Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-02
Yesterdays Afternoons Report.
FROM NEW YORK.
NEW YoRK, Angus


The morning papers have nothing late
from Petersburg than our dispatches o
yesterday, and but few additional details
The following is all there is ofinterest Tn,
Times special before Petersburg, July Both
says;-As soon after day break as it wa,
: practicable for troops to move in co opera.
ton, an immense mine, reaching far away
under the enemy's line of earthworlts In
front Of Burnside's corps, was fired. The
explosion was the signal for the discharge
of every piece of artillery we have in posi-
tion from Appomatox to our extreme left.
The effect was magnificent; 95 pieces of ord
nance were fired so simultaneously that it
seemed as if they might have been dis
charged by pull Of one lanyard. The
firing thus fiercely opened was kept up in
the same manner with scarcelya a percepti-
bic luIl for at least an hour and a half,
when it slackened to some extent The
insult of the explosion of the mine was al
most to annihilate one regiment, and bury
/ ing three guns. Under cover OF artillery,
| and pushing our advantage ground by sud
dcnness of assault, the 9th corps advanced,
| taking possession of the works through the
gap made by the explosion and driving the
enemy to his second line, which lines the
hill tops at the eastward of the town.
| Nineteen ofthe 22d S. c., buried by the ex-
plosIOn have been dug out alive, badly
4
! bruised and scratched, and some Of them
doubtless mOrtally hurt. The attack they
pronounced a surprise. The mine was 400
| feet long, connected with two galleries di-
verging from the main passage, making
three chambers. The train of powder was
10 inches wide and deep laid. The effect
Ofthe explosion was very disasterous. The
grandeur Of the artillery Ihave never seen
surpassed.
Tho ora,,,vrss orf5l11arr- r,1oroI Irf
ly. A very few minutes elapsed before the
rebel lines were entirely shut from our
view by banks Of smoke, and our gunners
could only be guided in their work BY hav-
ing obtained proper range before. Many
of the shells from the front OF the 18th
corps, must have struck far into the streets
of Petersburg. From that section column
of havy black smoke across soon after the
opening of the hre-eyidently from the
burning buildings. After the rebel lines
were forced they made a sudden movement
to their lett, and suffered heavily from an
enfiladiHg FIRE. General Lille, Burnside
corps led the attack-the I4th New York
heavy artillery having the eadvance About
one hundred prisoners, 50 far, have been
broughtinto Burnsides Headquarters. Iuc
cannonading is still hotand the rebels hold
the position Obstinately. Our infantry
have Just received orders to advance.
The HeraId's special says:
The mine was 10 have been sprung Mt |
three o'clock this morning, and. the Lieu |
tenant General, accompanied by his staff, |
reached Burnside's headquarters auOut the |
hour that Meade and staff arrived at the |
same headquarters. The hour appointed |
for the explosion of the mine arrived. but |
for some reason it did not take place. Fv- /
erything movable ia the way OF troops had |
been placed IN position to move at the first |
signal.
The entire Sd Corps was held in reserve
bur up to the hour of writing this dispatch
they had not been called into actiov. At
4 o'clock clouds Of dust was seen moving
from rebel entreuehments. This was fol- |.
lowed by general upheaving Of earth
works, reaching probably fifty feet. The
whole mass lookedlike high mountains of
ethra and dust and formed q most i1npos-
ing spectacle. simultaneously with this
explosion, our batteries along the entire
line opened a most murderous and disas-
ferrous fire on the rebel breastworks, and
the infantry with deaiening cheers, rushed
into the entertainments of the enemy.
Constant eanOnadIng, lasting over one
hour and twenty minutes, had been going
on.
At six o'clock our gallant troops had cap
.ured and occupied the first line Of the
reDel lulf~ncnmentS.
Prisoners are constantly arriving from
he front, and several of our wounded are
also coming in. They report the slaughter
inflicted upon the enemy by the explosion
and accurate range of our shells from the
guns and mortars as terrible in the ex-
RENE.
SO far victory is ours.
The air is filed with flying missiles.
We are pushing the enemy steadily and
urely and occupying his fortifcations
The Worlds special says:
The movement OF the I'd Corps across the
lanes River was fcint, as thev were
brought back during the darkness Of Fri
lay night to their old position.
Sheridan, with a large force, is operating
N the rebel right, and important results
re anticipated.
The Worlds special from Frederick,
July 3lst, says:
No rebel infantry force has yet crossed
he Potomac. Three regiments of cavalry,
With five pieces of artillery, penetrated
as far as Chambersburg, and
,erhaps beyond.
Our cavalry, under Colonel Lowell hold
he passes of South Mountain, and also
SOOnsboro.
1t is reported that the enemy have re-
rossed the Potomac, and there is no force
f rabels in Maryland.