On this date in history 154 years ago, one of the most unique and equally horrifying battles was fought along the trenches outside of Petersburg. By the summer of 1864 the Civil War had ground to an excruciating standstill in the trenches that protected the Confederate railhead in Petersburg, Virginia. as the fortifications stretched over 2o miles and repeated efforts to penetrate the defenses failed, Lt. Col. Henry Pleasants of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry came up with a creative proposal that suited the talents of his regiment comprised largely of miners from the coal fields of Pennsylvania: They would mine under the enemy trenches.
The Battle of the Crater was the result of the daring Union plan to break through the Confederate lines by digging a tunnel over 500 feet long in a "T" shape. After several weeks of digging, over 8,000 pounds of gunpowder were detonated in the morning hours of July 20, 1864. After weeks of preparation the mine and explosion worked mostly according to plan. What turned the advantage into disaster was the confusion and lack of commitment from command. Generals Grant and Meade saw the effort as mostly a diversion. As the date of the attack neared confidence started to wain and a division of U.S. Colored troops who had been specially trained for the assault were called off for fear of political repercussions should the attack fail. Their replacements were untrained for this type of assault and the individual officers in charge were largely absent or even drunk during the tragedy that would follow.
The approximate entrance to the mine today.
At 4:44 AM a massive blast that was heard for miles ripped a crater in the Confederate lines that measured 170 feet long, 100 to 120 feet wide, and 30 feet deep in places. In the confusion that followed nearly 900 men were killed and over 6,000 became casualties. What was truly horrifying took an immoral turned as Confederates soldiers enraged by the attack shot many black soldiers after they had surrendered and many white Union troops were witnessed to have killed black Union troops as well out of a fear of reprisal.
Check out the video below from the American Battlefield Trust for more information.
What's left of The Crater today.
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