The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-10
THE FIGHT or THE CRATER.
A Well Planned scheme ThaFProved
Disastrous TO the FedcraIs.
From the Boston Globe.

From the Boston Globe
July 30. 1864, just thirty-one years ago.
an engagement took place in front Of
Petersburg, Va, In which the losses in
killed and wounded on the union side, in
proportion to the number of troops par
ticipatlng. were probably greater than in
any other battle during the civil war.
The point of attack was the center of the
confederate line, nearly In front Of the
city of Petersburg, and the blowing up Of
fort in the main line of intrenchments
of the confederates was the only success
full part of the movement
The plan Of undermining this fort was
suggested by Lieut.. Col. Henry Peasants
of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania infan-
try, a mining engineer of reputation In
the coal regions In the vicinity OF Potts
Vile, Penn. The scheme, when submitted
to the engineer corps Of the regular army,
was rdiculed, but Col Peasants con-
WINGED Gen. Burnside Of its practicability,
and the commander of the Ninth army
corps, to which the Fortyeighth Penn
sylvania was attached. obtained permls-
sion from Gems. Grant and Meade to al
low the work to proceed.
The rank and file of the Pennsylvania
regiment, intrusted with the duty, was
principally composed of miners, and Sc
lecting skilled men, Col. Peasants pro-
ceeded with the enterprise. So great was
the opposition TO the scheme among the
engineer corps that It was with great DIFF
6culty that the colonel could procure
necessary tools, and he even had to send
to Washington TO borrow an old theodo-
lite.
beginning in a valley in the rear " the
Union lines, where the Norfolk and Pc
tersburg railroad now runs. an excavation
was made from which, as 1t progressed,
the earth was removed in cracker boxes.
In about three weeks the Job was COM
pIeted. and a large cavity existed UNDER
meath the doomed fort. In the meantime
the confederates had learned that some
thing OF the kind had been undertaken.
and although they countermined in sew
eral directions, failed to strike the objec-
tive point.
Eight tons Of powder were placed in the
eight chambers under the fort, and prep
aration made for the occupation of Pc
tersburg The division commanders or
the Ninth corps drew lots 10 see who
should lead the advance after the mine
had been sprung, and the selection fell to
Gen Ledlie an unfortunate choice, as a
subsequent investigation proved, as either
of the other three general officers, said
the commission which made the inquiry,
The time selected for the explosion was
al daylight on the morning OF July 30,
1884 and on the day previous Gen. Grant.
by moving the Second and sixth corps
in the direction OF Richmond, had COM
PEELED Gen. Lee TO withdraw large part
of the front at Petersburg.
The work Of Col. Peasants proved a
great success, and just as day was break
ing an indescribable mass OF earth, tim
Der. cannon, and men was hurled high IN
10 the air, while the ground Tor mile
away vibrated from the explosion.
Almost Instantly all the artillery which
could command that position OF the con-
federate nne--ii0 guns and 30 mortars-
Numbered away, and only at Gettysburg.
Just before Pickett's famous charge did
the soldiers Of the Army OF the Potomac
ever listen 70 such terrific cannonade.
IN the midst Of this thunder the Ninth
corps advanced and had no difficulty IN
occupying the confederate line, as far on