After the explosion , the Confederate troops were only able to retaliate at the enemy after about 15 minutes .
The explosion immediately killed 278 Confederate soldiers , Slotkin p. 185 and stunned Confederate troops did not did not direct any significant musket or artillery fire at the enemy for at least 15 minutes.james , p. 21 However , Ledlie 's untrained division was not prepared for the explosion , and reports indicate they waited ten minutes before leaving their own entrenchments .
Battle of the Crater