The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-20
PETERSBURG.
The Battle OF the Mine.

To THE EDITOR: The mine explosion was
very unfortunate affair and great disappOint-
ment to US, knowing as we did the great
preparations made for it, occupying nearly
month. All participators in this fiasco now
living, WILL no doubt, agree with me- when l
state that for the ground covered, there were too
many Generals and by far too many men. 1t
was close in mass TO a certainty. The mix
ing of companies and regiments caused great
confusion some companies, besides the front
and rear rank, had extra rear ranks extending
down the hill behind the enemy's earthworks.
When l took my company in had about Az
men. l took out more than 80, which is some
what remarkable, when it is expected company
will always come out of battle with depleted
ranks. / had some Bucktais, few of the
Roundheads (100th Pa. J, and others distinguish
able by the figures on their caps, but we were
all one when we came to retreat. The enemy
had recaptured part of their lines, were after
us, and our only thought was to scramble back
over our breastworks fast as possibly could.
First we went down hill, then over a ravine,
then through few stumps and underbruSh up
hill to our rife-pits. At an elevation just dis
cernible by the enemy, there it was we re-
ceived a heavy fire from them, and as the bull
lets whizzed by thick and fast it was every
man for hmself-some fairly rolling over the
earthworks into our lines. Some, untortun-
ately, were slain while in the act of leaping
over; their bodies lying on top and hanging
over our rif1e-pits. One poor fellow was shot
down Just before l leaped over. l leave it to
the Imagination of others, if it is necessary, to
state we were all more than thankful to get
back
The unfortunate part of the conflict at one
point of the line was the position or more
regiments of colored troops were placed In on
the extreme right of the Crater. After the
earthworks were captured and the colored
troops were ordered ill., they were sent over the
breastworks and were obliged to fire at the
enemy having only the ditch for shelter, that
being level with the ground As they received
the fire of the enemy from their front, our bril-
gade was better protected, and firing from the
rear over their heads so as to send III double
volleys, sent CONSERVATION through the ranks
of the colored men enough to make the stout
est heart quail. That they were justified in
leaping over the breastworks and rushing for
the rear, as We all did, no one will for mo-
ment doubt Many brave deeds were that day
witnessed, as mentioned by your correspondent.
As an individual instance | inclose you
copy of the letter from Confederate officer to
the New York Herald, whose allusion to my
beloved cOmrade, Capt. Sam'l III. Sims, of Co.
G, 5lst n. Y, speaks only in part the worth of
a gallant officer honored and respected by our
whole regiment. This letter was written just
after the election of Gen. Garfield, and the
sword referred to is now the property of the
only daughter of Capt. Sims and held in trust
by the veterans Of the 18th National Guard, of
Brooklyn, with whom he went to the front
during their three months compaign:
At the battle of the Mine, at Petersburg 1864 /
was Captain of CO. l. Eth S. c., and in this desper-
ate and-to-hand fight. a Capt. Sims, of New
York regiment Il think from BROOKLYN, he
mounted the breastworks Immediately before my
company, was killed by Serg't LaMotte. Capt.
Sims's sword has since been in my possession
and have frequently thought of returning it. for
it should be possessed by his family as glorious
heirloom of the soldier whose conduct on this occa-
sion was as heroic as ever illustrated any battle
field
Now, when half the North and the whole South
are united in their efforts to bury anmosities of
the past by electnga Federal General to the Pres-
dency, who will know North South in the
administration of the Government, it would be
nnpariotic in me to retain any longer this relic of
the war know no surer means of discovering
the address of some relative of Capt. Sims than
through the columns of the Herald. BY publish
ing this you will probably confer a great favor
the family of a gallant Federal whose name they
would not willingly let die.
JAMES F. STEELE,
Cureton's Store, Lancaster Co., S. @.
Lieut.-Col. Peasants's account of the con-
structlon of his mine, as given in his report, is
very interesting. He was obliged to carry out
the earth in cracker boxes, and to cut down
bushes to cover it from the sight of the enemy
He could not obtain theodolite without send
ing to Washington, although there was a very
good one at the Headquarters of the Army. The |
excavation was ventilated by means of a tube |
taken from rebel bridge and a saw mill some |
five or six miles distant. The ground through |
which the mine was dug was in some places |
very wet and difficult to work At one time |
the timber gave way and the gallery was nearly |
closed. When this was repaired and the work |
was carried forward, the soldiers were obliged |
to excavate a stratum of mari very hard to |
manage. Col. Peasants then ran an inclined |
plane, rising 131 feet in hundred The tim |
bers to prop the mine were previously prepared |
and put up by hand, without noise of hammer |
or tool. The picks were the common army |
picks Strengthened for use. The mine was thus |
built in less than one month after the begin |
ming was made. The whole amount of material |
excavated was $4,000 cubic feet. The maya
zines were placed exactly underneath the enc
my's fort. The soldiers below could hear the |
soldiers above at their daily drill and work.
CHAs. w. WALTON, Capt, Co. E, 51st N. Y.