New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-15
The Petersburg ninc-Lesier from Con-
Led1ie.
To the Editor efae NJ Y. 7ribpn.

The Petersburg mine-Letter from Con.
Ledlie.
To the Editor efMe NJ Y. TSIbuna
SIR: In your issue OF tho 2d inst. You pub
shed synopis Of the report Of tho Court OF Inquiry
on the Petersburg Mine In which ] among others was
censured.
Tho first knowledge that had that tho Court OF In
quiry ordered to investigate the circumstances attend
ing the attack Petersburg bad made report. was
derived from resume OF the report published In the
newspapers Immediately wrote TO the Secretary of
War letter. Of which the following Is copy
"wILLAnDs IlorKI. WASHINGTON, March Q. 1868.
Hon. Z. NJ. STANTON, Secretary Of Var
SR: Onhs 10th day Of January 1853 forwarded to Jon
my resignation Bhsadie General Of Volunteers; did 80
In ignorance OF the fact that Court Of Inquiry ordered TO
investigate the circumstances OF tho late attack Peters
burg had made report rejecting my conduct In that
attack Tho first information that received that such
report had made derived from what puports to be
OF the report published 6t this mornings Ha'sns0H
Chyone In order that my reputation " an ohcef may 10
relieved from the uputstions most Justly cast upon oy
this report mort respectfully ask leave to withdraw my
and Of Inquiry may be ordered to in
my individual conduct the occasion referred TO-
g. have the honor to be, very respectfully &c, &C.
JANIS H. LEDIJE'
This request was refused.
on my own behalf before any proper tribunal upon the
question Of my individual conduc, at Petersburg.
deem it not improper therefore, TO vindcate myself
from the reflections which have been cast upon ny con-
duct when in command Of division at Petersburg.
The Court Of Inquiry whose report has been published
was so far as was concerned, purely 1 pdrfe affair
Neither Of ny Brigade Commanders were summoned
before the Court TO my knowledge and only one Of my
,.so Cav Durns sid nrpfgStet against the
Of the Court and endeavored to have 1t
composed Of officers WHO not attached to the
Army Of tho Potomac and who had not been selected
BY G en- Meade His protest was disregarded and the
Cont was ordered to proceed in its inquiry. Suisse
quent 10 the institution of this Court the Joint Commit
tee OF Congress on the Conduct Of the War was
directed ito inquire into and report the facts concern
ing the attack on Petersburg" or this committee 1t
can at least be said that it impartial At the close
Of their report they say "ihey wish TO be distinctly
understood that they no degree the conduct
OF the troops engaged in tho assault and they bestow
proper commendatlon upon the Ninth Corps-in which
Ind the honor to command the First Division.
Lieut. Chas. q. LoTing Asst Inspector General
OF the Ninth Corps summoned before this Commit.
tee but was not before the Court Of Inquiry He test
fed as follows: At about half past o'clock In the
morning Of the 3Oth July) went with Gen. Lcdie
down to the iront line and took our position very
near the linz. close IN the oft, with his division.
and waited for the mine 10 explode. There was delay
perhaps Of Of an hour 10 the explosion OF
the mine hut do not think that the enemy discovered
az all that we had made any unusual preparations As
soon rs the explosion took place tho division started 70
20 in The first brigade hat went in started from our
line IN three lines with Instructions TO the brigade com
nanders push at opce to the top Of Cemetery h
Tho crater presented obstacle o. eafini magnitude
suppose II was holo OF about -OO feet In Length, and
perhaps 80 90 feet IN idth ard nearly 80 Feet In
depth The sides Of It composed Of Jagged masses
Of clay projecting loose sand The upper surface
Lad been Of sasd with lower stratum OF clay IL wa
an obstacle which was impossible for any military or
eAnznon TO pass over intact. II not exposed to
fire The whole brigade was broken up in ooafusion,
and had utterly lost organization. The officers were
sndesvoring to reform their but II was a. erceed
ingly difficult operation remained there for about ten
minutes by that time the rest ofhe division Ind come
p and the whole Of The First Division vas In the crater
OF liner Immediately adjoining 1t WIS all In The sam'
confused condition.
NV ut back 10 report 10 Gen. Ledhe the CONDITION
nj, division was in and to see II he could not recty It,
then ven, up and told Gen. Burnside the state Of
affairs. From tia; time forward my position was very
near Gen Ledlie in own front line
On reeei, az the report from Col Loring. mmedi'
ev is,ued The proper orders, and took tho necessary
,,ep. for relic, ing tie confused condition of the division
TN perfectly willing that tho record Of my coIdueI
should stand upon this sworn statement made by Col
Iorlng, with tie simple addition Of the fact that my
fe WA, saved on that occasion only because the ball
which struck my person had not force enough to pene
tra,o nv watch was stunned end temporarily injured
by the force Of the ball ard then for the first time re-
tired to regimerta headquarters, which wero being
used as hospital. stayed there but few minutes
and then returned 20 my post, whore renamed unth
we received orders to withdraw.
respectfully ask you to give this letter the same
pubcity M you did 10 the report OF the Court OF III
qulry. lonrs tiuy' oAhi7 L. A''
Eep- York, March l3 1865.