Editor’s Note: This article was found by Brett Schulte at the free newspaper site Historical Newspapers of the Rochester, New York Region and transcribed by Jackie Martin.
The War.
We subjoin some of the most important items of war news:
NEW YORK, Aug. 8.—The Herald’s 18th corps correspondent says of the mine sprung by the rebels, that our forces were aware of their intentions. It occurred on the P. M. of the 4th, and was immediately succeeded by rapid and successive volleys of musketry. The smoke of the explosion had hardly cleared away when our men answered the rebel fire and drowned the rebels with their own wild cheer of derision at the failure of their mining operations.
The enemy in all probability intended to have blown up a sap we had run out toward their line, and charge through the opening. They had, however, sadly miscalculated their distance, and the explosion took place five rods in advance of the sap. Not a particle of the debris was thrown into any portion of our lines, and the sharpshooters did not even think it necessary to abandon the sap. The explosion could bear no comparison in magnitude with that of Burnside’s mine—a mass of dirt 30 feet in diameter was thrown into the air 100 feet. The other portion being elevated considerably.
It was immediately perceived their mine was a failure, and they were satisfied with rising behind their works and pouring in their musketry.
Their main fire was in Ames’ front, but it afterward extended to the front of Burnside’s right. The artillery fire was almost as heavy as on the ever memorable Saturday.
The enemy showed more accuracy than they have hitherto been accustomed. One feature of the fire is its extraordinary rapidity.
The losses are but trifling, hardly more than would have been sustained through an ordinary day’s picket firing.
The loss of the enemy must have been heavier, as they exposed themselves in firing the first volley.1
Source:
- “The War.” Brockport (NY) Republic. August 11, 1864, p. 2 col. 3 ↩