The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-05
THE LATEST
FROM GRANTS ARMY.
EY TELEGRAPH.

Explosion OF a rFIne Under the
Rebel Defences--Nineiy Guns Open
on their Works.-A Grand Attack
by Surnside's Corps--Ehe Rebel
Outer Lime Taken---0ur Troops
Unable TO Hold ii, and Iie
Rebels again ira Possession.
| New YORK, August 1.-The morning papers
have nothing later from Petersburg than our
dispatches of yesterday, and but few additional
details. The following is of interest:
The Times special before Petersburg July so
says as soon after daybreak as was practicable
for our troops to move in cooperation, an i'm
mense mine, reaching far under the enemy's
line of earthworks in front of Burnsides's corps
was fired. The explosion was the signal for
the discharge of every piece of artillery we
have in position from the Appomattox to our
extreme left The effect was magnificent.
Ninety five pieces Of ordnance fired so simulta-
neously that it seemed as if they might have
been discharged by the pull CT one landyard
TIL firing thus opened was kept up in the
same manner with scarcely perceptible
lull for hour and half when it Stacked to
some exlent. The result Of the explosion of
ment and bury three guns.
Under cover Ofar:illery, pushing our advan-
| tage by suddenness of assault the 9th corps
advanced taking possession of the works
through the gap made by the explosion and
driving tie enemy to his second line which
| n fIa NJ bo
| town.
| Nineteen of the 22d South Carolina, buried
by the explosion, have been dug out alive, badly
bruised and scratched, and some of them
| doubtless MORALLY hurt. The attack they
| pronounced q surprise. The mine was four
| hundred feet long, constructed with two gal
leries running from the main passage, max
ing three chambers, in which a train OF
powder fifteen inches wide and deep was
laid. The effect of the explosion was
very disastrous. The grandeur of the
the artillery fire have never seen surpassed.
The enemies artillery played but feebly = very
few minutes before the rebel lines were entirely
shut from view by the banks of smoke, and
our gunnars could only be guided in their
work by having obtained proper range be-
fore many of the shells from the front of the 18th
corps must have struck far into the streets of the
city. From that direction columns of black
| smoke arose soon after the opening of the fire.
evidently from the burning buildings. After
the rebel lines were pierced they made hur
ried movement to their left, and suffered heav-
lily from an enfilading fire. Gen. Leddie's di-
vic IF Pu Io,e loI
14th New York Heavy Artillery having the ad
vance, About 100 prisoners so far have been
brought into Burnside's headquarters. The
cannonading is still hot, and the rebels hold
their position obstinately. Our infantry has
just received orders to advance
The Worlds special says the mine was to
have been sprung at o'clock this morning,
| and the Lieutenant General accompanied by his
staff reached headquarters about an hour be.
fore. Meade and staff also assembled at the
same headquarters. The appointed hour for
| the explosion of the mine arrived, but for
| some reason did not take place. Everything
movable in the shape of troops had been
placed in position to move at the first signal
The entire End corps was held in reserve,
but up to the hour of sending this dispatch
they had not been called into action.
At o'clock cloud of dust was seen rising
from the rebel Entertainments; this was fol.
lowed by general upheaving of the earth
works, reaching probably SO of the mass, look
ing like huge mountain of dust and earth,
and forming most imposing spectacle.
simultaneously with this explosion our bat
teries along the entire line opened a most MUIR
derous fire on the rebel breastworks, and the
infantry with hearty cheers rushed into the en-
bankments of the enemy. Constant cannon
aiding, lasting nearly an hour and twenty min.
utes, has been going on.
AT 6 o'clock our valiant troops had car.
tured and occupied the first line of the rebel
intrenchments. Prisoners are constantly ar
irving from the front. Several of our
wounded are also coming in. They report
the slaughter inflicted upon the enemy by the
explosion and accurate range of the shells from
our guns as terrible in the extreme
So far victory is ours. The air was thick
with flying mi sill s. We were pushing the
enemy steadily and surely, and occupying his
Notifications.
The Worlds special says the movement of
the I'd corps across James River was feint as
they were brought back during the darkness of
Friday night TO their old position.
Sheridan with a large force is operating
around the rebels right wing, and Important
results are anticipated.
BALTIMORE, Aug. Letters from Fortress
Monroe says that later advices from the front
show we were unable to hold all the ground
gained in the assault on Saturday, it being
moatly commanded by an inner line and that
the works taken by our forces were recaptured
by the enemy.
We took 500 prisoners in the assault. The
loss on both sides is probably from 1000 to
5000.
Reports from Gettysburg and Emmettsburg
represent that anic exists there and through
out the country adjacent, the people believing
that the rebels are approaching in large force.
This morning the train from Frederick came