Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 3.
Frank Moore, Ed.

A most painful accident occurred here late yesterday, (Nov. 11th,) being the explosion of the big pivot-gun, the 128-pounder, that has so frequently made the hills and valleys for thirty miles around Columbus reecho with its potent voice. The gun had been loaded during the progress of the battle of the 6th, while hot; but no opportunity offering itself in the latter part of the day to use it to advantage against the enemy, it was allowed to remain loaded up to yesterday afternoon. I am told that Gen. McCown assured the gunners that the piece would explode, supporting himself with a lucid explanation of the principles on which he based his supposition; but the huge proportions of the gun were supposed to be a sufficient protection to those around against the mine of saltpetre imbedded in the breech; and the gun was fired, exploded, and caught the magazine belonging to the piece, which lay immediately beneath the gun, killing eight men, among whom were Lieutenant of Artillery Snowden, and John Dublin, a citizen of Columbus, and seriously wounding five others, among whom are Maj.-Gen. Polk, who was knocked senseless by the concussion, having his clothes literally torn off him. Captains of Artillery Rucker and Miller, were seriously, though not dangerously wounded, and Capt. Pickett, of the Sappers and Miners, considerably bruised by the concussion.