GDG- Fragging Officers (actually fratricide) ACW Style

[chmbrdicator]

"Fratricide" is an interesting term, possibly more accurate in 
describing the intent/situation that "fragging" ever did.

Given the near-nonexistent state of forensics in the early 1860s, I'd 
figure the only way to nail down an incident of this sort would be via 
eyewitnesses.  Who would do it openly? 

"Everybody knows" is not quite the same as legal proof.  And given the 
chaotic state of any battlefield, proof would be that much more 
difficult.  Perhaps the strongest indication (though not determinative) 
would be direction of fire:  an officer hit in the back while out in 
front leading troops (assuming credible evidence existed he was really 
facing front) would be a more likely  victim of  intentional friendly 
fire. 

Yet further weasel-wording would be common, noting the abysmal state of 
weapons safety training of that day.  "Gee, my half-cock notch has been 
worn for some weeks now ... the hammer slipped and it just went off!  
Nobody ever told me I shouldn't point my rifle-musket at anything I 
wasn't willing to kill!"  And the ever-popular, timeless "I didn't know 
it was loaded!"  Verifying load status with any muzzleloader is tougher, 
inherently.

most respectfully

D Spraggins

Richard M  wrote:

>Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
>Over the last few months while researching the command difficulties of the 11th Corps I've encountered quotes of german-American troops expressing their anger with Howard in terms indicating an inclination toward fratricide. I recently noted in Tillie Pierces diary an account of officer brutality responded to with an implied threat of fratricide. She summarized by saying rather matter of factly, " It is a pretty well established fact that many a brutal officer fell in battle, from being shot other than by the enemy."
>  I also found that Hugh Bicheno in his book on gettysburg states that Barlow was shot by one of his own troops, however, he offers no foot note indicating source. Please excuse my going the long way around the barn to ask a simple question. Does anyone know of any documented instances of intentional fratricide in the ACW?
>  Dick
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