I Felt A Sharp Sting...

[NH Civil War Gal]

On July 1st, at an early hour, we marched with the rest of the 1st Corps towards Gettysburg. [Brig. Gen. John] Buford, with his cavalry, was having an unequal fight with the enemy's advance, and [Maj. Gen. John] Reynolds hurried the 1st Corps up to his relief. As we approached Gettysburg we turned off from the Emmittsburg road to the left towards the Seminary ridge. At first we went into position some distance south of the Seminary buildings but we were not engaged at this place. Later we were moved to the North side of the seminary buildings. By the time we were in position the enemy were coming over the ridge which runs parallel with the Seminary ridge. We opened with case shot at first, firing over our Infantry who were in front of us on lower ground. As they fell back to the line of the guns we used canister. While we were using case shot I found it very difficult, on account of the smoke, to see whether they were exploding in the right place. To get out of the smoke, I climbed over a fence at the left of my section and went behind the house. I remember very well the sound of the bullets on the brick house, reminding me of a shower of hail on the roof. Soon after I returned to my position with my section, I was wounded in the upper part of the right thigh. I did not at first realize what had happened. I felt a sharp sting, as if I had been struck a slight blow with a light cane. On looking down I saw a jagged hole in my pistol holster, which was on my belt. On trying my leg I found, to satisfaction, that the bone was not broken. Feeling that the wound was too serious to admit of my doing any further service in that fight, I limped to the capt. and reported, and asked permission to go to town to see my sister while I was able to do so. In the morning, before going into action, I had remarked jokingly to the capt. that if I was ever going to be hit I hoped that it would come there, for I would be sure of being well taken care of. So my wish was granted.

Day 2: By the time Alfred Waud sketched the 5th Maine Battery firing into Confederate assaults on Cemetery Hill on July 2, 1863, Hunt was lying wounded in his sister's downtown Gettysburg house. (Library of Congress)

With help I was able to mount my horse and I rode slowly into town. Even then the enemy's shells were beginning to rake the road, and the ride was anything but a pleasant one. On my arrival at Mary's, I think Tom and Dr. Charles Herner were at the door, and I found that the rest of the family, with many neighbors had sought shelter from the enemy's shells in the bank vault. The bank adjoined the house, with a private door from the hall for the convenience of the cashier. Some time before this a recently spent shell had come in through an attic window and, after going through the stairs, had dropped down the well of the staircase to the front hall. This had frightened them not a little and had caused their retreat to the vault. The contents had been sent to Philadelphia when it was found that Lee was to invade Pennsylvania. I believe there were nineteen women and children and two dogs in the vault when I arrived.

Soon after this our lines fell back, retreating through the town towards Cemetery Hill. While they were passing through the town, the enemy's shells came down the streets and overhead in great numbers. There was much excitement among the occupants of our house. The women and children went to the vault, and for my safety they carried a mattress to the cellar and I lay there for some time. While I was there the rebels occupied the town and, soldier-like, the first thing they thought of was something to eat. Through a crack in the door, I saw two Rebs come into the back cellar and strip the pantry of everything eatable. I did not care to remonstrate.

<See the rest of Huntington's article at the link below>

If you go to the link provided, you learn that Hunt lived until 1909 at age 70 when he dropped down dead suddenly in Portland, Maine I believe. There is a lot more information too on his unit and more about him.

The War in Their Words: “I Felt A Sharp Sting”

A Maine Artilleryman, 2nd Lieutenant Charles O. Hunt, describes his July 1, 1863 Gettysburg wounding.

www.historynet.com

 

[JOHN42768]

Great first person account of his time at Gettysburg

 

[Tom Elmore]

That would be Horner, not Herner. Gettysburg Doctors (and brothers) Charles Horner and Robert Horner had offices/residences next to each other on the north side of Chambersburg Street, diagonally across from the Christ Lutheran Church Hospital. Charles (1824-1893) graduated from Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College in 1843; he received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1846. Robert attended Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1849.

Both brothers actively attended to wounded during and after the battle. Charles also worked at the First Corps hospital at the Theological Seminary. It can be difficult to distinguish their activities. For instance, I had long thought it was Robert who attended to Lt. Hunt, but this article specifically mentions that it was Charles.