From the Richmond Dispatch, 7/2/1861, p. 2
Mention was made yesterday of the bursting of a musket on Thursday of last week in the hands of Mr. Jno. Bouer, a member of the Tredegar Battalion. The accident occurred as Mr. B. was trying his piece preparatory o a parade. The gun burst into many pieces, and blew off Mr. B.'s left hand entirely, causing intense agony, the surgeon's knife being requisite to remove the pieces of the limb which did not fall a prey to the force of the explosion. The explosion was caused by a defect in the musket.