The explosion was a success and the two regiments rushed into the crater, which they held for 24 hours. However, they were driven out by hand grenades thrown from behind the second line of works near the rear of the Confederate fort.
One soldier in the 77th Illinois described the day like this:
The explosion of the mine was the signal for the opening of the artillery of the entire line. The left Division of Gen. McPherson's Seventeenth, or centre Corps, opened first, and discharges were repeated along the left through Gen. Ord's Thirteenth Corps and Herron's extreme 'left Division,' until the sound struck the ear like the mutterings of distant thunder. Gen. Sherman on the right, also opened his artillery about the same time, and occupied the enemy's attention along his front. Every shell struck the parapet, and bounding over, exploded in the midst of the enemy's forces beyond. The scene at this time was one of the utmost sublimity. The roar of artillery, rattle of small arms, the cheers of the men, flashes of light, wreaths of pale blue smoke over different parts of the field, the bursting of shell, the fierce whistle of solid shot, the deep boom of the mortars, the broadsides of the ships of war, and added to all this, the vigorous replies of the enemy, set up a din which beggars all description.
