GDG- Fragging Officers (actually fratricide) ACW Style

[Chuck May]

The "Marietta (Ga) Journal" for March 21st 1901
(http://colquitt.k12.ga.us/gspurloc/cobbslegion/cobb_articles/death_cobb.htm
) contains an article which speculates that General TRR Cobb was mortally
wounded by PVT Samuel Drake of the Phillips' Legion Infantry, one of his own
men, at Fredericksburg. However, other veterans dispute the story.

Chuck May
Alpha Scientific Laboratories, Inc.
Gettysburg PA
ChuckMay at alpha-scientific-lab.com
717-339-0209
717-512-7979 (cell)
 

-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]
On Behalf Of chmbrdicator
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 10:16 PM
To: GDG
Subject: Re: GDG- Fragging Officers (actually fratricide) ACW Style

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


"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: