Posted on 08/03/2024 5:59:30 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
From Our Special Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1864.
I.
The failure of the assault on the lines of Petersburgh last Saturday morning, seems to have produced, in reflecting minds, a sentiment of despondency out of all proportion with its mere material loss, as compared with other losses in former assaults on the enemy's positions, and seemingly independent of any features of the affair that lie on the surface. This fact invites an examination of the aspects of that action with a view to discover whether, in its actual or related facts, it affords ground for any abatement of heart or hope regarding the successful issue of the campaign.
The loss of between four and five thousand men, which is the figure (unofficial) at which the sacrifice of Saturday is placed, is indeed serious, but by comparison with other losses in other assaults it is below the average severity. In this regard, therefore, it need not awaken any unwonted dejection. That the attack was a failure is indeed discouraging; but in this it only enters into the general count of the ebb and flow, the ups and downs of war. This campaign has furnished too many instances of the repulse of assaults on fortified lines, whether made by us or by the enemy, to make one more, on the one side or the other, the occasion for either new inductions or novel impressions. An experience, therefore, which, while "common," as the mother of Hamlet said of mortality, yet stirs uncommon grief, provokes a repetition of her query to the Prince of Denmark: "Why seems it so particular to thee?"
II.
Undoubtedly one chief cause of the disappointment at the failure of the attack had its origin in the high expectations that have for some time been entertained regarding
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Army of the Potomac: Saturday’s Assault – 2-3
From New-Orleans: Arrival of Exchanged Union Prisoners – 3
The Christian Commission – 3
From Petersburgh: Our Loss in Saturday’s Battle, 2,500, Not Including the Missing – 3-5
The Reported Revolt at Elmira – 5
Free Excursion Down East – 5
The Weather at Cape Race – 5
Guerrillas in Illinois: Interesting Account of Their Operations – 5
Strike on the Adirondack Railroad – 5
The Rebel Raid: No Rebels West of Harper’s Ferry – 5-6
The Saratoga Races – 6
Gen. Rousseau’s Raid: Highly Interesting Particulars of the Expedition – 7-9
From Sherman’s Army: The Situation – 9
Guerrillas Routed-Steamers Sunk – 9
Resignation of Surgeon-Gen. King – 9
A Soldier’s Letter: A View of the Situation – 9-10
News from Washington – 10
Editorial: A Word of Warning – The People’s Duty – 10-11
Editorial: The Guerrillas in Missouri – 11
Editorial: The Infested Border States – 11-12
Editorial: The Law for Encouraging Emigration – Where Emigrants May be Had – 12
A Fair Reason – 12
What do They Want? – 12
Amusements – 12
Amusements this Evening – 12
“Battle of the Crater” where Union troops undermined a section of Confederate lines and detonated a large amount of gunpowder blowing a large crater in the lines. The main cause of failure to exploit the situation was that the “Colored” troops that were trained to go around the crater and push on through the Confederate lines were replaced at the last minute with untrained White troops because some commanders didn’t think the “Colored” troops were unto the job. The replacement assault troops, instead of going around the crater went into it and got bogged down giving Lee time to bring up reinforcements and stop the assault.
Another thing that got blown up was Burnside’s military career. They finally got rid of him, after all the damage he did.
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