Major Pr scott, 57th MaSsa.
ehusetts, was killed. Lieutenant Colpnel
Ross, lst United States colnred regiment,
lost leg. This division having been a
great deal 10 advance Of the rest Of the
line, held its. position fdr sevaral hours
but was finally compelled to fall back.
severely while doing so. The
oss in the 1st and Sd Divisions was ais
ievere. The latter has 400 in the hos
9ital. The 18th Corps occupied part Of
he line on the right, but their loss was
lot very great r
We took about 200 prisoners mostly |
J nth Caroltnians, and Eve batte-A@gs.
All lis quiet this morning, Sunday the :
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