Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-15
rspecial Dispatch to The world.l
In THE FIELD BEFORE PETERsBURG,l
"'r AuUust To-

| B0-O-O-m! Trash! OTeitt llcdycns! WuaI
was that? From what direction did
that unearthly. terrible sound come? The
above questions, asked me by brother cor
respondent as we were riding quietly along
our lines yesterday morning, were elected
by one of the most fearful explosions ever
heard? What could it be, and whence did
it proceed? For the first question we
could find no satisfactory solution. ltcould
not be a mine, for two reasons: springing
of mines cause but dull rumbling sound,
and no such proceeding would be apt to oc-
cur seaward from our lines. Perhaps twas
q gunboat that was blown up. Possibly 1t
was--the uproar seemed to come from City
Point. This being the unanimous couclu-
sion, true to our repOrtorial instincts, we
Immediately headed our animals in that di-
rection, intent upon ferriting out partictl-
lars. From where we were City Point was
distant about eight niles and although we
were going toward 1t, and consequently un-
informed on the subject, we were for tne
first few miles periodically stopped by anX-
| ious soldiers, teamsters ana suffers, VINO
as we in turn, brimful of curiosity, inter-
rogated every one we met coming from that
point. The information we Cleaned in this
manner was to the effect that boat con-
tanning ammunition had been blown up,
doing an immense amount of damage to
the wharves, buildings and boats in the vi
cinity, besides killing and wounding many
persons. Intelligence gained in this way is
usually very much exaggerated and other
wise incorrect; but, oh would to heaven
it had been no worse than represented by
our informants on this occasion. From the
faint account as given us, how poorly pre-
pared we were to witness the sickening re-
ality. A short gallop and we were on the
spot.
How shall l describe the scene that greet
ed nv vision? From the cliff on which /
stood could at a glance take in the entire
view-houses partially and completely de-
molished, tents torn to pieces, wharves des-
troyed, and boats badly battered; the
ground for hundreds OF feet around streWn
with remnants of the wreck, chaotic piles
of massive and shivered timbers; ordnance
and commissary stores, saddles, shot, bull
Its, splintered weapons, beans, flour, coffee,
pickles; and amid this conglomerate mass
was to be seen horror of horrors, the re-
mains of human bodies, mangled, dismem-
bered. shattered and charred, so that scarce
trace remained to show that they were
once men. Even the cliff which | mem
toned, and which is upward of forty feet
high, and some two hundred feet distant.
from the waters edge, was covered with
saddles, ruined arms, and portions of the
wrecked boat. One shattered corpse was
also found, but had been removed ere ar
rived. Houses on this elevation were some
what damaged, but not seriously.
Casting about me for particulars, met
person who, from tag boat, had witnessed
the explosion and its fearful effects. The
boat on which the accident occurred was,
it appears, the ordnance barge of the Army
of the Potomac, and filled with ammuni-
ton, powder. shot, and shell, fixed car
tridges for field artillery, musket cartridg-
es, signal rockets, and. in fact, all manner
of ordnance stores. TO guard against ac-
cident, another boat was placed between it
and the pier so that no one c'uld go on
her whom business did not call rhere. An-i
other boat Law outside her to prevent any
vessel from hauling directly alongside. The
explosion, which occurred about IL o'clock,
is described as being sight of uncommon
grandeur. First appeared dense, impen-
etrable volume of black smoke, through
the center of which burst instantaneously
flash so brilliant and so sharp as to dazzle
the eye, while following was to be seen a
rotating circle of pure white smoke. The
air was filled with fragments of the shiv-
cred boats intermixed with Kissing shot,
shell, and various other dangerous missiles,
which had been projected by the tremen-
dous power. When this Heterogeneous show
er began to descend it truly seemed aa
though heavens artillery had opened on
us. As may readily be supposed, the great
est excitement prevailed for some minutes
after; but order was soon restored, and
systematic plan for assisting the helpless
ones adopted.
First to the dock. Here it was discovered
there were but few to be helped, as those
who were employed near the boat at the
time were either blown to pieces or killed
outright. Here it was found also, that of
the three barges nothing but fragments
were visible. Two had been blown to
atoms, and one sunk. All the commissary
store-houses were totally smashed up, as
also all the buildings occupied by the post
office, by Adams and Co.'s Express, and the
harbor-master. These latter buildings were
some seventy-fve feet from the wharf, and
across the railroad. On the railroad was
found the keel of one of the boats, while an
other portion of her was discovered on the
cliff. In the trees back of this cliff were
found saddles and portions of articles of
dress. OF the boats in the vicinity many
were more or less damaged. One OF the
sanitary commission boats received twen-
ty-seven shots through her hull one of
these passing through cabin where clerk
was writing, completely demolished the
table he was using. Three of the clerks of
the express company were sitting in the
but they were not damaged. The money
packages in the Office were strewn literally
around the neighborhood, but were nearly
or quite all recovered. There were but few
letters in the post-office, the mail having left
about an hour previously. The working
detail appointed to help the wounded and
bury the dead accomplished their task with
great celerity. Another detail for the pur-
pose of removing the debris from the rail-
road performed their task admirably in
few hours. The loss will never be correctly
ascertained, as there are always some stran-
gers about the dock and vicinity. Had the
accident occurred one hour earlier, over
one thousand persons must have perished,
as the mail boat would have been there at
that time. s 8 ).Gf rs I
What caused the explosion no one pre-
tends to know. The only men likely to
know anything of it perished. These were
the sergeant in charge and detail who
were issuing ordnance stores at the time.
am told that men have been seen smok-
ing frequently, when the matches were
opened. If this statement Is true, the ex-
plosion is not to be wondered at. Others
attempt to prove 1t was caused by torpedo
being discharged under her; but this class
of believers is small.
Mrs. Spencer, belonging to one of the re-
lief agencies, was riding by on horseback at
the time, and was struck in several places
by flying missiles, but not badly hurt. Her
bonnet-string was cut by piece of some-
thing, which flew past her neck. Mr.. Fay,
of the Sanitary Commission, was close by,
and was struck in several places, and pros
trated to the ground. He jumped to his
| feet and ran under wagon to get clear of
| the falling debris, and thus escaped further
| iniuries. He Is a good deal bruised, but