Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-08-04
FROM GRANTS ARMY.
Exciting News-The Grand Movement
Begun--A Tremendous Mine Sprung
Under Rebel Fort.
HEADQUARTERS AanY OF THE Poroxs. }


The grand offensive m owe so long pre-.
pairing in front of Petersburg was made
this morning. AS stated in yesterdays
dispatch. the move Of the 81 cavalry corps
on the north side of the James was but
feint, intended to create the impression
that General Grant contemplated an
advance on Richmond in that direction,
and to induce Lee to divert a part of his
army from Petersburg to meet it. In the
course of Yesterday the commanding Gen
erals satisfied themselves that the demon
stration had the desired effect, and hence
determined to make the grand attack sew
eral times about to be made during he last
few days but prevented by the sending off
of part of the army for the succor OF
Washington. The cause of the previous
delay was not removed by the return of
the 9th and 10Th corps, hut it was consid-
cred that the military situation in other
quarters required an immediate resumption
of the offensive here, hence the great events
of to-day.
1t was determined to employ the whole
strength of the army against certain part
of the euemy's position. The selected
point was in front Of our center a mine
on q large scale. said by eur engineer Off
GERS to be the largest ever constructed.
was ordered to be dug under permanent
hill in front of General Potter's division
OF the 9th Corps. surrounded with the ene-
my's fortifications The work was placed
! in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Peasants,
of the 4Sth Pennsylvania, and has occu-
pied the last four weeks. The trunk Of
the mine was 400 feet long, opening into
galleries of 400 feet. In each one the
charge consisted of six tons of powder
The plan Of attack was to spring the mine
and make an assault en- masse amidst the
CONSERVATION among the army. by the
explosion on the same point OF line
The order of attack was as follows: The
9Th Corps was to lead in the assault. OF
its three divisions, the first brigade, Gen'l
Ledlie commanding. was in the lead. and
the 81 and 81 were to support it OF the
right anil left.
The 9th Corps was to be withdrawn
! from tho front line. leaving but thin line
10 conceal the movement from the enemy
and massed during the night on the left of
the 9th Corps. The 18th Corps was to be
massed on the right of the 9th The g.
division Of the 81 Corps. which reached
the James river night before last, was to
occupy position at the right front Of the
18th Corps, anil the two remaining dvi
sions were to recross the James last night
and resume position this morning in the
rear as support to the 18th Corps.
! Sheridan, with the whole cavalry corps,
was also ordered to recross the James last
night, and move as rapidly as possible to
the south and west of Petersburg aud
advance on aud attack the enemy's position
from that direction
According to this programme the Ii,
% and 81 divisions of the OH Corps were
relieved in the trenches about midnight by
/ General Cars division of colorel troops.
AMI massel to tho right Of the undermined
hill.
The mine was sprung at half-past four
this morning. The explosion was not as
great as expected, but threw up a vast
mass Of earth and stone several feet high
General Ledlie, commanding the division.
had orders not to stop till his command
hal possession of the hill. which is the
northeast key to Petersburg. The 2 anil
81 divisions Of the 9th Corps were to fol-
low after he had secured the hill and take
position on his right and left.
Up to the moment of writing the hill
had not been carried, a second and stronger
line of intrenchments being discovered.
The 5th and 18th Corps are now moving
up. and simultaneously with the explosion
of the mine all our batteries ami about IL
field batteries. lbs guns. opened fire on
Petersburg and on the rebel lines, which
has continued uninterruptedy during the
last two hours.
A more awful roar Of artillery l have
not heard since the first battle of Fred
ericksbu'g. The spectacle is grand
beyond description.
Gers. Grant and Meade with their
respective stats have established them
selves for the day at Burnsde's headquar-
tiers within easy range of the rebel
batteries.
A number Of prisoners have been
brought in; nearly all suffering from the
explosion. They say that the springng
of the mine completely surprised them.
and that two companies are buried in the
crater.
Gen. Bushrod Johnson's division held
that part of their line The prisoners
deny that any great portion of Lees army
has left Petersburg either for Richmond
or the North.
THE VERY LATEST.
HEADoUARTERs ARMY OF THE Potomac
3 o'clock p M.-Reports just in say that
we have possession of the entire first line
of the rebel works with large number of
prisoners.
Our loss in the charge was severe. as
cur men had to cross an open field to
reach tho rebels. The troops engaged
were the 9th corps with the 18th sup
porting them, the 81 and 5th in reserve
The firing is still going on with great fury
Gems. Grant and Meade with all the corps
Generals are at the front watching the
progress OF affairs.
The 7riJune's special. dated head |
quarters Army of the Potomac, and in
front of Petersburg, SATURDAY., July 80. 3