The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-07
The Failure Before Pstersbu.s sn.Sune
Last.

Tho Committee on the Conduct OF tho War, through
Senator Wade, tho chairman made report to-day rea
tive to tho failure OF the attack the enemys lines
before Petersburg appears that the explosion Of the
mine under Of tho enemys batteries tho sugges
ton Of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Peasants the Forty
eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers and tho mining mainly
the work Of his regiment commenced on the 2Sth Of
June with the approval Of Gen. Burnside, and finished
on tho 2od es July. Colonel Peasants labsred under
Disadvantages which would have deferred man Of less
energy and determination.
On the 18th Of July plan OF attack was submitted TO
General Meade by General Burnside, who proposed 70
place two brigadcs Of coored troops who had been drill
ing with reference 70 the attack weeks In the ad
vance Of tina attacking column General Meade objected
not becausshe believed they would not dohsr duty AZ
der nre Tho matter referred to General Grant, who
decided that white troops should lead the assault He
his colorsd division in front, and l believe II he
had done % II would have been sscccss-Stin
agreed with General Meade In his objection TO that plan
General Meade said that We put the ooored troops In
front-w3 had only that division-and II II should
prove failure, would then be said very properly that
because did mot care anything absuA them; but that
could not DO said we put white troops in 'front.' Tho
order fer the Pnsng Of the mine and mode Of attack
The report gives the history ohs attack, showing that
General Burnside received persnpsory order At
70 teHA NJ TO withdraw his troops and that Burnside
laboFed 10 induce General Meade 10 rescind the order
believing that success would crown the effort IL per
severed In. There 10 difference between the testimony
Of Me two generals on this point General Meade testify
Ing that General Burnside authorized exercise his
judgment in tho withdrawal IN reply 70 a question
ssked by the committee why he could not get better in
strments Colonel Peasants replied General Burnside
told General Meade ana Major Duane the Chief Engi-
ncer Of the Army Of the Potomac, said the thing could
not be done that II an claprsp and that
such length Of mining hsd never been executed In mill
tary operations and could be- General Burnside
was the only officer Of high rank who favored the mine
The committee canset nom all the testimony avoid
the conclusion that tho rst and great Of the dsAs
ter the change madc the afternoon preceding the
attack In the Arrangement Of General burnside % place
the division Of colored troops In the advance The
assigned by General Burnside for taking Of
his divisions OF white troops for that purpose fully
S , py sne ~. 10 sns me conouc, o. tnc
70 fully justify the confidence thss General Burnside
posed In them; and General Grant himself in his tcsti
mony expresses his belief that " they had placed
In the ADVANCE General Burnside desired assault
would have been successful
II win DO seen the committee say from the testimony
that whom the order TO withdraw given by General
Meade against the representations OF General burnside
orders were also given by General Meade for offensive
operations 70 cease on the right Of General Burnsdes
withdrawn from the position where they had been placed
In support Of the Ninth corps General Grant attributes
the DISASTROUS result In greater or less degree TO tho
troops being unaccompanied BY any Of the division
mandens In conclusion the committee report that, In
their opinion the OF the disastrous result Of the
assault Of the 30th Of July last Ia mainly attribute
Of the general who had devoted his attention for long
time 70 the subject who had carried out 10 successful
completion the project Of mining The enemy's works,
and who had carefully selected and drilled bis troops for
tho purpose Of receiving whatever advantages might b
atalnabe from the explosion Of the mine should have
been entirely dIsregarded by general who had evncsd
faith In the successful prosecution OF that work he'd
aided by countenancs or open approval and had
sumed the entire direction and control only when We
completed and The time had come for reaping any ID
vantagcs that might be derived from H.