Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-01
Grand Rxplosiontaround FeteEsburg
+. Grant Opens Out a New Rro|
Rranma. e.. -.

Grant Opens 0utla New Fro;
gramme,
4 JBxtrix6hs, July sl.-All doubt as q
the good news from Grants army seems e
4 be removed "A later dispatch, Just re.
csived, says the assault Commenced at
O'clock on Saturday morning by terrible
explosion, which completely destroyed one
E6f3the enemy's principal forts in front OF
Petersburg, containing 16 guns. Thiswas
rendered o mass Of ruins. Upon this ex-
plosion our artillery, opened with one sim.
ultaneous and continuous roar along our
entire line. w
Up to the leaving of the mail boat, at 10
works and. also the entire outer line of the
rebel, entrenchments. The battle Yves in
progrSsS1Rith the greatest fury. 4s s !
~ HEADQuARTlRs Army OF THE PoToNAo,
July so, 10 a, M.-lFhe great event so long
Participated, namely, the explosion OF the
mine,under the rebel fort in front of the
9th armycqrps, came off this morning at
40 minutes past o'clock. s-,s5t.
Il Picket; firing was keptupsall night and
inifact at the time the match tWSs applied
|ioitheS mine the ekirmishers were Btill. len!
gagged On both sides. The volume of dirt
WAS immense, and was thrown up 300 feet
i'm the air. q ET u 3
Tie 9Th coSrps at once charged ths works.
.drivingTtbe rebels TO their second lihefof
ntrehchments and taking o humber 6t
prisoners, some Of whom were dug out of
ihetdirts badly bruised. 1.-THE ,te1el prison.
ers state that onl Fabont q dozen remained
Of the regiment, 3 South Caroline one;
As SOON as thesnxp losion; took place, 12o
guns Immediately opened on out, 'front.'
while the musketry played m one contin!
ued fire along the 9Th and part OF the 18th
corps. = ~ ~ - .E3t-i .
Prisoners say they were completely sur.
prised, those id front being mostly asleep
at the time. They also state that there
were four guns in the Notifications, which.
OF course were buried far out of sight.
One ofIthe prisoners stated that they were
besy mining under our works, and that in
two days more they would have been ready
to blow them up. We got the start of
them, however, and it is hoped that long
ere thiBireaches you Petersburg will be in
onr nnsaasaiinn -'fi 81 . -7FfqA a. =, - 4
: HEADQUARTERS; Array of the Potomac, IN
front of PetersburS, J ufyi 3d. 3 9clocka lns
The grand conflict commenced in earnest,
atIdaylight this morning, Aloud aud CEN,
tinuous roar of cannon all along the lines
startled the whole country from its slumber
and spreading throughout our army the
widest excitement and enthusiasm. : -,
Grams new flank movement has entirely
changed the aspect OF affairs here. Byit
his right was thrown on the north side of,
James river, within 10 miles of Richmond
enabling to switch his entire force upon
either side Of the riyer'in q very. few hours
and compelling the enemy to cover Rich
mond with a large force, as well as Peters
burg, and the exterior line Whichthe could
not do aud have to risk aTgeneral engage
ment at the same time. &
The artillery duel progresses magnificent.
" at this hour
The musketry have not yet come much
into action. but the whole army isiunder-
arms andin line of battle. 60.
VERY LATEST. -
HEAD! QUARTERS AMY OF THE PoToAAo;
July 80, P. M.-Reports just in say that we
have possession of the entire first line of
the rebel works, with o large number of
prisoners; our loss in the charge was Sc
we're, as our men had to cross On open field
to reach the rebels. The troops engaged
were the 9th corps with the 18th snpport--
ing them; the and and 9Th in reserve. The
firing is still going on with great fury
Generals Grant and Meade with all the
corps Generals are at the front watching
the progress of affairs.
NRw YoRK, July 3l.-The Herald's ,cor-
near Deep Bottom, of the 2sh,
says:
Prisoners report that when it was as
certsiued that the I'd corps was north of
the James, the enemy Immediately com.
menced pouring in reinforcementsI both
from Petersburg and Richmond. 10
&. Gen. Lee was taken entirely by surprise,
aud was obliged to use the utmost dispatch
to rush troops to the threatened point:
During the night the enemy continued
strengthening the splendid natural posi-
tons they held, and which in the morning
were found, together with the numerous
reinforcements, too strong to assail.
All the roads to Richmond, between the
James river and White Oak swamp were
strongly defended.
Last evening Merritt's brigade drove
Hampton's troops from an important point
on the central road, which was held until
10. q. m. the next day, when the rebels
came out. in, three brigades of infantry,
making steady assault upon Merritts
force, who had dismounted, falling back
in order to q reserve brigade. Both de-
,livered q destructive volley and then
charged. when the rebels broke and fed in
confusion, leaving their dead and wounded
on the field l -s-z - =
At the same time. Gen. Gregg's division.
became engaged at another point with q
superior force, and the Fighting was very
severe. Davis brigade receiving the largest
share, he was obliged to yield a portion of
the ground and lost one gun, but soon
rallied, checked the advance of the rebels,
and finally drove them back. ttftte \
Gen. fKautE took possession of Malvern
Hill, which had been abandoned by the.
rebels TO protect one of the Richmond
Gen. Gibbon, after the repulse of the
rebels, relieved the cavSlFy with his in
fantry, skirmished with the enemy, and at
night took ups new position.
1t. Fletcher Goth Massachusetts,. and 1t.
Fisher of Gen., Motifs staff are supposed to
be captured. Capt McEwen of Gen. Bar
lows staff Ia killed or captured. The Men.
dota did good service during the engage,