Killed while running guard?

[Niagara1864]

In my research I have come across one local soldier of the 8th NY Heavy Artillery whose muster abstract reads like this:

GREEN, JAMES F.—Age, 20 years. Enlisted, August 12, 1862,
at Lockport, N. Y.; mustered in as private, Co. D, One Hun-
dred and Twenty-ninth Infantry, August 14, 1862 (which be-
came the Eighth Artillery, December 19, 1862), to serve three
years; killed, March 1, 1863, while in act of running guard, at
Fort Federal Hill, Baltimore, Maryland.

I am curious as to how and why this happened. I assume this soldier was attempting to leave camp unauthorized, as many soldiers did, but I've never heard of anyone shot for doing it. Fort Federal Hill in March 1863 was a relatively safe location, with no enemy army anywhere near it so it couldn't have been a case of mistaken identity. In what circumstances would a soldier be shot by his own men for leaving camp in a non combat time and location? Any thoughts on this?
Also given the manner of death, would this soldier's family be eligible to receive a pension? Not sure what classification of death this would fall under, if not by Battle, Wounds, Disease, Murder, or accident...

Pvt James Franklin Green (1842-1863) - Find a...

Enlisted in Company D, 129th New York Infantry on August 12th 1862. 129th Infantry became the 8th New York Heavy Artillery on December 19th 1862. Killed at Fort Federal Hill, Maryland. Military records have death on March 1st.

www.findagrave.com

 

[ErnieMac]

I can't say for certain, but what immediately pops to mind is that he tried to evade a sentry. I have read of number of similar instances.

 

[TerryB]

Safe post or no, all you need is a trigger-happy sentry.

 

[archieclement]

Safe post or no, all you need is a trigger-happy sentry.

"halt or I'll shoot" is pretty self explanatory......as would be the result of not halting......

Would think once warned....the ball is in your court as to what happens next......

 

[TerryB]

"halt or I'll shoot" is pretty self explanatory......as would be the result of not halting......

Would think once warned....the ball is in your court as to what happens next......

I've halted many a person while on sentry duty and even had someone lock and load on me for not halting according to the SOP. I got an Article 15 for that!

 

[Lubliner]

I've halted many a person while on sentry duty and even had someone lock and load on me for not halting according to the SOP. I got an Article 15 for that!

I won't call it a forfeiture of rights, but an agreement that every right belonging to you is taken and returned as a privilege and the only right you receive comes through full obedience to the command. Your rights are redeemable at the end of the agreement. Liberties are a classified test of your will. Edit: It is a privilege to serve.
Lubliner.

 

[TerryB]

I won't call it a forfeiture of rights, but an agreement that every right belonging to you is taken and returned as a privilege and the only right you receive comes through full obedience to the command. Your rights are redeemable at the end of the agreement. Liberties are a classified test of your will. Edit: It is a privilege to serve.
Lubliner.

My article 15 was well-deserved. Our 3-day pass was pulled, but at the end of two days of spectacular bunker-building on the part of my two buddies and me, they reinstated the pass.