New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-02
Plan Of she Attack-What Was Done an'
What Was Not Done.
iaseh 10 The N. Y. Tribune.

0pssii Dispatch 10 The N. Y Tribune.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Sunday morning July 81, 1864.
The sanguine expectations of decided sue
cess that were raised at the opening Of the attack by
oAe 9Th Corps upon the Rebel works yesterday
regret to say realized Instead Of the hoped for tri
amph to the loyal army have to record the failure.
The plan and object of the Commanding Generals for
~ movements Of yesterday were briefly as follows:
The 9th Corps was to be Withdrawn during the pre-.
ssding night from its position In the center of the main
hne. and massed Immediately IN the Of main
ne aud to the right Of the mine. Gen. Cars coiored
division was relieve upon the lac The 18th Corps
was also to be withdrawn from main line. relieved by
Che Sd Division Of the cd Corps that had the day before
fecrossed the james River and massed in position TO
tie right Of and 10 close supporting distance Of the 9th
Corps The 9Th Corps to leave its line thinly pick
sted and be assed the left of and close the 9th
Corps The lat and ID Divisions Of the I'd Corps
90 recros the james under OF before the
commencement Of the attack TO the right Of and behind
she 18th Corps. The cavalry corps also to return
20 the Of our line around the Rebel right and
upon and attack Petersburg from its southern and
south western approaches.
The LIST Division Of the 9th Corps was to avail itself
promptly Of the CONSERVATION created among the enemy
BY the explosion OF the mine, push forward formed in
column OF attack and carry the intervening Rebel
works
The ID and Sd Divisions Of the 9th Corps were to fol
NV the lst 10 the right and left Of it, and take position
with 1t on Cemetery Hill
The 5th and 18th Corps were 10 close up as soon
che enemy's line was broken.
The mine was to be exploded at 3;3Oa IN. Thedamp
ssss Of the main passage had affected the fuse by which
u was to be ignited casing a delay of over three
quarters Of an hour
At 400 those In charge succeeded in springing IT,
There not simultaneous explosion along its whole
length and breadth but several successive ones at in
ssrvsls of few seconds. There was no very strong
cstonaton in the cir but the ground around it shook
Cor few seconds as though moved by an earthquake
Beveral spoutke Of debris were thrown up and
1sl back the depth Of the mine some thirty feet
below the surface.
The Rebel battery under which the explosion took
place substantially destroyed but its contour was
eth dscernible.
Within few minutes after the explosion the two
sgades Of the first divisioD-the second Col Marshall
- the 18th New.York Heavy Artillery commanding in
Che lead, followed by the first under command Of Brig.
Gen Bartlett Of Massachusetts jumped over the breast
works forming our main line and advanced at q
changing pace.
Iney were hardly In motion when they received
soney iroin 'ne enemy who, although surprised by the
explosion, were evidently prepared against an attack
ewing TO the noise inevitably made by the coIccntra
don OF troops and the movements Of trains and art
lazy. kc-. for hours, close to their front
The explosion. although It had DESTROYED the Rebel
sstery had not affected the sbOtis and other obstgc
bonn in ts 'front.' and the attacking column expe,,eni
considerable trouble in working their way over them
Part Of our line passed into the fort and part 20 tina
sight Of it, upon curtainke INFRINGEMENT. connecting
SAs right Of the battery with the line Of bress,
beyond it.
The interior OF the exploded work was a confused
mass Of earth, broken guns camp equpagc and human
bodies.
1t had been occupied by a battery Of artillery.
manning six rhcd field pieces and part OF the 18th and
Ed South Carolina Regiments. over hundred men
BAD gone up with the work. and buried among Il
runs About twenty. less mutilatod were d. Y
cut by men.
The rfe pts and irirer,A;seats to the right Of y