Pvt. Nelson Bascom in the 106th N.Y. Co. G (Deserter)

Question

Is there a category for the deserters? A special sticker and do we still apply a civil war sticker if so what do we put for muster out date? I’m sure the horrors of the war had many a deserter but I’d like some input. Any ideas if this soldier ever turned up? Maybe took off west?

Here is another Deserter Joseph Bass. Then there is Edward Beardsley he took off right from Camp Wheeler

Thank you

Comments

I am curious to read responses to this!  It is an interesting question, do we want to call attention to ʻbad behaviorʻ? Or are we accepting the truth about our ancestors? Respecting their decisions to attempt to save their own skin? Or, as Andrew suggests, seeing only one side of a ʻtransactionʻ - the desertion without the result (court martial, return to unit, death in action, completely disappeared). History gets more interesting the deeper you dig.

---

Nelson's enlistment says born in Canada

In 1876, a Nelson Bascom, born in Canada was living in New Hampshire, wife Louisa, birth and death record for daughter Eliza

---

Nothing on BASS

Beardsley may be a problem. There were several Edwards in New York, born about the same time and 3 men in the war records

102nd Infantry, honorable discharge, July 1865

105th Infantry - deserter

106th Infantry - deserter

---

Thank you  

---

I’m curious if a deserter was able to get pension for himself or family later after the war? I see some places a deserter returned to the regiment with a presidential pardon. It’s very interesting

Answer 1

''? Possibility'' Source:  "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC1N-WKV : 24 December 2020), Nelson Barcom in household of Joseph Barcom, Massena, St. Lawrence, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).  IMAGE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTBS-FGB?cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMC1N-WKV

United States Census, 1850  Massena, St. Lawrence, New York
:  Joseph Barcom    Male       40   Canada  Wheel wright
: Mary Barcom        Female   37  New York
: Nelson Barcom    Male        17  New York  Farm hand
: Julia Barcom         Female    15  New York
: Edward Barcom   Male        13   New York
: Christina Barcom Female    11  New York
: Emeline Barcom   Female    9    New York
: John Barcom        Male         6    New York
: William Barcom   Male        4    New York
: Mary A Barcom      Female    2    New York

''?'' "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6QD-N3Y : 3 March 2021), Nelson Barcom, Elizabethtown, Essex, New York, United States; citing p. 21, line #10, family #168, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 866,320.

New York State Census, 1855  Elizabethtown, Essex, New York
: Nelson Barcom     Head    Male        23
: Sophia Barcom     Wife      Female   21
: Nelson Barcom     Child                      0

Source: "New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLS-5JX3 : 20 October 2019), Neilson G Bascom, 1886.
''?'' Nelson G. Bascom  Death 21 Dec 1886 Newburgh, Orange, New York

Comments

Very possible he most likely survived the war lots of siblings listed also the death date might provide an obituary and maybe something about the war