The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-17

could not know exactly where The
Federals were mining. or digging tun-
nels. yet they suspected that It was
nshg done Just where 1t was done.
shafts in their works whers they
suspected tho Federais were digging.
but these two shafts did not cutie
reach tho Federal tunnels. Every night
such an explosion as did finally oc-
cur and slept with the dread of being
blown up any minute.
The time selected for the explosion
July 80. 1864. and many thousand
troops were ready to rush into tho
confederate works as coon as the
GMpiosion had blown them up. and
petersburs. The Federal troops were
IN readiness. awaiting the explosion.
ana the confederates were resting In
1snated time there was no explosion,
and the t'edcrals were bacumiIig i'm.
patent and uneasy at the ueiuS. FL
many volunteers were calico Tor to
go into the tunnel ANA zee way the
powder had not cNpioucu. inns was
q most hazardous undertaking. for II
mo explosion should take place while
course he would be blown into atoms.
sergeant Henry Reese, of the Forty.
eighth Pennsyiyahla Regiment, who
I Sas an experienced miner. was Sc
49, 1880 ehIS tuok, diu
ne bravely entered tho tunnel ana
FOUND that the fuse had gone out.
which had been lighted to fire the
powder. He lighted IL again and re-
turned In safety to his command, and
Nils feat is deserving of praise from
everybody who admires courage and
self-sacrihce.
The explosion occurred at 4:45
o.clock, one hour and a quarter after
the time first designated, and when
gay vas dawn!ng, That part of the
explosion occurred, was occupied by
Pegram's battery OF four cannon and
parts of the Eighteenth and Twenty
seeond South Carolina Regiments, OF
~hoIn 2IS were killed or wounded by
me explosion. which burst like "a vol
Gano' u~pheaving tons OF earth and tim
oers; which crushed or buried the III
warning. The plan of the Federais was
70 rush into the Confederate works ns
soon as the explosion took place, and
men rapidly advance to the crest OF
a ridge about 500 yards in the direc-
non or petersburg. and then the cap
ture OF that city would be easy.
me long delay I'm the explosion had
federals. and so when 1t did occur
.hey did not advance us promptly as
.hey had Intended. and when they DID
aaVanee and occupy the hole made by
they remained there for an hour In
stead Of rushing forward. and during
ms iatei delay the Confederates had
aaaaneeuu 10 the rescue and poured a most
quoted In the crater. Reinforcement
by the thousand came from the Fed
era lines but they. too, could or did
large number OF white and colored
ROOFS attempted to charge the Con-
iederates. but they were driven back
IN such confusion that their own oiii-
cial reports spoke OF them as a dis
organized rabble." Before 10 o'clock
orders were issued for the Federals
m the crater to withdraw. but the
space etwee the lines was so swept
by the Confederate fire that IL was
more dangerous 10 withdraw than to
remain there. Al 2 o'clock the Confed-
crates retook tho crater and captured
yiously escaped, and thus ended most
disastrously to the Federals their at
Tempt 10 capture Petersburg by a mine
explosion.
az their unsuccessful effort that they
had a court-n.artial to investigate tho
.acl5 ana circumstances attending the
unsuccessful assault on the 30th OF
snred the general officers for their
improper handling of their troops. and
especially Generals Ledlie ana t'orreru
VINO had sought safety in a bomb.
proof instead of by their PERSONAL Of
iorts e~ndeavoring to lead their troops
Forward. General Meade. In his off
cial report. asked that General Burn.
side, who had of all ira
troops engaged. he relieved. from hj7
command because of his disastrous
failure.
In this hattie the Confederate, M
though taken at such a disadvantage.
iouSht with the utmost courage. not
SURPASSED during the entire war, Al
terrible explosion. the C~onfederates
raliied promptly and fought with most
nnhor bravery, and drove back ne
greatly superior numbers of tho on
cm|. The Federal losses. as report
cd by General Meade. were 4.loo. OF
whom ahout 1900 were prisoners. and
The Confederate losa was s23. includ-
tbnE those who had been .b1owp up
Tered greatly while huddled In TIM
crater, exposed not only To the deadly
hre Of the Confedefa;es but Is ths
p.istsrinG heat OF the July aun and
painting for water.
Next morning. AT the rcuuest n, ~.
tederals. there WAS u truce OF four
hours for them 10 bury their dead
living between the lines and to re-
Iederate troops In this battle were
Ransom's brigade and the sixty.rrst
Regiment from this state. all OF whom
sattin sustained the well-earned repu-
was the last and only attempt on the
part OF the Fedcrafs to capture our
N2rkH around Petersburg by an ex.
piosion and sudden surprise.
The crater is now inciosed ana an
commission fee is charged by its owner
70 see IT., and hundreds OF visitors
from the North and South have been
incre since the war to see II. for IL
Is now the most interesting spot around
cstersDnrg-H a. London. in tho
Chatham, n. C., Record.
The cIopton HospitaL.
This old Confederate lsrdmltI Is.
being torn down, -