The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-08-12
THE EXPLOSION AT PETERSBURG
The Assault upon the Rebel Works.
Special Dispatch to Cincinnati Commercial /:
HEApoU AkrERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
July 80 p. m.

was announced IN my last Rlspalcn, mas
resulted IN 4 failure, instead Of the ex-
pected success. The explosion of the
mine was DELAYED until 4 30 q. m, by
defect 10 the fuse. The rebel work went
M. not all a, once, but successfully, by
three explosions. as intended. mass Of
matter was thrown up about one hundred
feet, and fell back TO the depth OF the
nine, about thirty feet below the surface.
The earth for few hundred yards around
The folt shook for several seconds, as
though moved bv an earthquake, the
shock being sensibiy fel. by the troops
formed for attack.
The attacking column formed As stated
Yesterday, ouiy tie ID and LIST BrIgadef
of LeslIe's division, followed by the 35th
Massachusetts, provided with intrenchiog
implements, pushed forward to the charge
They had moved but few yards when
they received tremendous volley from
the enemy, who had doubtless been put
on the alert through the noise made by
the concentration Of troops, and the move
ments Of artillery trains during the night,
to close to their font. The explosion,
although it had destroyed the rebel redan,
had no. moved the rebel abs,,is and other
Instructions in its front, and the assailants
had great trouble in working their way
through them. TIE interior Of the rebel
fort presented an awful spectacle. 1t had
been occupied by parts Of the 18th and
22d South Carolina regiments and bat
terry of six rihed inch guns. The whole
men, guns, ammunition and everything
had gone up and fallen back in ming
led mass. About two hundred men were
oniy partially covered, and stiugg ed des-
pera,ely to get clear. About twenty, IN
Guiding several officers, were subsequently
dug out. Part of the attacking columns
advanced some distance to the right Of the
fort and carried part Of two lines Of the
breaslwolks connecting the fort with the
main rebel line TO the rear of it. About
two hundred and fifty prisoners were cap>
tured in their entertainments and the rifle
pits about the fort, and sent TO the real
As soon as our troops had reached the
works, the enemy commenced very
heavy mu>ket fire from two sides of an
angle, which their breastworks formed 10
the rear of the fort Several batteries al
so opened with shell and grapeshot.
Notwithstanding the tremendous fire
directed against The rebel line BY our heavy
aud light batteries, the enemys fire be
came so intensified tha. the advance OF
our column toward the Cemetery Hill,
about 400 yards beyond the fort which
they were ordered TO carry was checked,
halted, aud The men sought refuge behind
the ruins Of the work and breastw orks,
and rihe-pits behind them. Two minutes
after Leslie's division had moved to the
attack, Potter's aud Wilcox's division, Of
the same corps, moved to the right and
left of the work. Several attempts were
made TO continue the assault, but all failed
under the sweeping fire of the enemy.
About six o'c'ock, one OF Gen. toreo's
colored divisions was ordered to move for
ward to the right of the fort upon Gene
tery Hill, and advanced steadily until it
got under the enfiIading fire of the enemy.
when, instead Of keeping to the right Of
the other divisions, the blacks got confus-
ed ard rushed pe|I nell among the other
troops in and about the fort. The inte-
rior Of the latter, after the explosion, had
the form of crater, the upper part being
about sixty feet in diameter. 1t was al
ready crowded from top to bottom with
troops. The negroes rushed in from all
sides, ir state Of terror and confusion,
The enemy, in the meantime, AS could be
plainly seen from our main line. had rap
idlv moved their forces from their right
and left 10 the threatened part OF their line
and about the forts. From both infantry
and artillery the fire became more and
more severe. Again and again the at
tempt was made TO charge from the front,
bu, he troops could not do it, Small par
ties commenced irving to run back from
the fort to our main line. They became
more and more numerous, and quite a
number of them managed to get through
The distance from our fort to the main
line was about $50 yards. Our men in
running back had to make it over field
swept by rebel fire, and hundreds Of them
were killed and wounded. The enemy,
perceiving the confused condition Of our
troops, resorled to the offensive. They
advanced several times from their lines,
but were driven back by our fire. Al
about ten o'clock, however, when most Of
the batteries bad ceased firing, they made
a grand charge and occupied most Of the
ground in the rear of the fort. No sooner
had their yells and volIeys announced
their charge, than vast swarm OF our
men, mostly negroes, were seen rushing
ont from under cover towards our lines
half of them were shot down.
As stated yeste, dav, in giving the order
Of attack. the 9th corps were massed on
the left of the OH. and the 18Th to its right.
The % corps, that had marched all night
from the north side Of the James, was
formed in reserve in rear of the 18th
When it was ascertaned, about 7 o'clock,
that the 9th corps was not making any
Roadway, supporting attacks were ordered
to be made Turner's division Of the 10Th
corps, were pushed forward to gain posi-
ton as far advanced as that held by the
9th corps, but this also had no decisive
effect The number of the Oh corps on
and about the fort had become materially
reduced by 10 o'clock ty the falling back
10 the main line. What remained nox
continued in its position until about IL
o'clock, when an order was issued to fall