Anyone have an overcharging alternator fry a battery?

Had this happen twice over the 19 years I owned my wrangler. About 5-6 years apart. I was Driving along in town and started smelling what I thought was hot battery acid. Look down and saw the voltmeter pegged on 19. I got where I was going, popped the hood and pulled the caps on the battery. Looked stone empty both times. I replaced the battery both times and all was good. Never had to replace the alternator on that thing in over 200k miles