One member of the regiment, Wilbur Fisk Crummer, wrote a book about experiences titled "With Grant at Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg". Crummer's service ended in July 1863 when he was wounded and the book does not cover what happened to the 45th after that time. Crummer records that at the Battle of Shiloh, the 45th was approached by an unidentified regiment. The officers of the 45th decided these were Union troops and ordered the men to hold their fire. However, it was a Confederate regiment, and they were able to get quite close before releasing a devastating volley on the 45th. Crummer later wrote that at the Battle of Jackson, Mississippi, Confederate Minié balls were fired into beehives, and angry bees caused several Union companies to retreat.