The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-24
ANECDOTES OF THE ARMY
IN BATTLE OF THE CRATER
Springfield Republican Tells Interesting Stories
on Occasion Of Visit of Confederate
Veterans There.

started in May, 1864, when General
Grant ordered General Butler then
commanding the Army of the James,
to cross to the south side OF the river
and march north on Richmond. On
June 8 Butler ordered Generals Gil
moro. kautz and Kinks to capture Pc.
tershurg. but though they made the
attempt, and Kautz. with his cavalry,
reached nearly UP to the city water
works, the assault was repealed Tho
attacking force numbered about $500
whereas that of the defenders Is va
Ilously estimated at about $500 IN
1antry. with some cavalry and NUM-
Der of reserves and militia. command
ed by Col. Fletcher II Archer. Colonel
Archer was always careful about his
men. and always tried to keep them
from any unnecessary exposure.
.~he-eas ne himself was most reckless.
But one OF his men, after an attack
had been repulsed, jumped on the
breastworks, waving his blanket. ana
dared the Federals TO come on again
Captain E. Q. Hinton, of Petersburg.
tells a story on Thomas II. Campbell.
q Confederate civil officer, who made
a rather big boast before the attack
OF June 2, AIR Campbell, didn't be-
lieve II possible that the Union army
could be near. and he Dragged with
great emphasis. Gentlemen. give me
q brigade OF $500 men, and ! Will obli.
gate myself 70 drive every Yankee this
side OF City Point into the James Rive:
before sunset this evening" His assoc
clates irnme Giately replied that such an
opportunity was not to be lost, and
that they surely ought to try 10 raise
his 500 men. Just at that moment
Ctway P. Hare rusned into the store
and announced the Yankees approach.
Mr. Campbell immediately disappeared
The repulse of kaurz left Peters
burg safe for little longer, But Gen
eral Grant, after his heavy losses in
his campaign from the Wilderness 70
Cold Harhcr. moved 10 the south. and
in person brought large army
against Petersburg On June is. 1854
an assault was planned. but owing &c
misunderstanding between Grant
Meade, Hancock and smith. 1t was
failure Had IL been successful
the long siege would have been avoid
ed. On the 10th. 18th and 18th other
assaults followed. but by that time
The Concentrates had intrenched them.
selves securely. and repulsed all at
tacks. The Union army then threw ur
strong works. and proceeded TO try to
destroy all communications from the
South. but in this they We're not en-
tirely successful.
III tNe IallST part Oh uIS
ant-rolonel Peasants, of the Forty
eighth Pennsylvania. suggested plan
which was carried out later. and
which was one of the most spectacular
features of the entire war. It was
to build q. mine under a part of the
Confederate redoubts. This was com.
pleted on July %. 1t consisted OF {
main gallery 511 feet long, with two
lateral galleries 81 and aS feet long
In these galleries eight magazine:
were placed. of 1000 pounds of pow
der each.
The Exploding of the Mine.
On the Goth at 4:4o in the morning
the mine was sprung. There was !
terrific explosion, mass of eartf
few into the air, carrying with 1t mel
and cannon, and parts OF the redoubts
a huge hollow was formed, 10 fee
long BY so wide, and from IS to 8
feet deep. This was the famous era
ter. The plan was to have Burnsid
rush In with General Ledlies division
followed by Ord's corps on the RICH
and Warren's on the left. But the un
dertaking was colossal failure
Burnside had made no preparation
for clearing the way for his men
and Ledle's division, after much diff
fculty in stumbling through thei
own lines. finally got into the Crater
to discover that their commander wa
nowhere to be found. 1t was the
that the confusion started The di
vision did not advance, others wer
following behind them. until the
were crowded together like sardine
A sharp artillery duel was going o
IN the meantime and the confusio
was terrible. 1t was then that Genera
Malone directed his famous charge tina
led finally to the capture OF the me
In the Crater. 1t was brave thin
force with brigade that numb ere
only about 1000. But the FEEDER;
troops were much disorganized. an
this should be taken into account. TIL
Confederate leaders. Weisiger an
Girardey, behaved most CALAMITY.
George S. Bernard. commander
"A. p. Hill Camp. who took part In tt
battle OF the Crater as private. tel
an interesting incident OF the fJh
While he was lying In trench pr,
paratory to making the charge he NJ
ticed his friend, Emkaet Butts, lyin
next him on the right. His propt
position was on the left, Mr.. Be
nard, having superstitious belief til;
the safest place for man In bait
was usually the right place, aslse
Butts to change places with him. +
compiled pleasantly, but soon aft
reaching the works he fell dea
pierced with ball.
The remarkable thing about II
charge was that the Confederate
could rush down In such perfect o
der upon men who had full swet
or them With their rifles; and al
that the Northerners, packed closely
they were and greatly demonalize
could put up such gallant resistanc
1t was hand to- hand struggle q got
part Of the time. One man Won
thrust a bayonet into an enemy on
to have his head blown off by mu
ket or a revolver not a foot ava
The carnage was awful, and the de-
OF both sides were SO thick that
was impossible to take a step witho
treadtng on them. n
Fighting In the bitches.
Commander Bernard In an adore
before a. p. Hill camp gave q thrlllil
account OF his experiences at the OR
t4r IN the successful charge by Will