On June 16, 1822, when about eighteen years of age, he was accidentally wounded by a discharge from a musket.

The contents of the weapon, consisting of powder and duck-shot, entered his left side from a distance of not more than a yard off.

The charge was directed obliquely forward and inward, literally blowing off the integument and muscles for a space about the size of a man's hand, carrying away the anterior half of the 6th rib, fracturing the 5th rib, lacerating the lower portion of the lowest lobe of the left lung, and perforating the diaphragm and the stomach.

The whole mass of the discharge together with fragments of clothing were driven into the muscles and cavity of the chest.

When first seen by Dr.
Beaumont about a half hour after the accident, a portion of the lung, as large as a turkey's egg was found protruding through the external wound.