Explosion: The Ordeal of Ormund Hupp

Explosion: The Ordeal of Ormund Hupp. Perryville . The Battle For Kentucky. , After Peter Simonson's 5th Indiana Battery pulled back to this location, we take up the story in Ormund Hupp's own words:, We had but just got in battery and ordered to lay on the ground, holding our fire for close action, as our ammunition was near gone, when, I had to help take one of the lead horses out that had been shot with a minie ball. The bullets and shells came thicker and faster here than I ever want to see them again. We had just got this horse out when one of mine was shot with a minie ball which reached his heart, killing him instantly. The battle was general and raging now all along the line and it was plain to be seen that the enemy was too strong for us. ... When my horse got shot I was lying close by him on the same side. I immediately called one of the boys to help take him out and run around to the near side in order to unbuckle the breast strap. I had it but half unbuckled when a shell from the enemy struck me on the left arm and passing on, struck the ammunition chest, exploded and caused the cartridges in the chest to explode. It was all done in an instant and resulted in the instant death of four others [Charles "Charley"] Miller, burnt, [Abraham Forry], arm broken and badly burnt on head and face; [Andrew] Pettit, lip cut and wounded slightly in the head and myself cut in the left arm, right arm, and face., When the chest blew up it took me in the air about ten feet. I had my thoughts during the operation and concluded I was torn to pieces, but after striking the ground and lying there about three minutes, I jumped up and saw that I was badly wounded, my clothes were all torn off, and the burn from the powder set me near crazy. The smoke of the explosion was so thick I could see nothing and as I remember the head surgeon passed us before the battle and told us where the hospital would be found and to come there if we got wounded, I thought it the best policy for me to reach them or as soon as possible for fear the loss of blood would weaken me so I would be unable to walk. Leaving everything, (for I was in such pain I cared for nothing) I started in their direction. The balls flew around me like hail as I made my steps back but little did I heed them. At one time a twelve pound shell exploded within a few feet of me, tearing up the ground, in a fearful manner, and I had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when I felt so exhausted I could hardly stand. Here a young man gave me a canteen of water which revived me and I again started and soon reached the first hospital which was a small log house within a quarter of [a mile to] the left of our line of battle. Shell and shot were passing all around the house and it afterward struck by a shell, killing two men. I went in and tried to have my wounds dressed, but the surgeon was so frightened that he knew nothing, as he wanted to take my arm off when there was no bone injured. I left him at once and found another hospital but a short distance in a farm house. Here there were about 300 wounded. Such a sight I never beheld before and never wish to again. I saw there was no chance here and as I felt as though I could get a little farther, concluded to find another place; the loss of blood by this time had made me so weak I could hardly stand. When I reached the road (which was but a short distance from the house) I fell an could go no farther. A few minutes passed in loneliness and I had given up to die and cared for nothing - I was almost crazy through pain., After I had laid here for a short time, Jacob Kurtz who had been sent after water for the boys in the battery came along, recognized me at once, got off and poured some water on my head and face, gave me a drink and with some help got me on his horse and started for the hospital a half mile distant., After being treated, he was taken to Hospital Number 1 (in New Albany, Indiana, where he would spend the next year and a half., Ormund Hupp was born September 10th, 1840 in LaPorte, Indiana. He enlisted as a private in Peter Simonson's 5th Indiana Battery on September 16th, 1861. Hupp served as a "driver" (Horse Handler) in the center section of the battery. He was with the battery in all the campaigns from then to the Battle of Perryville. Since the 5th Indiana Battery missed the Battle of Shiloh, Perryville was the first major battle they participated. Hupp was so badly injured, he spent the next year and a half in a New Albany, Indiana hospital. He re-joined his regiment in April of 1864, just in time for the Atlanta campaign. He served honorably until his discharge on November 26th, 1864. He died on November 26th, 1926., (Caption):, Portrait of Ormund Hupp at the age of 23, taken over a month after the Battle of Perryville at Hospital Number 1, New