Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-08-05
News of the War.

crsburg. A dispatch dated Headquarters
Army Of Potomac, July 1910 A NJ. says:
The great event so long anticipated, name
ly. the explosion of the mine under the
rebel fort in front of the 9th army corps,
came off this morning at 40 minutes past
O'Clock Picket firing was up all night and
in fact at the time the match was applied to
the mine the skirmishers were still engaged
on both sides. The volume of dust thrown
up was immense, rising over three hundred
feet in the AIR, and resembled an immense
fountain of earth more than anything else.
The 9th corps at once charged the works,
driving the rebels to their second line of en-
trenchments and taking number of prison
ers, some of whom were dug out of the dirt,
badly bruised. These rebel prisoners state
that only about dozen remain of their regi-
ment, South Carolina one.
Az soon as the explosion took place hun
dred and twenty guns Immediately opened
on our front, while musketry blazed in one
continuous line of fire along the front of the
9th, and part of the 5th and 18th corps.
The scene was one long to be remembered by
thuse who witnessed it.
The smoke from the guns soon obscured
the view and the particulars of the success
were CLEANED from those who came in with
prisoners.
Prisoners say we completely surprised those
in their front, they being mostly asleep at
the time. Prisoners also state that there
were four guns in the fertilization, which OF
course were buried far out of sight. One
Of the prisoners stated that they were busy
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 this
reaches you Petersburgh will be in our
possession.
dispatch at a later hour says
Reports Just in say that We have posses
sion of the entire first line of rebel works
with large number of prisoners. Our loss
in the charge was severe, as our men had
10 cross an open field to reach the works.
The troops engaged were the 9th corps.
with the 18th supporting them, the ID and
5th being in reserve. Firing is still going
on with great fury, consisting principally Of
mu>ketry. Gems. Grant and Meade with all
the corps Generals are at the front watching
the progress of affairs.
The Herdlds correspondence from james
River shows that our movement on the north
bank Of the river surprised Lee,who rushed
troops precipitately from Petersburg and
Richmond to near Deep Bottom where they
hold strong position. All the roads to
Richmond between James River and White
Oak Swamp are strongly defended.
On the evening of the 9th Merritt's cav
airy gained an important point, but on the
morning Of the 2Sth was furiously attacked
by three rebel brigades of infantry. Merritt
fell back uTon his reserves and then turned
cha Cd tba abolu Irir
confusion.
Kautz is in possession of Malvern Hill
Gibbons infantry relieved the cavalry
after the above fight, skirmished with the
enemy and broke up new and important
position on the night of the 2Sth. The gun
boat Mendoza did excellent service in the
above h.hE
Information from Gen. Sherman's army
represents affairs in the highest degree salts
factory. Our movements for the past day
OF two met no opposition from the enemy,
but they crouch behind Notifications, thus
evidently showing they are afraid of the ar
tiliery "i zen. Sherman.
Chainl--rsburg Pa was burned by body
of retcl- under McCausland on Saturday.
TIE l'uple of Chambersburg received in
torD"lnn Friday of the approach OF the re-
bci>. 30 once men commenced packing up
their II X and before ten O'Clock last night
tue most valuable merchandise was sent far
beyond the reach of the rebels. At ,
O'clock this morning rebel force OF 800
mounted infantry reached Chambersburg
anu cncamped ON the far ground This
iurc,. was met a short distance from Mercers-
huig r' 4 small party of troops from Car
L., 81
b,niN ,ut were compelled to withdraw on
aco,unl OF the overwhelming numbers of
the invaders
In, number OF the rcicls i vtriOu>ly csti-
mated, from 30 900 up. They advanced in
Ehroc bodies, VIA Merccrsburg. Waynesbo-
rn and Greencastle.
McCausland made proclamation demand
M hundred thousand dollars m gold. 1t
Wa,, Of course, impossible to comply. The
pr!rr was issued to fire the Court House.
Town Hall and Bank buildings. strong
breeze communicated the flames to the sur
rounding buildings, and POS of the most val
liable and elegant public and private build
ings were destroyed. The town was fired
at about II in the forenoon. The rebels re-
manned just long enough To see the flames
get under proper Roadway. when the alarm
was given that Ayerill was approaching the
town. Instantly every fire booter was IN the |
saddle and hurriedly took to the st. Thomas
rad with Averill in pursuit.
No intelligence reached Harrisburgh con-
c,rning the direct effect Of Averill attack |
1t is believed, however, he succeed in punish |
ING McCausland very severely. a train
heavily laden with cOmmissary stores was
dispatched from Harrisburg Sunday morn |
lng to Chambcrsburg to relieve the present |
wants of the houseless women and children |
who now crowd the surrounding fields and |
woods. The number thus burned out is |
scaled at 5000; the loss is estimated at a
million of dollars.