The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-18
FIGHT AT THE CRATER.
THE PETERSBURG NINE BLOWN UP
THIRTY-ONE TEARS AGO.
Union Army Promising scheme That Enc
ed In Disastrous Fsilure-Generai
Mahone's Quick Work.


proportion TO the number Of troops par
ticlpatlng, were probably greater than In
any other single battle during the eva
war
The point OF attack was the centre OF
the Confederate line, nearly in front OF
the city OF Petersburg. ana the blowing ~
OF fort In the main line OF intrench-
ments OF the Confcderates was the only
successful rart Of the NJ ment.
The plan OF undermining this fort was
suggested by Lieut. Gel. Henry Peasants,
OF the FOrty-eighth Pennsylvania Infant
~. mining engineer of reputation I'm the
coal regions In the vicinity Of Pottsvile,
Penn. The scheme. when submitted TO
the Engineer Corps OF the regular army.
was ridiculed. but Col. peasants con-
WINGED Gen. Burnside Of its practicability,
and the Commander Of the Ninth Army
Corps. to which the Forty-eighth Penn.
sylvania was attached. obtained permis-
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, end. se-
ietting skilled men, Col. Peasants pro-
ceeded with the enterprise. So great was
the opposition TO the scheme among the
Engineer Corps that Il was with great
necessary tools, and he even had 70 send
10 Washington to borrow en- old theod-
Olto.
Beginning in a valley in the rear OF tho
Union lines, where the Norfolk and PEI
tersburg railroad now runs. an excavation
was made from which, as Il progressed,
the earth was removed I'm cracker boxes.
In about three weeks the job was COM
pleted and large cavity existed UNDER
.,...l In ~
time the Confederates had learned that
something Of the kind had been under
taken. and although they countermlned
in several directions, failed 10 strike the
objective point
Eight tons OF powder were placed In
the eight chambers under the fort, and
preparation made for the occupation OF
Petersburg. The division commanders
of the Ninth Corps drew lots 10 see who
should lead the advance after the mIno
had been sprung, and the selection fell
to Gen. Ledle, an unfortunate choice.
as a subsequent investigation proved. as
either Of the other three general officers,
said the commission which made the In
qury, would probably have been success
ful.
The time selected for the explosion was
at daylight on the morning of July -,
1861, and on the day previous Gen. Grant,
by moving the Second and Sixth Corps
in the direction OF Richmond. had COM
PEELED Gen. Lee 10 withdraw a large part
of the Army of Northern Virginia from
the front at Petersburg.
The work OF Col. Peasants proved
great success. ana just as day was break
ing an Undesirable mass Of earth. TIM
Der, cannon. ana men was hurled nigh INTO
the air. while the ground FOR mile away
vibrated from the explosion.
Almost instantly all she artillery which
could command that position OF the Con-
foCerate line-ii0 guns and % mortars--
Numbered away, and only az Gettysburg.
just before PioSetts famous charge. did
| the soldiers OF the Army Of the Potomac
ever listen " such a terrific cannonade.
In the midst Of this thunder the Ninth
Corps advanced and had no difficulty In
occupying the Confederate line. az FAR On
the right and left the soldiers OF that
army had fed when the exposion oc-
Cured. not knowing in what direction
new danger might be expected.
Their fright was not OF long duration,
however. and they soon returned 10 their
positions and Opened deadly flank fire GA
their opponents. who, instead OF pushing
forward after the breach had been made.
were huddled together In the crater ana
the earthworks surrounding II.
1t was IN this emergency that Gen. VIII
liam Malone showed his soldierly instinct
and won the extra star which gave him
the rank of Major General In the abb
sence OF Gen. Lee and other superior
officers Gen. Malone found himself for
the time being I'm command OF the Army
Of Virginia, and he proved equal 10 tho
duties imposed upon him.
When he realized the situation from
his position at a considerable distance on
the right from where the disaster oc-
Cured. he ordered Lis Virginia and t'lori-
da brigades in,o line. and hastily marched
them 10 the,scene Of operations. The Gem
oral was at the head Of his men. and
when be Jumped out OF the trench ho
found himself only about go feet from
the Union troops. and facing what SEEM
Ell instant death.
Years afterwafd, when standing AT the
place where Gen. Malone left the trench.
he described the situation 20 the writer
as follows.
"When / found myself face 10 faco
with your men. so close that | could
almost distinguish the color of their eyes.
my heart almost went into my mouth. as
l expected my last day had come.
I'm few seconds. finding that | was
stll alive. came 20 the conclusion thN
your men were I'm confusion and hastily
counting the battle flags and knowing the
number OF men they represented, l knew
that / was right and acted Immediately.
Il ordered my Virginia brigade OUT OF
the trench and gave an order 10 charge.
which they did with a yigor that never
saw cquallcd on any field, and driving the
Union troops from their position. regain
ed what we had lost and again united
the Confederate line
Such, In brief, IS the history OF a WELL
planned and poorly executed movement,
resulting in the loss Of many killed and
a large number OF wounded men. about
1000 in all. who lay between the two
lines I'm hot July sun, and who did not
receive proper attention until a nag OF
truce was recognized twcnty-four hours
later
About the only thing remaining to-day
Of the massive lines OF oarthworks which
encirclcd Petersburg. and extended for
more than twenty niles. - the crater"
which is an object OF great interest to
visitors on account o; the :oycl part II
played IN the war OF the rebellion.
Every soldier IN the Ninth Corps knew
the trouble with Gen. Lcilie on that day,
which was the primary cause Of the stu
pondous failure" as Gen. Grant called II,
but few ever took such charitable view
OF his condition % did Gen. Grant. who.
in his Memoirs, said:
"Lednc. besides being otherwise ineffl-
Client, proved also 10 possess disqsalihca-
ton less common among soldiers. "-Bos-