The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-08-09
Nssgn ArrY cosrs

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seemed - SIRE. vhen ibe prize seem
I'd within masp ltisn7f tie time
10 lsreni what might haee been Gone.
The fact stands clearly forth tba, our
lines tonight are where they nere be.
forc daybreak ibis morning, but thin
ned BY the loss q several iho9sald Of
our most gallant men,
The time assigned for the springing
Of the mine Was originally halfpast
three O'Clock bot as darkness siill
covered the earth Ike the blacklist
night il vas postponed until after four
O'Clock, n hen SUI another delay oc-
Cured The fuse had been spliced
half way in tie tunnel, and there ceas.
cd TO burn, Alter the expiration Of a
reasonable amou nl of time one Of the
officers Of the Fony.eigbth Peunsyl-
yania daringly entered the tunnel aud
relit the extinguishcd fuse. Not long
now was expectation lept waiting g.
Before many minutes there was a
quiyer, trembling Of the ground, and
slowly, for the circumstances, the de-
lached core Of earth rose into the AIR,
bearing with it to some height the
bodice Of the garrison, the timber and
plauking, aud some say even the guns
Of the fort. The noise Of !he explos.
! i'm was inconsiderable. A greater
shock was expected but the depth at
which the mlne was situated--over
twenty feet--ur quesiionably had much
10 10 with mt fling the sound. While
the huge mass stood poised for mo.
ment in the air it was a magnificent
object oil cont, mplation. The int .r-
sticcs wiihiI--it seemed made Of lay
ers and shafts Of sand--were lit up
with the luiid flash Of the exploded
gunpowder, and the sariegated aspect
a the wbolc-here dark, were illumi-
undetermined me Of the pictures OF
Mounts Vesuyus and Etua in erup-
tion. After pausing moment, down
il sal / again, like fountain when
the water is suddenly shut oil, and
The air b, came filed with dust.
OF the effects of the explosion we
are now informed through some Of
the ,iclims who escaped with only a
few scratches. They state lhst such
was the terror created at other parts
of the line that the cannoners desert
ed their guns aud ran away, not know.
ing which fort was next TO 20 up
Some sRy there were as many as three
regiments in the fort blown up but
avoui this there is, think, sone doubt
1t is certain, however, that one regi-
meut---the Twcnty.second South Car
olina--was within and in the vicinity,
and that il was almost entirely buried,
It, colonel (Fleming) Is reported 10
have perished with il. The garrison
was asleep at the time, with the ex-
eeptioA Of the few on guard, and It is
reasonable, therefore, 10 suppose that
the assault was complete surprise,
The terrific conclusion was Witnessed
IN one poor wretch whom | saw
There was no external wound upon
his body as he was brought back a
prisoner; but every few minutes the
blood swclled up into his mouth, tell.
ing # the fearful shock within.
The explosion oil the mine was
hardly over when the artillery belch.
ed forth. First a Rodman thirty-two
I FOUNDER on our front was plainly dis
tincl; but soon the whole length Of
the line became enycloped in the dis
/ charges, and The air was filed with
the tremendous concussion. For a
time the rebel artillery did not re-
sp, al--a proof Of the terror already
/ spoken Of as having been. created
among the gunners by the springing
Of the mine. But their officers rallied
them, and ere many minutes the rebel
( line too was ablaze.
Under cover Of the night our in
faniry bad been formed behind the
outer works. The charge was to have
been made when the explosion took
/ place. The brigade Of Colonel Mar
shall, Of the First division, had The
advance but as The terrific mass Of
earth loomed up 50 suddenly and so
near them a momentary fear was felt
that il was one Of our own forts which
had been mined by The enemy. The
delusion was an optical one, but still
had ITS effect in restraining the impe-
tus Of the FIRST enset. / will not say
that the men became panic-stricken I;
bot they besilated, and the line Of bat
lie swayed. At last the efforts Of the
officers prevailed, and the brigade
bu. no, until some FIVE or ten minutes
had elapsed--charged with a Wild
cheer. The First brigade, under the
gallant Bartlett, was al their heel and
together Ledile whole division eharg-
ed through the breach. Wha, few Of
the enemy were near by surrendered
without a shot The breach was ILL
cd with rebels, who we're struggling
70 Chamber out Of the sand. these,
more foftaaaie than their comrades,
bad been bat partially buried. A Dc.
tail was rapidly made, and our men
went 10 work 10 e1hume all they
could, really as anxious now 20 disin-
ter all Shom ies minutes before
they had been as anxious 10 bury
As fast as extricaied tie rebels, With
ihe other prisoners, were sent TO the
rear, the aounded 10 the hospitals,