The National tribune., 1904-07-14
ing column, (9) and the advance was made
slowly and stragglingly.

THE CRATER.
On reaching the site Of the fort, it was
found to have been converted by the explo-
sion into a huge crater 100 feet long, 20
feet wide, and from 25 to 80 deep. Here
the assaulting column sought shelter,
though there was nothing to prevent its
rushing forward and crowning the crest; ;
remained inactive for above half an hour.
Portions of the other two divisions, under
Gems. Potter and Wilcox, then advanced,
but they also huddled into the crater, or
sought cover behind the breastworks, which
had been vacated by the enemy for 200 or
300 yards to the right and left of the mine.
Here the troops of the several divisions
becoming mixed up, scene of disorder and
confusion commenced, which seems to have
continued to the end Of the, operations. (1O)
In the meantime the enelRs, raIlying from
the confusion incident to the explosion, be-
gan forming his infantry in ravine to
the right and planting his artillery both on
the right and left of the crater. Seeing
this one of the division commanders, Gen.
Potter, made praisewOrthy effort to ex-
tricate himself from the disgraceful coil.
and charged toward the crest; but, owing
to want of support, he was compelled to
fall back. 1t was now a. ln.. more than
two hours after Ledlie occupied the crater,
yet he made no advance himself, and OBJ
structed the efforts of other officers. In
this state of facts, the more troops that
were thrown in. the worse was the cOnfu-
sion: yet Gen. Burnside threw. forward the
black division to essay an assault. Pass
ing beyond the crater, the eolored troops
made an advance toward the crest, when,
encountering fire of artillery and infan-
try, they retiredin great disorder through
the troops in the crater, and back to the
original lines. CD After .fhe repulse Of
the colored division, all senlblance of often
sive efforts ceased; blacks and whites tum-
bled peli-nell into the hollow of the ex-
ploded earthworks--a sla,lghter-pen in
which shells and bombs, rained from the
enemys lines, did fearful havoc. (12) Fail
ing to advance, it soon proved almost
equally difficult to retreat, though par
ties Of los and 2O's, crawling out. ran back
as best they could. The enemy then made
A second assault, however, shook the dis
jointed structure of the bapless mass
which. without head or direction. obeyed
the instinct of sauve qui peut Above 4 900
were killed or captured. Thus ended what
Gen. Grant Justly called this miserable
affair" in which, if success promised re-
suits OF the first Importance IL would be
difficult to say that the preparations were
OF character to insure success. (13)
LEES DIVERSION.
In the threatening attitude maintained
by Grant, there was one move open to
Lee that promised, for time at least, to
relieve the pressure on his beleaguered
lines. This was to make diversion in
favor of his own army by such a menace
against Washington as would compel Grant
TO part with SO much of the Army of the
Potomac that offensive operations against
Petersburg must cease. This measure was
now adopted by Lee
The execution of this project was facili-
tated not only by the fact that the posi-
ton of the Army of the Potomac south
of the James completely uncovered Wash.