Litchfield enquirer., 1864-08-04

TIE WAR NEws-Monday's news from the ling description
 Shortly before five o'clock on Saturday morning, mine which had been excavated under the rebel works in front of Gen. Burn sides corps was fired by the application of a I-lucfer match, and instantly vast volume of dirt was thrown very high into the air, and a gap formed through which our troops rushed and carried the first line of rebel works. Si- multaneously with the springing of this mine, sll our artillery from the Appomattox to our extreme left-about hundred pieces-opeAed upon the enemy and of course, aided the charge of the infantry. The rebels stiffly con, tested their next defences, and up to afternoon of Saturday, fighting was still going on. We had, also, additional news from the body of cavalry and infantry which was sent to op crate on the north bank of the James, appa rently against Richmond. That movement was really a fent, intended to divert the at tention of Lee while the operation we have just recounted was in progress. It succeeded in this, and Lee withdrew some fifteen thous- and men from Grants main front to the de- fence of Richmond. This end being gained, Hancock's corps and the other troops at once recrossed the James, and joined our main body.
 The following is summary of the grand military operations before Atlanta, from the 18th to the 24th ut. On the 18th all the ar my had been moved across the Chattahoochee. On the 2Oth, General McPherson cut the rail road at Decatur, between A tlanta and Angus ta, severing all communications by railroad from Atlanta, except by the Macon route. On the same day, Gen. Thomas three corps, the Twentieth, Fourth and Fourteenth, occupied the line of Peachtree Creek, running east and west about five miles north of the city. Gen. Hooker, with his corps effected crossing with but little resistance. Gen. Ward and Williams divisions occupied the right and left, and Gen. Geary's division the centre, few hun6red yards in advance. While Ward and Williams were endeavoring to join General Geary, his extreme right Was assailed by the enemy.
 The new raid into Pennsylvania promises to come to an end as glorious as that of its predecessor, while the substantial advantage to the rebels in the way of plunder is suppos- ed to be much less. The invaders have com mitted more wanton outrage upon property than ever before. They have laid Chambers. burgh in ashes, and committed other excesses,
 The news of Tuesday did not confirm the anticipated success of the movement on Pe tersburg.
 After the explosion, at an early hour on Saturday morning, everything betokened brilliant victory but, by the failure of the colored troops to carry out their part of the programme, affair began to wear different aspect. The explosion of the mine, which was delayed beyond the appointed time, took place precisely at 4:4O o'clock, and the roar of artillery which immediately followed is said to have been indescribably grand At 5:30 the charge was made, and the fort with portion of the line on each side, was carried in the most gallant manner. The second line. short distance beyond the fort, was also at- tempted but at this critical moment the col ored troops which had advanced in good or der to the first line, wavered and broke under a galling fire. They were rallied and again pushed forward, but without success, most of their officers being killed or wounded. Their