August 9, 1864
In the forenoon, as we were sitting in camp, we heard a
noise, like a quick, distant clap of thunder, but sharper. We concluded it must
be an explosion, from the sound, and in a few minutes came a telegraph from
Grant, at City Point, saying that an ordnance barge had blown up, with
considerable loss of life. I think the number of killed will not exceed
thirty-five; and, of the wounded, perhaps eighty; at first they thought there
were many more. The greater part of the injured were negroes employed as wharf-laborers.
To return to the explosion: Rosy, Worth, Cavada, and Cadwalader were at Grant's
Headquarters, and they said it perfectly rained shells, shot, bullets, pieces
of timber, and saddles (of these latter there was a barge load near by).
Two dragoons were killed, close to them, and a twelve-pounder solid shot went
smash into a mess-chest in the tent. The only man who, at the first shock, ran towards
the scene of terror was Lieutenant-General Grant, which shows his kind of
character very well. We dined very pleasantly with Dalton. You should see his
town of tents, with regular streets — accommodation easy for 8000 patients.
Everything as neat as a pin. Steam-engine to pump water from the river; every
patient of the 4000 on a cot; the best of food for all; and the most
entire cleanliness. When Dalton heard the explosion, he jumped on his feet,
and, true to his instincts, cried out: “Harness the ambulances!”
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 209-10
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