The National tribune., 1889-12-12
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE GREAT EXPLOSION.
The Terrible Disaster at City Point In 1854.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: OF all the in
eidents OF the war, aside from battle, none
were so disastrous, except the Sultana wreck,
near Vicksburg, as the explosion at City Point
W August, 1864.
IL was my lot to be one Of the comparatively
few who saw that terrific explosion at a safe
distance. When the Sixth Corps left the lines
in front Of Petersburg in July the hospital was
left behind. There were some 200 men, nurses,
Surgeons, eonvalescents etc, who constituted
what remained Of the hospital, and who were
daily expecting TO be sent 10 the Valley TO re-
join the corps, or 10 see the corps come march
ing back.
Aug. 9, 1864. just after the dinner hour, Il
was lighting my pipe filled with navy plug,)
. tremendous explosion was heard IN the
direction of the stcambOat-landing There
had been rumors for some days that the Rich
mond authorities were fitting out gunboat,
OF feet OF gunbOats. which were 10 be sent
against City Point. at that time Grants head
quarters and the depot of supplies for the
Army Of the Potomac, and where immense
quantities OF army supplies were stored.
The air 10 an immense hight was filled with
exploding shells, and great cloud OF smoke
hung over the Point. Soon reports Of the dam
age done began 10 arrive. The hospital of the
Sixth Corps being, rs those who remember CITY
Point As il was in 1864. some distance south of
the corral used for mules, and some three
quarters Of mile from the landing.
The trouble came from some bargcs loaded
with exed ammunition. which were being un-
loaded at the wharf and il was supposed that
in passing up a percussion shell one OF the men
dropped II, and il exploded, and il communi-
Gated with the rest Of the cargo. causing the de-
struction. Whether the actual number of kill
ed aud wounded was ever ascertained or not
never learned. The Washington Chronicle of
the llth gives the killed az 30 and the wound
cd af al ~
makes the loss larger. A new warehouse 500
feet long was entirely wrecked and the tim
bers and contents scattered over mile-squarc
Of ground.
Paris Of gun-csrriages, shot and shell were
hurled around Gen. Grants headquarters aud
two Of the cavalry guard were killed and Serg't
Murphy, Of headquarters, seriously injured
train OF cars, ready 10 start for the front, was
wrecked. and four or five Of the passengers were
killed. The Sutler tents, soda water shanties,
etc, on the wharf were entirely destroyed,
and their occupants mostly killed.
To those unacquainted with the ground il is
necessary TO explain that a few rods from the
river was high bluff, rising perpendicularly
probably 90 or 3 feet, which was all that pre-
vented an appalling loss Of life.
From badly-dilapidated piece OF the Wash
lngtOn Chronicle, which sent home at the time,
! take the following names:
Capts. Benedict and Ames, OF the Commissary
department. were buried IN tie RUNS. ana eN-
tTicated alive after several hours. Capt Dan'l
). Wiley struck in the head by piece of shell.
dis cleTk, J. W. Mckee, severely wounded; can
not recover. A. NJ. Baxter, Cold Springs, n. Y,
killed Priyates Ansel and Metcalf, 9Th Cav,
killed Serg't Harris Ordnance Office, killed;
Lieut. Lane and citizen named Wright. iniur-
ed; James Ihorp, clerk, and Richard Stone,
killed; NJ. Fay, Of the Sanitary Commission,
injured; Ars. Spencer. Relief Agent. hurt. The
ls5th Ohio (hundred-days mem, Goth aud 26th
y. \, both lost men in killed and injured.
The old scrap Of newspaper contains dis
patch from Memphis stating that Gen. Sl0cum
bad been relieved and ordered to report 10 Gen
Sherman; that zoo rebel prisoners had arrived
at Point Lookout, and the Hon. J. @. Blaine
bad been nominated for Congress from the
Second Maine District; that the Indians were
troublesome again, numbering unarmed set
tiers; aud First Lieut. +. V. Wilson, Co. II, 39th
Wis. warns young ladies of the North against
writing letters 70 soldiers with whom they have
no acquaintance.
II any Of the boys who were at City Point in
the Sixth Corps hospital when that hospital
WAS broken up are still on earth, would like
very much 70 hear from any Of them. / only
remember few names: A. IL Skinner, First
Brigade band, aud Geo. Riddle drummer, Of a
Pennsylvania regiment, and a Nurse
Potter, Co. L, Ilth VT, Grinnell, Iowa.