Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-04
MORNING LEADER
THURSDAY MORFING, AUGUST A.
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The Grand Assault on Pc
terSbufg.
THE NATURE AND EFFECT OF THE RI-
% = PLOSI0N.
The Artillery Contest.
rHEGRASD AssAUITTHIT FOLLOWED.

Yesterday We published an account of
the mining operations in front of Burnside'S
corps. To-day we publish the following
thrilling and graphic report from the cor
fespOndenee of the n. Y. Times.
The time fixed for the assault was % o
clock, when, without any moon, and al
most Cimmerian darkness, would efectual-
Nv shut out from the enemy the unavoida-
bic stir and hustle Of the troops as they
got into position. But just here the mis-
fortune Of the day occurred. Upon at
tempting to fire the mine the fuse or slow
match failed, and another was tried, am
told. with a similar result. The third fuse
was successful in its mission, but the
hours delay had made it broad daylight
and, in consequence, the enemys suspic-
ions were aroused, lat least along aportion
of his front, and we were robbed Of the
advantage of a surprise
This was a very great misfortune. The
army felt it 10 be such as they stood in sus-
pense and silent impatie. ce in the cold
gray Of the morning, crouching on their
arms. OF the effect of the explosion
YOU have been already apprised. The
mine has been talked of in the army for
weeks, but only talked ofin bated breath,
although whisperings concerning it have
been waited over from the rebels. Clear
ay they did not know its precise locality,
and few on our side, suspect, were wiser.
1t has been tacitly acknowledged as an
improper subject for conversation, and
the most curious have appeared to feel
the propriety of checking themselves
The noise of the explosion was a dull,
rumbling thud, preceded, l am told, by a
few seconds swaying and quaking Of the
ground in the immediate vicinity. The
sarth was rent along the entire course OF
the excavation, heaving slowly and ma
jastically to the surface, and folding side
ways 70 exhibit deep and yawning
ehasm. compared, as much Jas anything
shse. to 3 river gorged with ice, and break
= ing mn under the influence of a freshet.-
R6t there was a grander effect than this
observable also. Where the charge in the
bnrrow WAS heaviest, directly under the
rebel work. an immense mass Of dull red
earth was fhroRn high in theeair, in three
broad columna diVerging from single
base, and, to my mind, assuming the
shape of a Prince of Wales feather, 0.
colossal proportions. Those near the spot
say that clods ofearth weighing at least
3 ton, and cannon, and human forms, and
xun-carriages, and small arms were all dis
tinctly seen shooting upward in that foun
tain of horror, and fell again in shapeles!
and pulverized atoms. The explosion full
" accomplished what was intended 1
demolished the six-gun battery and its gar
rison of one regiment Of South Carolini
troops. and acted as the wedge which op
ened the way to the assault. Our mel
we're crush through this breach, and 81
beyond upon the second line Of work
which crown the crest of Cemetry Hill
thus compelling the enemy to evacuat
3 che first line, OF, what was more probable
TO surrender under the fire ofOur artillery
2 The awful instant of the explosion ha'
scarcely passed when the dull mOrnin:
= air was made stagnant by the thunder Q
our artillery From ninety-fve pieces
niched in every hillside commanding tn
enemy's position, there belched on
sheets of fame and milk white smoke
while the shot and she'll sped forward
screechipg, bowling, rumbling like th
- rushing Of hundred railroad trains
I, But why attempt to give an idea of sue
indeseribable and awful sound2 The sud
den transition from utter silence TO feroel