The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-01

nccordingly fixed for III. Tle programmes
outlined FOR. the occasion is interesting.
and the proverbial hospitality OF the
Gockade city may be confidently relied
upon So we cannot but predict that both
old and young who attend Will have a.
day Of enjoyment.
Tho mine was exploded about 4:42 A. M.
on July 90, 1861, Ice was then confronting
Grant before Richmond and Petersburg.
The better TO serve his purpose Grant
had made formidable movements of
troops on tho north side Of the James,
and to offset tliem Lee had shifted many
OF his brigades from Petersburg to this
side OF the James,. And SO tho Confcder-
ates had only about 1900 soldiers In and
around Petersburg on the day In question,
while 5000 Federals we're Mt hand under
Meade and Burnside to be used. II needed,
in tho attack ON Petersburg. 1t nap
pcned, however, that the greater NUM-
Der OF them were not brought into ac-
ton: the way not having beef, opened
for them by their charging columns, as
had been planned.
Tho mine was constructed under the i'm.
mediate supervision Of General Pleason-5
ton. Practically speaking, 1t was n tunnel
dug from the Federal to the Confederate
line. and was oil feet in length. 1t was
SO located that the work upon it--neces-
sarlly slow-could DO done without the
knowledge OF the Confcderates. The Con-
federates. however. had some linking OF
the design OF the enemy, and accordingly
they countermlned to some extent, but tliis
countermining was aftor while discon-
unued owing to the arduous services lnitne
trenches demanded OF the Confederate
troops. and the lack Of proper TOOLS.
When finished the mine or tunnel tcrn1i-s
mated beneath what was called Elltotts sa-
lent, and deep down in the ground were
placed $50 Kegs. 900 pounds OF gunpow-
der-which. when fired, uplifted a great
mass OF EARTH and killed the sleeping gar
rison, consisting of ZIG men,
The explosion made an opening in the
earth where the salient had been, 1s5 feet
long, 81 feet broad and from Is to 80
feet deep, with sloping sides The shock
was so great that 1t was felt for miles
around.
The Confederate lines for some distance
to the right and left were. of course.
thrown into confusion, and the charging
column OF the Federals though in for
nation in ravine and ready to make
an advance. was thrown into such tumult
that it did not move for ten minutes.
The Federal plan was to follow up the
explosion by sending forward through
the gap thus made In the Confederate
lines. column after column of Infantry
They believed they would have little
opposition and they schemed to rush for
ward to Cemetery Hill and seize the city.
So far their plan had succeeded very
well. Now almost innumerable mortars
and pieces Of artillery on the Federal
side bclched forth shot and shell on the
Confederate lines in order to cover the
advance Of their Infantry divisions. The
start across the field was made. The first
column might have easily passed through
our broken works. and 80. indeed. might
the second. but both went forward with
out spirit and hesitatingly and both
sought shelter In the Crater" They fear
ed hot reception; should they 80 far.
Their. a tnlrdsiine PASSED beyond the Crater,
but the Cohefede rates had by that time
rallied. and drove 1t back with severe
loss Then tho blacks of Ferreros divi-
sion were rushed forward only to be
hurled back in disorder.
Meanwhile the Crater-that horrid pit
hole In the ground-was rammed and
crammed with those Federals who had
foolishly sought shelter there. Into this
trap of their own setting. thousands met
their death. Field pieces. mortars, rifle
shots and bayonets. all, were used upon
them. Al last the Confederates' line hav-
ing been cleared of all the enemy who
had advanced, an order was given to
cease firing, and the men in the Crater
hotsted white flag and surrendered.
There was much glory won that day
by Mahone's Brigade and by other troops
from Virginia and othor States. AS a
consequence, Malone was promoted from
brigadier-g general to major-general: Wesi-
ger. from colonel to brigadicr- general.
and Girardey. from captain on. Malone s
staff to acknowledgement,
This victory greatly elated tho Confed-
crates, while the Fedcrals We're cores
| pondingly depressed by it. General Grant.
who had mover boon much in favor of 1t
characterized It as miserable Federal
failure. and we'll he might, for he lost
5000 men there. including l.10o prisoners
| The affair became the subject of a con-
| gresionul investigation at Washington. In
which there was much elimination and
recrimination. General Laldlie, who wa
In command OF the first charging col
umn was made the chief scapegoat of the
occasion. Ills conduct was described as
i cowardly In tho extreme.