Civil War: Company K, 6th California Infantry
Moses Knox was killed and William Donaldson fatally injured by the premature discharge of a cannon, which they were firing, at Downieville, on Wednesday, in rejoicing at the capture of Vicksburg.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, May 31, 1863, 1:2)
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The Casualty in Downieville.
The Sierra Democrat of May 30 has the following particulars of a late sad accident in Downieville. On Wednesday last while a portion of the citizens of Downieville were engaged in firing a salute on account of the supposed capture of Vicksburg, First Lieutenant M. M. Knox and Second Lieutenant William A. Donaldson of Company K, Sixth Regiment, California Volunteers, were mangled in the most horrible manner by a premature discharge of the cannon used on the occasion. The facts, so far as they can be learned, are as follows. The cannon was old, had been for two years exposed to the weather, without any proper care, had become very rusty, rough and powder-burned inside, had been spiked, and in removing the spike the vent had been bruised, rendering it a difficult undertaking to prevent air from passing through while loading. Several rounds had been fired, when the vent became stopped-this occurred several times, which proves that the cannon was foul. Immediately before the last cartridge was put into the cannon the person tending the vent cautioned Lieutenants Knox and Donaldson, telling then; that there was fire in the chamber, and not to load until they had cleaned out the cannon; but his suggestions were unheeded by them, and they-both having hold of the rammer and in the act of pushing home the cartridge-were blown to pieces in the most shocking manner by a premature discharge. Lieutenant Knox lost both eyes, his face was burned to a crisp, the left hand torn entirely off above the wrist, the right arm badly shattered, pieces of the rammer were forced deeply into the lungs and other parts of the body, which was thrown over a steep declivity and nearly into the river, some two hundred feet below. He died about five hours after the accident. Lieutenant Donaldson was injured in a similar manner, his face being terribly burned, both eyes destroyed, both hands blown off above the wrists, and his left side severely injured. He died at four o'clock the following morning. Both were highly esteemed in our community and all are sorrowing at their untimely and shocking death. The funeral took place yesterday, was attended by the military and fire companies, and a numerous concourse of civilians. Military rites were performed over their grave by the National Guard, and they now, side by side, sleep their last sleep. S. W. Forbes was seriously burned in the face by the powder escaping from the vent. His thumb was badly sprained, and his eyes seriously, though not permanently injured. We have just learned that Ritchie, who has served as gunner on a man-of-war, has examined the cannon and found in the chamber a large mass of burnt and charred rags, which must have been on fire at the time of the accident.
(Sacramento Daily Union, June 1, 1863, 3:4)
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DEATHS.
In Downieville, 27th ult. [May] Lieut. M. M. Knox, aged 26 years. In Downieville, 28th ult. [May], Lieut. Wm. A. Donaldson, age 28 years.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, June 2, 1863, 4:2)
Moses Knox was killed and William Donaldson fatally injured by the premature discharge of a cannon, which they were firing, at Downieville, on Wednesday, in rejoicing at the capture of Vicksburg.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, May 31, 1863, 1:2)
---
The Casualty in Downieville.
The Sierra Democrat of May 30 has the following particulars of a late sad accident in Downieville. On Wednesday last while a portion of the citizens of Downieville were engaged in firing a salute on account of the supposed capture of Vicksburg, First Lieutenant M. M. Knox and Second Lieutenant William A. Donaldson of Company K, Sixth Regiment, California Volunteers, were mangled in the most horrible manner by a premature discharge of the cannon used on the occasion. The facts, so far as they can be learned, are as follows. The cannon was old, had been for two years exposed to the weather, without any proper care, had become very rusty, rough and powder-burned inside, had been spiked, and in removing the spike the vent had been bruised, rendering it a difficult undertaking to prevent air from passing through while loading. Several rounds had been fired, when the vent became stopped-this occurred several times, which proves that the cannon was foul. Immediately before the last cartridge was put into the cannon the person tending the vent cautioned Lieutenants Knox and Donaldson, telling then; that there was fire in the chamber, and not to load until they had cleaned out the cannon; but his suggestions were unheeded by them, and they-both having hold of the rammer and in the act of pushing home the cartridge-were blown to pieces in the most shocking manner by a premature discharge. Lieutenant Knox lost both eyes, his face was burned to a crisp, the left hand torn entirely off above the wrist, the right arm badly shattered, pieces of the rammer were forced deeply into the lungs and other parts of the body, which was thrown over a steep declivity and nearly into the river, some two hundred feet below. He died about five hours after the accident. Lieutenant Donaldson was injured in a similar manner, his face being terribly burned, both eyes destroyed, both hands blown off above the wrists, and his left side severely injured. He died at four o'clock the following morning. Both were highly esteemed in our community and all are sorrowing at their untimely and shocking death. The funeral took place yesterday, was attended by the military and fire companies, and a numerous concourse of civilians. Military rites were performed over their grave by the National Guard, and they now, side by side, sleep their last sleep. S. W. Forbes was seriously burned in the face by the powder escaping from the vent. His thumb was badly sprained, and his eyes seriously, though not permanently injured. We have just learned that Ritchie, who has served as gunner on a man-of-war, has examined the cannon and found in the chamber a large mass of burnt and charred rags, which must have been on fire at the time of the accident.
(Sacramento Daily Union, June 1, 1863, 3:4)
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DEATHS.
In Downieville, 27th ult. [May] Lieut. M. M. Knox, aged 26 years. In Downieville, 28th ult. [May], Lieut. Wm. A. Donaldson, age 28 years.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, June 2, 1863, 4:2)
Civil War: Company K, 6th California Infantry
Moses Knox was killed and William Donaldson fatally injured by the premature discharge of a cannon, which they were firing, at Downieville, on Wednesday, in rejoicing at the capture of Vicksburg.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, May 31, 1863, 1:2)
---
The Casualty in Downieville.
The Sierra Democrat of May 30 has the following particulars of a late sad accident in Downieville. On Wednesday last while a portion of the citizens of Downieville were engaged in firing a salute on account of the supposed capture of Vicksburg, First Lieutenant M. M. Knox and Second Lieutenant William A. Donaldson of Company K, Sixth Regiment, California Volunteers, were mangled in the most horrible manner by a premature discharge of the cannon used on the occasion. The facts, so far as they can be learned, are as follows. The cannon was old, had been for two years exposed to the weather, without any proper care, had become very rusty, rough and powder-burned inside, had been spiked, and in removing the spike the vent had been bruised, rendering it a difficult undertaking to prevent air from passing through while loading. Several rounds had been fired, when the vent became stopped-this occurred several times, which proves that the cannon was foul. Immediately before the last cartridge was put into the cannon the person tending the vent cautioned Lieutenants Knox and Donaldson, telling then; that there was fire in the chamber, and not to load until they had cleaned out the cannon; but his suggestions were unheeded by them, and they-both having hold of the rammer and in the act of pushing home the cartridge-were blown to pieces in the most shocking manner by a premature discharge. Lieutenant Knox lost both eyes, his face was burned to a crisp, the left hand torn entirely off above the wrist, the right arm badly shattered, pieces of the rammer were forced deeply into the lungs and other parts of the body, which was thrown over a steep declivity and nearly into the river, some two hundred feet below. He died about five hours after the accident. Lieutenant Donaldson was injured in a similar manner, his face being terribly burned, both eyes destroyed, both hands blown off above the wrists, and his left side severely injured. He died at four o'clock the following morning. Both were highly esteemed in our community and all are sorrowing at their untimely and shocking death. The funeral took place yesterday, was attended by the military and fire companies, and a numerous concourse of civilians. Military rites were performed over their grave by the National Guard, and they now, side by side, sleep their last sleep. S. W. Forbes was seriously burned in the face by the powder escaping from the vent. His thumb was badly sprained, and his eyes seriously, though not permanently injured. We have just learned that Ritchie, who has served as gunner on a man-of-war, has examined the cannon and found in the chamber a large mass of burnt and charred rags, which must have been on fire at the time of the accident.
(Sacramento Daily Union, June 1, 1863, 3:4)
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DEATHS.
In Downieville, 27th ult. [May] Lieut. M. M. Knox, aged 26 years. In Downieville, 28th ult. [May], Lieut. Wm. A. Donaldson, age 28 years.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, June 2, 1863, 4:2)
Moses Knox was killed and William Donaldson fatally injured by the premature discharge of a cannon, which they were firing, at Downieville, on Wednesday, in rejoicing at the capture of Vicksburg.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, May 31, 1863, 1:2)
---
The Casualty in Downieville.
The Sierra Democrat of May 30 has the following particulars of a late sad accident in Downieville. On Wednesday last while a portion of the citizens of Downieville were engaged in firing a salute on account of the supposed capture of Vicksburg, First Lieutenant M. M. Knox and Second Lieutenant William A. Donaldson of Company K, Sixth Regiment, California Volunteers, were mangled in the most horrible manner by a premature discharge of the cannon used on the occasion. The facts, so far as they can be learned, are as follows. The cannon was old, had been for two years exposed to the weather, without any proper care, had become very rusty, rough and powder-burned inside, had been spiked, and in removing the spike the vent had been bruised, rendering it a difficult undertaking to prevent air from passing through while loading. Several rounds had been fired, when the vent became stopped-this occurred several times, which proves that the cannon was foul. Immediately before the last cartridge was put into the cannon the person tending the vent cautioned Lieutenants Knox and Donaldson, telling then; that there was fire in the chamber, and not to load until they had cleaned out the cannon; but his suggestions were unheeded by them, and they-both having hold of the rammer and in the act of pushing home the cartridge-were blown to pieces in the most shocking manner by a premature discharge. Lieutenant Knox lost both eyes, his face was burned to a crisp, the left hand torn entirely off above the wrist, the right arm badly shattered, pieces of the rammer were forced deeply into the lungs and other parts of the body, which was thrown over a steep declivity and nearly into the river, some two hundred feet below. He died about five hours after the accident. Lieutenant Donaldson was injured in a similar manner, his face being terribly burned, both eyes destroyed, both hands blown off above the wrists, and his left side severely injured. He died at four o'clock the following morning. Both were highly esteemed in our community and all are sorrowing at their untimely and shocking death. The funeral took place yesterday, was attended by the military and fire companies, and a numerous concourse of civilians. Military rites were performed over their grave by the National Guard, and they now, side by side, sleep their last sleep. S. W. Forbes was seriously burned in the face by the powder escaping from the vent. His thumb was badly sprained, and his eyes seriously, though not permanently injured. We have just learned that Ritchie, who has served as gunner on a man-of-war, has examined the cannon and found in the chamber a large mass of burnt and charred rags, which must have been on fire at the time of the accident.
(Sacramento Daily Union, June 1, 1863, 3:4)
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DEATHS.
In Downieville, 27th ult. [May] Lieut. M. M. Knox, aged 26 years. In Downieville, 28th ult. [May], Lieut. Wm. A. Donaldson, age 28 years.
(San Francisco Daily Alta California, June 2, 1863, 4:2)
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