Private Ashley was my gggrandfather. He accidently shot and killed himself with his own weapon on June 3, 1863 during the siege at Port Hudson, LA. From another 39th MS soldier's diary, I learned that Private Ashley was standing and leaning on his musket having both his hands at the wrists placed over the muzzle and his chin resting on his wrists. The weapon accidently discharged, taking Ashley's hands off at the wrists and also removed the left side of his chin, face, etc. He was probably buried just north of the Miss. Redoubt. I was there a few years ago to search for his grave, but it was unmarked and on private property.

Since I first learned about my gggrandfather's accidental death at Port Hudson, I have been puzzled about how it happened. It's not likely his weapon would have been cocked. So I'm wondering how the weapon could have discharged without the hammer being in the cocked position. I heard recently from a friend who is a member of a local black powder group that a hot ember from a previous firing may have caused the weapon to fire prematurely. My friend said that the black powder used during the Civil War was much more volatile and unpredictable than that of today. I would appreciate comments from anyone about this post. . . . Joe Ashley, Colorado Springs, CO