Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-01

mediate associates, 1t is doub'fui IL any one In
| the AYmy lad the least IDEA when this mine
| would be sprung, or the grand attack would
| De made No one seemed to anticipate any
movemen., and Gen. Grants usual rstioence
came into play
The only circumstance that attracted any
attention ,ss or excited the least saspicion' was
Butler was visited by Gems Grant and Meade,
and prolonged Interview and consultation
was the resuis, which lasted long after night
| fall.
Another noticeable circumstance consisted In
the tact that all the ambnlances at City
Point and other places were sent to the front.
We all looked forward 10 an indefinite period
OF inaction, when on Friday night the follow
irg order was sent to the headquarters OF the
olnrIent corps, division, and regmental COM
"SlR -You will cause your command to be
In readiness to march tomorrow morning at
three O'Clock, with forty rounds OF ball car.
fridge. None but commissary .sergeants will
be perml,ted to remain in camp
The Interpretation OF the above was an easy
matter 1t meant fight, and the night was
| speptthroughout in busy preparation for the
coz fi,ct that all knew would take place in the
morning. @ - ~
1twas arranged that Burnside's corps should
open the ball by applying the match to the fuse
chat lead to the mine under the rebel earth
works. Immediately after which the entire
line Of batteries should open fire for the pur-
poee Of demolis hing, IA possible, the other rebel
ltdoubts, and through the opening made by the
explos ion the colcred troops in Burnside's
corps should first charge, and the entire infan-
try lie massed close at hand, ready to make
general assault at any moment.
This programme is being faithfully carried
out. At three o'clock ppnctually everybody
" as on the Qui rive, and 1t then became known
for the first tnat mine was to be exploded.
Speculation was rife as to the effect that would
be produced by the ignition under ground of
such vast quantity of powder: An anxious
suspense ensued, which lasted until fifteen
m before n O'CLOCK vrhen a 1oud nOisa
was heard, and dense volume OF earth, of q
rich nut brown color, was thrown about one
tor moment In the air, then converting itself
into q volume OF lava, fell nto and around the
cavity it had been forced from like fountain
OF molten lead.
According to the programme, a terrific artil.
| leTy fire broke forth, which shook the ground
| around. Burneide's batteries were the first to
opel fire.; Warren's Fifth Corps pieces then
| spoke. followed by the guns Of Baldy Smiths
| now Ords Eighteenth Corps.
The noise was deafening. The rebel bate.
ries replied vigorously, and by little after
six O'clock, the entire line on either side was
| enveloped in cloud of smoke. An immense
| number Of shells burst in all directions many
! Of them high in the air, flash OF light and a
| large ball Of white smoke indicating the places
whence they exploded.
The rebels seem to have been taken COM
| pletely by surprise, both with regard to the
explosion and the attack Immediately follow
lbg it. They did not reply with vieor at fret,
| bDt lost no time in getting "their house in or
| der"
| 1t will be remembered that Hancock's corps.
the Second, left the front on "Wednesday night,
and after crossing the James, above Bermuda
Hundred, met with a rebel force at Malvern
Hill, captured four pieces OF artillery taken
| from our forces some time since, and quite
| number Of prisoners.
II vas thought by the uninitiated that i'm.
| ror1ant results might transpire from detach.
| ment Of Hancock's Corps from the army and
| its recrossing OF the James River, particularly
| as it lett shortly after Sherldan's cavalry had
| gone over the same road.
Subsequent events have proved that the
| movement which caused so much speculation
| was Simply diversion to bambooZe the en-
| emy; for after making the capture spoken Of
| snu after a considerable rebel force had been
| despatched from before Petersburg to watch
| Hancock's movements, thus greatly weakening
their lines, that General quietly slipped back
| to the Army Of the Potomac.
understand that Anderson's and Heath's
| divisions were detached from before Peters
| burg and sent to Richmond to look after Hau-
| cock, leaving A. p. Hills corps within the de-
| fenses at Petersburg.
| Notblpg can exceed the enthusiasm Of the
| men. The whole line of artillery, conn prising,
| prebably, two hundred guns, are constantly
| sending forth a sheet OF flame, with the ac-
compartment of shot, shell, etc; and the hu re
mortaIs, recently placed in position at diff
| ieIent points, are despatchng their terrible
| missiles OF destruction into the devoted rebel
| works.
BuIDside's line. That is the salient point.
| The main portion OF the infantry OF the differ
| ent corps are massed in his immediate rear,
and but enough left OF them along the line
Of batteries to support the same in case of an
| emergency.
So ibceEsapt has been the artillery firing that
| but little can be seen between the respective
| opposing forces in conseq uence Of the dense
| smoke.
At the present time, seven O'Clock, the firing
| has some hat moderated, and the wounded are
| being brought to the rear From the number
| already arrived, after so short q period of fight.
ing, am OF opinion that the loss on both sides
will be heavy.
| Later News.
QUARTER BEFORE EIGHT OCLoCK.-The
| cannon aiding, although not by any means dis.
| continued, is not as heavy as half hour ago,
| but the rapid and heretofore almost deafenlng
discharge OF musketry indicates thata vigorous
| assault is in progress.
| Except at the first days fight in the battle OF
| the Wilderness, have never witnessed more
| rapid or destructive discharges of small arms.
| 1t mainly proceeds from the direction OF Burn
sides line, and although the smoke hides much
| OF the scene, doubt not that the rebels expe-
| rience with Roderick Dhu, il they have any
| manhood in them, "the stern Joy which war.
riors feel in foemen worthy OF their STEEL"
| Still Later.
| EIGHT O'CLOCK a. M-The artillery has
aean broken ont with redoubled fury. A sec.
| ond does not elapse between each discharge of
| the heavy field pieces 1t Is maiuly from the
lett, and spirited reply is ELECTED from the
| rebels.
| HALF.PAsr EIGHT A. M-Gen. Sheridan's
entire cavalry corps can now be seen slo WY
| but steadily winding their way to the front
from the direction of City Point
| The long line of raiders, reaching over seve-
raj miles OF ground, present most imposing
| spectacle as they advance with the peculiar
abandon peculiar to our cavalry to take DO.
| sition, ready at moments notice to poance
| upon the enemy when the opportuns moment
batteries of flying artillery, which will shortly
be engaged .ET. y .rs