Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-08-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
nUJRNSlDs,'S WINE.


| OF Petersburg has been more interesting,
and no undertaking more important than
the construction of the mine under the Re
| bel Notifications. So extensive has been
this work, so difficult the distractions over
come, SO complimentary its success to the
genius and perseverance of our soldiers, that
more than a passing notice is due to it.
After the investment of the city, about
| the Goth of June last, when our further ap-
proach was disputed by the formidable
character of the Rebel works, our officers
began to look about them for the means of
accomplishing with the least possible sacri-
| flee OF lite what then would have required
the most desperate and bloody valor on the
| part of our troops-viz: the successful as
sault of these works. The cXpedient of a
mine original with Lieutenant Colonel Plea
SAINTS, OF the Forty eighth Pennsylvania Re-
| giment. Not that Others did not think of
IT. but by most of our engineers the idea
was not entertained. The distance between
| our front line and the nearest and most i'm
portant Rebel fort was over four hundred
yards-too long to hope for success when
the difficulties likely to be encountered in
the way of qucksands. underground marsh
es and discovery by the enemy were taken
into consideration.
Colonel Peasants, however cherished the
idco. The Rebel fort loomcd tcmptngly up
in front of his line, and, bcinga man of con-
siderable natural energy, and possessed of
much practical experience in mining opera
tions and knowing that he would he ably
supported by his regiment, which is wholly
composed Of miners of Schuvlkill county,
the coal region Pennsylvania, he, with per-
mission, commenced operations. The Colo
mel had been engaged in the mining .busi-
ness in his native State previous to the out
break of the Rebellion.
Tine work was commenced on the 25th
of June last, as previously stated. Such was
the sec &C, wi h which it as conducted that
for long time the project was unknown
even to those at whose side it was going on.
1t is true that reports were in circulation of
a mine, but nobody could speak certainly Of
the matter. So much doubt was there, in
deed, that for q time it was disbelieved that
any such undertaking was on foot. One
soldier in the breastwCri's, by whose side
ventilating shaft eme .,ed, told his comrades
in the most surprised manner that there
was a lot of fellows under him doing some.
thing he knew there was, for he could
hear 'en talk" To guard against indi cretion
the part of the pickets, to prevent any meet
ing ofour soldiers with the Rebels whcreat
the secret of the mine might be boastingly
or imprudently disclosed, our pickets were
ordered to fire continually. Hence the ne
verending fusilade on the front OF the Ninth
Corps, SO incomprehensib,e to the other
corps and which was often referred to in
newspaper paragraphs. The enemy, doubt
less, suspected at first that the undermining
was going on, but when several weeks elapS-
ed without any demonstration their suspi-
cions began to vanish, especially as their
engineers must have thought the plan un-
feasible.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
The progress of the work was necessarily
very slow, and it was not until the 25th in
stant. just one month after its inception,
that it was completed. At the outset, one
oi the most important points was to aSccr-
tain the exact distance and bearing of the
Rebel fort. Working under ground is lite
rally working in the dark. BY that parti-
cular process OF surveying called "triangula-
ton these were arrived at. To bc explicit:
Distances were laid off upon the ground be-
hind our works. From these lines as bases
and with the angles formed by lines extend
ing in the direction OF the fort, simple
gcometrical problem was formed, the soiu-
uon of which gave the required distance.
Five different trianguations gave result of
five hundred and zen feet. The excavation
was commenced in the side Of the hill where
on our exterior line of works runs The
tunnel, or, to use technical term, gallery
is about four and half feet high, nearly as
many feet wide ut the bottom, and two feet
high, nearly AS many feet vide at the top.
The usual army pick was not suited to
the work, rs its ilukes were too broad to
permit their swinging in the tunnel. This
difficulty was easily overcome 10y filling
down the ilukcs To the size OF the regular
mining pick. Water was met with not tar
from the entrance, and for Il time gave no
little trouble. The floor, however was
plankrd d and the sides and ceiling showed up.
a quicksand was met with, and to obviate
It, the range OF the tunnel was curved up
ward, 81 that the latter halt Was several teet
higher than at the entrance, The ouZing
OF the water formed mud IN several places,
50 that the regiment came from their daily
labor bespatlcrcl. and stained. In ihct, it
was easy during the past month to recognize
FOrty-eighth man by his muddy boots.
The earth rs fast rs eXcavated, Was con
yeyed in hand barrows made OF cracker
boxes or halt barrels, to the mouth, where
II was emptied luto bags, which were alter
wards used ou the top of the breastworks.
in this manner no betra!ing accumulation
of earth took place.
VENTILATION AID LIGHTING OF THE TUNNEL.
The ventilation OF the tunnel was most
ingeniously effected. Just within our cate.
ruT line OF works u shaIt Was sunk 10 the
side oi the tunnel, at its junction With which
a fireplace Mas built, with agrtlng opening
into the gallery. One end ut series ot
tubes made of pine boards Was inserted
through the euTth into this tircplace where,
gs The air became nrlicd aud ascenaed, IL
created SUCTION oT dram ia the Iubes
connecting with the gallery, As fast aa the
tunnel progressed additional Iublng was
Joinlsd on, aud followed the workmen step
10y sep. Tho smoky from lhe tire could uut,
ol course, Le cunoaHlvd, but, Ia withdraw
attention lrom u, hIes Nere kept burning al
'anOus puinIs aluug the llnr. The lighting
oi lhr tunnel Ma elected simply by placing
candrs uT lanlvTns along the Nails, al q die
lanro Ol ghout laeniy irvt apart,
40 length the end Mas feaeked and the
Iftang u.aliln sas abundaHllt svlihcd in the
uuls,s usvFhead. Ihr ualilug..i u,,,isvf and
plaAks euaid he dlsilneilJ hrAld, and lril
uu duuut tual lbg ulyu agle dlIselil bvaeaih
tAU iiriia lun, lAr vAsiay nvle skideAily
l4aaiug . h,sinng lH thsiT aTtliley A
utaf - eua.d is as, talnrd, lnu disiahegu
Iual tho sgnnrl "a lAs lnlt aas Iatlly lssi' |
IaE AlAE.