Two buckshot in my side and a musket ball through my arm: A Michigan soldier recalls the Opening of Shiloh

Private James F. Hunt of Co. E, 12th Michigan Infantry, had the “honor” of firing some of the opening shots of the Battle of Shiloh. What he saw of battle satisfied his desire for combat.

“I gave the enemy between 30 and 40 good rounds before they shot me, and I shot at somebody every time,” he explained in a letter to his father. “Whether I killed anyone or not, I do not know nor do I want to. I have seen all I want to of war and would like to get home first best. I have seen men shot dead almost by my side and expected to be the next one myself. Yet I could draw up and fire away just as cool as I could at a flock of pigeons. How I got off so easy I do not know. I had my coat cut all to pieces with shot.”

Private Hunt’s account of Shiloh, sent to his father David M. Hunt who lived in Clay Township near South Bend, Indiana, first appeared in the May 1, 1862, edition of the St. Joseph Valley Register.

 

One of Private Hunt's comrades at Shiloh was Thomas Swobe pictured above. He enlisted as a corporal in Co. E of the 12th Michigan in December 1861 and served until the very end, mustering out in 1866 as the First Lieutenant of Co. K. Swobe would re-enlist in the U.S. Army, serving until May 28, 1898.
(Dale Niesen Collection)

Battleground of Shiloh, Tennessee

April 14, 1862

Dear father,

          The fray was commenced about daylight by 600 of us who went out two miles from camp scouting. There we came across the advanced guard of the enemy and had quite a skirmish. William Dudd got slightly wounded in the leg while Cornelius Eastard got shot through the back. He is still living and may recover. We also had a man out of our company who was killed. The enemy proved too much for us and drove us into camp. We were poorly posted but fought the enemy all the way back to camp and there we made a stand, but it was of no use as the enemy was in full force.

          I retreated back as far as the hospital and there, in trying to help a wounded officer to get on a horse, I got wounded myself which put an end to my fighting for that time. I received two buckshot in my side and a musket ball through my left arm. My wounds will lay me up for some time to come, but if I have no bad luck, I’ll get well.

Colonel William H. Grave
12th Michigan
(Dale Niesen Collection)

          I gave the enemy between 30 and 40 good rounds before they shot me, and I shot at somebody every time. Whether I killed anyone or not, I do not know nor do I want to. I have seen all I want to of war and would like to get home first best. I have seen men shot dead almost by my side and expected to be the next one myself. Yet I could draw up and fire away just as cool as I could at a flock of pigeons. How I got off so easy I do not know. I had my coat cut all to pieces with shot.

          I was a prisoner for almost two days in the hands of the Secesh. They used us like gentlemen and treated us just as they did their own wounded. I expect that I shall be moved from here and sent probably to Cincinnati as that is where most of our wounded are going. I shall go down to the boat tonight or tomorrow.

          There are three known to be killed out of our company and between 20 and 25 missing. Our regiment is fearfully cut up and scattered and what is left is hardly fit for duty on account of dysentery and most of the companies only turn out from 25-30 men.            

Source:

Letter from Private James F. Hunt, Co. E, 12th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, St. Joseph Valley Register (Indiana), May 1, 1862, pg. 2


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