Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-08-05
Failure of the Attack on Petersb'g
The WORKS CAPTURED ON SATURDAY
RETAKEN BY THE REBELS.
Detailed Account.
Great Losses in the ColOrod Regis.
Headquarters Army PoToMAC, !
July 500 y. NJ.


After the explosion early this morning
everything betokened brilliant victory, but
soon after matters assumed a different aspect,
part Of the attacking force having given say,
thus exposing the balance to enflading fire
from both artillery and infantry.
The programme was AS follows Mine to
be exploded at o'clock in the morning
batteries to open at once along the entire line
Immediately after the explosion aud the 9th
corps to make a charge supported by the 18th
corps, Ayres' division Of the 9th corps and 3D.
division OF the ID corps.
The greater part Of the arrangement was
carried out as ordered, although the commen-
cement was at later hour than designated,
on account OF The fuse going out twice. The
explosion took place at precisely 40 minutes
past 4 o'clock. The roar Of artillery that
Immediately followed was deafouing.
At hall past FIVE a charge was made and
the for, with part Of the line on each side
was carried in most brllian. style. The %
division, which was in the centre advanced
and carried second line a short distance
beyond the fort aud rested, holding the
ground with the utmost determination.
Ii was at this time that the colotcd diyi-
sion under Cen White pushed forward and
was ordered TO charge and carry the crest Of
the hill, which would have decided the con-
test. Thetroops advanced in good order as
far az the first line, where the received gal
ling fire, which checked them, and, although
quito a number kept on advancing, the great
er portion seemed TO become demoralized,
part taking refuge in the fort and the balance
running to the rear as fast az possible They
were AK ain rallied aud again pushed forward,
but without success, the greater part Of the
oflicers being killed or wounded. During
this time they seemed TO be without any one
Co manage them. Finally they fell back TO
tho rear, out OF range of the volleys of canis-
ter and musketry that were blowing through
their ranks. Their losses are very heavy,
particularly in officers, will be seen by the
following;
Twenty regiment, coloted, 5 officers
and 100 men killed, wounded and missing /;
% b regt, colored, II Ulcers and $50 men
killed, wounded and missing; 27th regt, coll
ored, officers and $50 men killed. wounded
and missing; 29th reg't, colored, Ulcers
and 275 meu killed. wounded and missing !,
1916 reg't, colored, officers and 200 men
killed, wounded and missing 13 reg't, coll
orod, 6 uihects and large number of men
killed, wounded and missing 80 reS't, c1l-
ored, several officers ana about $50 men kill
ed, wounded and missing.
The loss in the 2nt dirision, 9TH corps,
was very se,ere, estimated at from 1000 TO
1900, while many make the figures higher.
Among those missing is Cen Blrdett.-
He succeeded in reaching the fort with bis
command, but having accidentally broken his
cork leg he was unaolo 10 yet off the field
4 q g.
era hours, and only surrendered when all
hope was gone. Some POO men, both black
and white, were with hun at the time, few of
whom managed to get back to our lines amid
storm Of bullets. Nearly all Of q n. Bar
tlett's staff were captured at the same time.
Col. Marshall commanding the 81 brigade
of this division, was also taken prisoner with
several OF his staff Col villa e the So h
Mas. regiment Is also reported prisoner.
Col. Gould of the Ssh Mass regiment lost a
leg Major Prescott. j7th Mass. regiment,
was killed Lieut. C1l Ross, 3lst If. S.
Colorel, los. Lee. This division suffered
severely while falling back. The loss in the
l,t and 81 divisions were also severe. The
latter have 400 in the hospital The 18Th
Corps occupied part of the line on the right
but their loss was not very great. We took
about two hundred and fifty prisoners, mostly
South Carohoians, aud i've battle flags,
Later--3lst. All quiet this morning,
sunday
The Boston Herald has the following spe-
cial dispatch relative TO the failure Of our for
ces to hold the works captured by them on
Saturday in front OF Petersburg
Washington, Aug. | -Detail, of Saturday s
operations in FRONT Of Peterso burg are at hand,
and may be briefly summed mp as follows -
After the mine had exploded in front of the
Ninth Corps a charge WIS ordered, and the
tetels Immediately opened terrific fire on
the crater from every point Of their lines 1t
was impossible to stand such a CALLING fire
and our troops fell back in very good order
bringing in $50 prisoners. The brigade Of
c0iored troops was then ordered to charge
which they did several times, but likewise
fell back. Six pieces Of artillery fell into our
hauds, but it was impossible to bring them
out Of the debris OF the explosion. One Sou b
Carolina regiment was blown up, and the kill
led Of the enemy was large. Gen. Bartlett
and Col. Weld were taken prisoners. The
officers OF the colored opssuhoredseverely
The Evening Star says that Gen. Burnside
was slightly wounded while endeavoGing tC
rally the negro troops on Saturday.
New YORK, Aug. 2.
The Trbune's account of the Petersburg
rep Use says Our charging party we're hard
ly in motion after the explosion when the
rebels showed themselves prepared by open.
ing a volley. The abattis and other obstruc
tions of the fort were not destroyed which
caused much difficulty 20 our advance. The
interior Of the exploded works presented 4
confused mass of earth, guns, camps equi
page and human bodies. Several attempts
were made to advance toward Curly Hill but
failed under the severity of the rebel enflad
ing fire.
About a. m. Ferrond's eolored troop,
were ordered to make an attack on Curly
Hill, 400 yards distant They behaved witt
great steadiness until they reached the lin,
OF the other advance when the rebels fire wa,
brought 10 bear upon them, they turned tC
the left and became mixed up with the othei
troops About 1000 colored troops loapeC
into the exploded works, now a mere pit
( and which was crowded already with white
troops. They (the negroes) tumbled head
long down the sides causing scene Of il
extricable confusion. Attempts were made
to get them out and form line, but failed
All our artillery was playing upon the rebel,
but their fire seemed to increase in severity
They moved their troops from right to left
Nft .I..