I have recently "run across" several accounts which mention Union casualties caused by Union artillery during the Seige of Vicksburg.
That's interesting to me. I didn't write down the source for them. Too few and far between to matter. But then I found this diary with multiple incidents. Too good to not share with others.
Now I have to go back and try to find the skimpy ones that I saw earlier.
I will share them with CWT when found.
Does anyone have any record of other Union artillery "friendly fire" incidents at Vicksburg?
If so, would you please share them?
Here is the material that I referred to
The following excepts are from the diary of Charles D. Wilcox, 33rd Illinois Infantry
May 20th Wednesday
Our cannon wounded some of our own men, the shell being poor.
May 21st Thursday
Several of our Brigade were wounded by our own shells bursting prematurely. Such, of course, are the accidents of war. Our regiment lost some killed and wounded.
May 26th Tuesday
Firing was resumed this morning on both sides, the enemy not using his cannon, and neither firing as rapidly as usual. This evening Sgt. C. U. Besse, Co. A, my dear friend, had
both his arms cut off by a piece of one of our own shell. Scarcely a day passed without two or three of our Brigade being killed or wounded by our own guns.
May 27th Wednesday
Nearly every day some one of our regiment is hit by the enemy's fire or by accident from our cannon which fire over us. These accidents occur from the poor shell or poor powder. Last evening Sgt. Besse of Co. A (one of my particular friends) had one arm cut entirely off between the elbow and wrist and the other arm almost cut off at the elbow by a piece of a shell from one of our guns. Both of his arms will have to be amputated.
Poor armless fellow! How I mourn over his loss!
June 1st 1863 Monday Incidents of Union Friendly Fire during the Siege of Vicksburg
Poor Sgt. C. U. Besse died this afternoon. The ague in his system, together with both arms amputated was more than his constitution could bear. One more noble heart, brave soldier and true man has gone to rest. Good friend true patriot, hail and farewell!
June 13th Saturday
A shell from one of the siege guns just to our rear wounded three men belonging to the
8th Indiana Infantry today, one of them dangerously. Every time those guns fire.
I shudder for fear of the sad results, and I do not wonder at myself as two of them
fire directly over our regimental headquarters.
Bringing the