After weeks of preparation, on July 30 the
Federals exploded a mine in Burnside's IX Corps sector beneath Pegram's
Salient, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg. From
this propitious beginning, everything deteriorated rapidly for the Union
attackers. Unit after unit charged into and around the crater, where
soldiers milled in confusion. The Confederates quickly recovered and
launched several counterattacks led by Maj. Gen. William Mahone. The
break was sealed off, and the Federals were repulsed with severe
casualties. Ferrarro's division of black soldiers was badly mauled. This
may have been Grant's best chance to end the Siege of Petersburg.
Instead, the soldiers settled in for another eight months of trench
warfare. Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside was relieved of command for his
role in the debacle.