In a letter home, a Louisiana soldier described an incident at Shiloh. "One of our men, as he lay along side of me, swallowed the fire of a shell as it passed us. Supposing he had fainted, I threw water into his face, but afterwards learned what was the cause. He was conveyed to the hospital and taken prisoner the next day. This was another escape from which God, in his mercy, preserves me." Does anyone have an idea what he meant by "swallowed the fire of a shell as it passed us?"