The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-01-29
EXPLOSION OF CONFEDERATE
FORT AT PETERSBURG, VA.
(wRIrrEN FOR TUE BOLIVAR BULLETIN

July WClS oPeIC Wy Cu0 OOll-
federate army in strengthens
ing it's position around Peters
burg, yet there was sharp
skirmishes going on nearly
every day.
At one point the two lines
of entertainments were within
one hundred and fifty yards
of each other and at that
point the Confederates had a
very strong fort, which was
secured against capture.
just behind this fort, how
ever, was an important ridge
that commanded the city, and
a considerable portion of the
southern line. In this emer=
gency General Burnside pro
posed to excavate a mine un-
der this fort, and by explod-
ing it, make a break in the
Confederate line, through
which a powerful storming
party should enter, and take
possession of the works. If a
successful Judgment could be
made, it would result in the
capture of the city and the
defeat of Lees army.
This mine business was to
have been kept a profound
secret, yet Gen. Lee knew Of
it, and it was whispered along
our lines all the while. Of
course we did not know when
it would be completed. The
work was pushed forward,
and by the 18th of July the
mine was in readiness.
Twelve thousand pounds
of powder were placed in it
>onrthe 2Ah, and everything
was.prepared for the grand
assault, which was appointed
for the Both of July. The
enemy's movements on the
night of the Doth aroused
General Lees suspicious,
and at two o'clock on the
morning Of the Both, he in
formed his commanders that
the enemy intended an at
tack at some point Of the line.
In consequence of this warm
ing, the army was prepared
for instant action. On the
morning of the Both July the
mine was exploded. l was
about 3 miles from the ex=
plosion, asleep. The report
was terrific and the whole
earth seemed to be in motion.
The fort was literally blown
in the air, and a break was
made in the southern line
thirty or forty yards wide.
The fort was held by Pc
grams battery of four guns.
The explosion overturned the
guns, and killed and wound
ed several of the gunners.T The
site of the fort was converted
into a huge crater one huns
dred and fifty feet long, SIX
ty-five feet wide, and from
twenty five to thirty feet
deep. The troops in the i'm
mediate vicinity were consid-
erably demoralized by the
sudden and appalling ex-
plosion. Before the smoke
had foated away every gun
along the Federal line was
opened in a furious cannOn-
ade, and at the same time
one division of Burnside's
corps emerged from the Fed
eral works, dashed across the
intervening space, and enter
ed the crater. Had they ad-
vanced beyond this they
might have carried the line,
for the Confederates had not
yet recovered from their sur
prise. To the astonishment
of every one, however, they
huddled into the crater, aud
sought shelter there and be-
hind the breast-works. TAX
ing advantage of this delay,
the Confederates rapidly e.
gained their self-possession,
and with admirable discipline
formed on The right and left
of the gap. General A. p.
Hill directed Gen. Malone to
bring up his division, (the
one to which belonged) and
drive the enemy back to their
own line. Gen. Burnside
finding that his white troops