Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-04
OUR FORCES REFUSED AND DRIVEN BACK
TO THEIR TRENCHES.

Later information from the army to the effect that
after the explosion the morning OF the Both every thing
betokened brilliant victory But soon afterwards mat
ters assumed different aspect, and part of the attacking
orc6 gave way and the remainder were exposed to an
eu6Iadiug from artillery and infantry The Correspon-
dent of he Associated Press Gays:
"A pause Of twenty minutes followed the springing
Of the mine before the charge made by the Ninth
Corps, who then sprang forward to the first line OF
an .ancbments which was carried and they then push
ed On 70 tho s.nord line, exposed to murderous en-
6l,dipg FIRE from the enem-'s batteries here u was
that the negro troops covered before the aroe nie
and fell back in disorder. Other divisions of the Ninth
and Tenth however pushed gaining the second line OF
entertainments and up to the third and ast ne and appa
reuy the day was our own but here somebody bundered
and if we may believe report troops paused for two
and hafhours at this point waiting the order to assault
this third line giving opportunity for the enemy to rally
their forces and crowd hnned columns back to their
starting point, that the important advantages gained
were snatched from US at the moment when, apparently
Petersburg
Our loss was pretty heavy the fighting between the
entertainments amounting to 1000 500 men. TWAS
reported at City Point when the mail boat left yesterday
that took three hundred the rebel enreuch
ments, and that hundred Of the enemy we're
killed by the explosion.
1.-THE rebels appear have been Informed to the drec
ton 10 which Gen Grants mining operations were run
nng shown by the fact that they had removed twelve
Of the sixteen guns belonging to the fort exploded
Though Gen Grant has not succeeded in accomplish
ing his purpose his initial attempt upon the works OF the
enemy and is apparently Petersburg than he
was before the explosion Of bis mine he really has gained
possession Of information ss to the positions that
combined with the destruction Of the principal ratification
defending Petersburg PLACES him much the accom-
pshment OF his work.
The story that Petersburg burned Saturday 10
not true Casual shells may have struck buildings and
fired them bat the town not deliberately sheed as
reported.
There firing after two p M. on Saturday, and
there only desuory firing after nine o'clock Our
troops back where they started before eleven o'clock
A. M"
Another despatch states that the programme for the
ssut not fully carried out else decisive victory would
have crowned Gen Grants efforts 1t says:
"The programme was Mine to be exploded at A. Nj
and batteries to open along the entire line at the same
hour The Ninth Corps supported by the Eighteenth and
Ayres's division Of the fifth and the third division Of
the Second Corps was to charge Immediately after the
explosion Every thing in readiness to carry out the
gements ordered but the explosion was later than
the hour designated the fuse having gone out twice after
being GIFTED.
"At 440 all things in readiness and the fuse was
again lighted and this time the explosion took place. and
deafening roar of artillery followed At 81 the charge
was made and the fort with part of the line each
side was carried style to reflect credit upon the vete
rams engaged in the charge. 1t was decidedly brilliant
affair The second line Of the rebels short distance be.
vond the fort was carried by the second division OF the
Second Corps, which was the centre, and they ad
yanced short distance beyond the rebel fort aud rested
but held their ground with determination that must have
been appalling to the rebels.
"The contest here about to be decided. Brig Gen
Whites division Of coored troops we're ordered to pusf
forward and carry the crest Of hill but after advancing
good order the rst line they we're checked b.
CALLING fire, and the main body sltered and fell back
although number kept on. The greater number, how