Strange friendly fire incidents in military history

During the long siege of Petersburg, trench warfare created a maze of lines, tunnels, and rifle pits. At night, Union and Confederate sharpshooters often fired at noises rather than clear targets, and some Union soldiers struck their own pickets returning from patrols.

Fog and smoke often covered the ground at dawn. In a few cases, artillery crews misjudged distances and dropped shells short of intended targets. The siege dragged on for months, and these accidental hits became a grim part of daily life for both sides.