The Bullet Baby: Truth or UL?

Little_Nemo · March 17, 2000, 6:55am

Here’s the supposed story (from The Book of Lists #2):

The November 7, 1874, issue of the American Medical Weekly related a bizarre episode which began during the Battle of Raymond in Mississippi on May 12, 1863. According to Doctor T.G. Capers of Vicksburg, a soldier friend of his was hit in the scrotum by a bullet which carried away his left testicle. The same bullet apparently penetrated the left side of the abdomen of a 17-year-old girl in a nearby house. Two hundred and seventy-eight days later, the young lady gave birth to a healthy 8-lb. boy “to the surprise of herself and the mortification of her parents and friends.” Three weeks later, Dr. Capers operated on the infant and removed a smashed miniball. He concluded that this was the same ball that had carried away the testicle of his young friend; it had then penetrated the ovary of the young lady and - with some spermatozoa upon it - impregnated her. With this conviction he approached the young man and told him the circumstances; the soldier appeared skeptical at first, but consented to visit the young mother; a friendship ensued which soon ripened into a happy marriage. The couple had three more children, none of whom resembled their father as closely as the first.

Now, on the surface, this appears to have all the signs of an urban legend. There’s the basic improbability of the incident, the coincidence of the doctor knowing both the soldier and the lady, and the happy resolution with the couple marrying. On the other hand, the story isn’t being credited to “a friend of a friend”; it names the doctor, gives the supposed date and place of the incident, and even cites its appearance in a specific medical journal.

So I can see at least four possibilities: 1 - the whole incident happened as described; 2 - the whole incident is an unusually well-fabricated story (akin to Thomas Crapper’s toilet or Millard Filmore’s bathtub); or 3 - the story did appear in American Medical Weekly as mentioned and Dr Capers (who coincidentally was the only named character) made the whole thing up as a joke; or 4 - the young lady was impregnated by conventional means (for all we know by the soldier) and was shot during the battle and Dr Capers gullibly concluded the bullet caused the pregnancy.

Does anyone here know?

TheMadHun · March 16, 2000, 7:08pm

Well I found this link on urbanlegends.com:

Bullet Impregnation

Ursa_Major · March 16, 2000, 7:11pm

It could have happened the way Capers described it but I’m willing to bet it didn’t.

I don’t buy the whole impregnation by bullet story. Either Dr. Capers was trying to shield the girl from disgrace and subsequently decided to make a name for himself by writing up the concocted story or he was a nut.

…or maybe there never was a Dr. Capers and the whole thing was made up.

Ursa_Major · March 16, 2000, 7:17pm

From TheMadHun’s link; a follow up to the story published in the AMW.

Then in Vol. 1(21):263-264 (Nov. 21, 1874), appeared this note by the editor:

DR. L.G. CAPERS, of Vicksburg, Miss., disclaims responsibility for the truth of that remarkable case of impregnation by a minnie ball, as reported in No. 19 of this Journal. He tells the story as it was told to him. He does not say it is untrue, but is disposed to appositely remember the truth of the old adage, that “accidents may happen in the best regulated families.” The joke is, that the Doctor reported the case without any signature, but as the editor is indisposed to be made the victim of canards, and recognized the writing sent, he was unwilling to deprive the author of the contemplated fun, and allowed him to enjoy even more of this than was anticipated. The readers have enjoyed the story much, but not enough “to cut capers” after reading it.

The story was clearly a joke.

Lord_Jim · March 16, 2000, 7:31pm

And don’t forget Snopes:

Bullet Baby

Jim

Major_Feelgud · March 17, 2000, 4:16am

The answer is so simple that you’re gonna kick yourself. Dr. Capers is the father ofcourse.

SoMoMom · March 17, 2000, 3:51pm

Way back in high school, one of my history teachers taught this as fact and gave names and places (sorry my memory is not that good). Now you have me questioning everything this man taught me! sniff

Little_Nemo · March 18, 2000, 6:43am

It’s definitely looking like #3 is the correct answer. Thanks for the info and sites.

MrKnowItAll · March 17, 2000, 11:15pm

In one of Jan Brunvand’s books (the well know urban legend researcher) he covers this story. Definitely a UL. He has even uncovered earlier versions of the story IIRC.

God is my co-pilot. Blame Him.