“Deserters” of the U.S. Civil War 1861-1865

Question

Hi Wikitreers,

We have a Pvt. Nelson Rushford who enlisted with Company G of the 106th New York. I’ve found many of these deserters hard to track in their genealogy, usually they are like genealogical ghosts; however I believe I have found his memorial and it appears he led a full life in Iowa, married had children. 

I’d never second guess or question these soldiers reasons as the U.S. Civil War battlefields are littered with the horrors of war, but they are a special group unto themselves and there is quit a few I come across in my research.

Any collaboration in this veterans genealogy is appreciated.

1.) Does the memorial match? 

2.) What really happened to most deserters of the American Civil War in the Union particularly; ex., punishment, etc.?

Thank you

Note: Should we create a category for U.S. Civil Deserters?

Comments

Hi Andrew, I think there's been other posts concerning a category for US Civil War Deserters and the consensus seems to be ''No''.  I've come across many who show they deserted then show they returned.  My opinion would be to include the information in the biography, but not have a category for it.

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Hi Pam,

I also have a ancestor my 3rd gg George William Trombly Sr (1834 - 1907) who is a perfect example of this scenario: 

Quote from source 

TROMBLY, GEORGE.—Age, 24 years. Enlisted, October 11, 1861, at New York; mustered in as private, Co. M, October 16, 1861, to serve three years; captured at Haymarket, Va, October 18, 1862; reenlisted, December 20, 1863; deserted, February 14, 1864; surrendered under President's proclamation; mustered out with company, July 17, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va.

I’m not sure a free space page would be necessary, but an idea to float as one could be created for the 106th NYV or anyone working on an individual Regt in particular  

Answer 1

This is only about Union deserters.

(a) On 11 March 1865, Lincoln offered pardon to any deserters who voluntarily returned. They only had to return & serve out the rest of their time  (Here's a transcription: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-124-offering-pardon-deserters)

(b) Some weren't court martialed. For example, in the 91st PA (the regiment I've studied), Joseph H Smith's entry in the company E register of deserters says that he deserted on 24 July 1864 from Wilmington, Delaware, was 'apprehended aug 2nd 64 Referd [sic] to Comp Comdt Returned to Du[ty]', without ever being court martialed. Or, on 18 March 1864, six men were released from arrest and restored to duty, but the pay for the time absent, transportation, and the reward authorized for deserters, along with the cost of any lost property, were deducted from their pay.

(c) The punishment for those who were court martialed varies wildly, and the reasons aren't always obvious. I've read someone speculating (but don't have the reference, unfortunately) that whether people were found guilt of desertion or of being absent without leave depended on whether they were in uniform.

(d) Sometimes the sentence was just to 'make good all time lost'; sometimes there was a fine also. For example, Dennis McCarty (co. E of the 91st PA) deserted in May 1863, returned to duty on 24 January 1864, and was sentence to lose $15 per month for 15 months, to lose all pay and allowances, and to make good all time lost. People who were non-commissioned officers were usually reduced to the ranks.

(e) For some examples of harsher punishment: One man in the 91st PA were sentenced to the ball and chain for 30 days, hard labor for 90 Days, and forfeiture of pay for three months. That was especially harsh in my limited experience, but he had enlisted in another regiment. Another man was sentenced to make good the time lost by desertion, to forfeit all pay and allowance for the balance of his term, except for necessary food and clothing, *and* to work at hard labor 10 hours per day for balance of his term.

(f) In one infamous case, five men were executed for not joining their regiment (the 118th PA) after enlisting. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they were all foreigners. The regimental history even mentions needing an interpreter. I'll add transcriptions of two sources as comments.

(g) After the war, some were pardoned;

[Statutes at large volume 25, fiftieth congress, session II, chapter 390 (pp.869-871)]

'CHAP. 390.--An act for the relief of certain volunteer and regular soldiers of the late war and the war with Mexico.

'Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SEC: 1. That the charge of desertion now standing on the rolls and records in the office of the Adjutant General of the United States Army against any soldier who served in the late war in the volunteer service shall be removed in all cases where it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the Secretary of War, from such rolls and records, or from other satisfactory testimony, that such soldier served faithfully until the expiration of his term of enlistment, or until the first day of May, anno domini eighteen hundred and sixty five, having previously served six months or more, and, by reason of absence from his command at the time the same was mustered out, failed to be mustered out and to receive an honorable discharge, or that such soldier absented himself from his command, or from hospital while suffering from wounds, injuries, or disease received or contracted in the line of duty and was prevented from completing his term of enlistment by reason of such wounds, injuries, or disease.'SEC. 2. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to remove the charge of desertion from the record of any regular or volunteer soldier in the late war upon proper application therefor, and satisfactory proof in the following cases:

'First. That such soldier, after such charge of desertion was made, and within a reasonable time thereafter, voluntarily returned to his command and served faithfully to the end of his term of service, or until discharged.

'Second, That such soldier absented himself from his command or from hospital while suffering from wounds, injuries, or disease, received or contracted in the line of duty, and upon recovery voluntarily returned to his command, and served faithfully thereafter, or died from such wounds, injuries, or disease while so absent, and before the date of muster out of his command, or expiration of his term of service, or was prevented from so returning by reason of such wounds, injuries, or diseases before such muster out, or expiration of service.

'Third. That such soldier was a minor, and was enlisted without the consent of his parent or guardian, and was released or discharged from such service by the order or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction on habeas corpus or other proper judicial proceedings; and in any such case, no pay, allowance, bounty, or pension, shall be allowed or granted.

[page 870]

'SEC. 3. That the charge of desertion now standing on the rolls and records in the office of the Adjutant General of the Army against any regular or volunteer soldier who served in the late war of the rebellion by reason of his having enlisted in any regiment, troop, or company, or in the United States Navy or Marine Corps, without having first received a discharge from the regiment, troop, or company in which he had previously served, shall be removed in all cases wherein it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the Secretary of War, from such rolls and records, or from other satisfactory testimony, that such re-enlistment was not made for the purpose of securing bounty or other gratuity that he would not have been entitled to, had he remained under his original term of enlistment; that the absence from the service did not exceed four months, and that such soldier served faithfully under his re-enlistment.

'SEC. 4. That whenever it shall appear from the official records in the office of the Adjutant General, United States Army, that any regular or volunteer soldier of the late war was formally restored to duty from desertion by the Commander competent to order his trial for the offense, or, having deserted and being charged with desertion, was, on return to the service, suffered, without such formal restoration, to resume his place in the ranks of his command, serving faithfully thereafter until the expiration of his term, such soldier shall not be deemed to rest under any disability, because of such desertion, in the prosecution of any claim for pension on account of disease contracted, or wounds or injuries received in the line of his duty as a soldier.

'SEC. 5. That when the charge of desertion shall be removed under the provisions of this act from the record of any soldier, such soldier, or, in case of his death, the heirs or legal representatives of such soldier, shall receive the pay and bounty due to such soldier: Provided, however, That this act shall not be so construed as to give to any such soldier, or, in case of his death, to the heirs or legal representatives of any such soldier, any pay, bounty, or allowance for any time during which such soldier was absent from his command without proper authority, nor shall it be so construed as to give any pay, bounty, or allowance to any soldier, his heirs or legal representatives, who served in the Army a period of less than six months.

'SEC. 6. That the Secretary of War be, and he hereby is authorized and directed to amend the military record of any soldier who enlisted for the war with Mexico, upon proper application, where the rolls and records of the Adjutant General's office show the charge of desertion against him, when such rolls and records show the facts set out in the following cases:

'First. That said soldier served faithfully the full term of his enlistment, or having served faithfully for six months or more, and until the fourth day of July anno domini eighteen hundred and forty eight, left his command without having received a discharge.

'Second. That such soldier, after said charge of desertion was entered on the rolls, voluntarily returned to his command within a reasonable time, and served faithfully until discharged.

'SEC. 7. That the provisions of this act shall not be so construed as to relieve any soldier from the charge of desertion who left his command from disaffection or disloyalty to the Government, or to evade the dangers and hardships of the service, or whilst in the presence of the enemy (not being sick or wounded), or while in arrest or under charges for breach of military duty, or in case of a soldier of the Mexican War, who did not actually reach the seat of war.

'SEC. 8. That when such charge of desertion is removed under the provisions of this act, the soldier shall be restored to a status of honorable service, his military record shall be corrected as the facts may require, and an honorable discharge shall be issued in those cases [page 871] where the soldier has received none; and he shall be restored to all his rights as to pension, pay, or allowances as if the charge of desertion had never been made; and in case of the death of said soldier, his widow or other legal heir shall be entitled to the same rights as in case of other deceased honorably discharged soldiers: Provided, That this act shall not be construed to give to any soldier, or his legal representatives or heir, any pay or allowance for any period of time he was absent without leave, and not in the performance of military duty.

'SEC. 9. That all applications for relief under this act shall be made to and filed with the Secretary of War within the period of three years from and after July first, eighteen hundred and eighty nine, and all applications not so made and filed within said term of three years shall be forever barred, and shall not be received or considered.

'SEC. 10. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

'Approved, March 2, 1889.'

Comments

[this is from a member of the 91st PA]

[Thomas F Walter, 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier, Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail, v.3 #41 p.1]

'Another of my recollections of this Beverly Ford camp is of an extraordinary military execution that we were ordered out to witness. Near the end of August [29 August] we had heard that five men, attached to the 118th Pennsylvania, had been court-martialed for "bounty-jumping" and desertion, and sentenced to be shot. These men were said to be distinguished criminals of their class, none of them having deserted less than twice, and one had done it five times, enlisting after each time in a different organization and pocketing the bounty money that was being paid. The general discipline of the army had been of such a merciful sort that many thought they would be pardoned on the day set for their death, and the culprits themselves were reported to be not much concerned. However, our order to attend and witness their end soon came, and one pleasant afternoon the regiment was formed and we marched out, taking a direction that led us up to the Rappahannock and nearer its banks. When we had gone a half a mile or more we came to a large open space that was excellently adapted to the carrying out of the tragic orders that had been issued and the accommodation of the thousands detailed to look on. The ground sloped gently forward from three sides and formed a small valley, in which were five freshly made graves, each having beside it a common board coffin. Our regiment, with the other regiments of our division (2d Division, 5th Corps), were formed in close lines on the sloping ground along two sides of the valley facing the graves, and a little more than a hundred yard from them. We were in the front line and but a little distance from the firing party. Soon the solemn strains of a dirge began far on the left, and a striking procession came into view. On the lead was the band with its mournful music and slow step. Next came a detachment of the guard and firing party, and after them the convicts, following each other a few steps apart. Their hands were closely tied behind them, and each wore a white shirt, but neither coat, vest or cap. Each was accompanied by a comrade, and another platoon of the guard completed the funeral procession by bringing up the rear. The prisoners seemed to be vigorous men, all between twenty-five and forty years of age, and excepting one, walked with pretty steady steps as they marched slowly along the whole front of our line. Then they moved down to where the graves were yawning, and each man was seated on a coffin and his eyes covered with a bandage. The firing party consisted of about forty men, and while they were taking their positio+n at twelve or fifteen yards in in [sic] front of the victims, a citizen went forward from our lines and began to have a peculiar conversation with one of the condemned. There was gestures and signs of emotion, and sounds of recitation and responses. This performance continued for eight or ten minutes I think, and none of us could give a satisfactory explanation of it at the time, though we learned soon afterward that one of the deserters was a Jew, and that it was a Rabbi and a Hebrew religious ceremony that we had witnessed. The Rabbi departed, and quick came the clear command to the guard: "Ready!" "Aim!" "Fire!" The rifles spoke together, and four men fell over dead,+ while the fifth sprang forward, and ere he sank down was a corpse. We were soon on our way to camp, glad that the trying ordeal was over. [more information]

'This was not the first execution we had witnessed, and a few of us would have attended of our own free will. We were not a hard-hearted set, but this scene made very little impression on us. We remembered how the terrible hail of iron and lead had torn through our ranks at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and how noble and dear comrades had gone down in agony and blood all around us, and we considered it probable that some of those very rascals had been paid to occupy the places where far better men had been killed; and that their perjuries and dishonesty had made them worse traitors to us than the foe that openly aimed their guns at our hearts.

'Some of our most vehement comrades remarked, "d--m 'em; it served them right." Some others declared that it was a shame to shoot those fellows so soon, as they should have been kept to help to eat the wormy "hard tack." It would be perfectly in keeping with the usual course of matters in our company, if several had next joined in a discourse about the inconsiderateness of the government in compelling a man to walk so far to his own funeral, and turning out a band of music to make the occasion lively. We were certainly a curious, comical and devil-may-care set, anyhow.'

---

[source: The Survivors' Association. History of the 118th Regt. P.V. Corn Exchange. Philadelphia: JL Smith, 1905.]

'[p.292] Captain O'Neill and Adjutant Hand returned with one hundred and nine drafted men and substitutes. The quota allotted was one hundred and fifty-nine, and with that number they had started from Philadelphia. Fifty, however, had eluded their vigilant attention and disappeared on the route. This was not unusual. Scarcely any detachment of recruits of such a character ever reached the front without seriously suffering from desertion. Occasionally the guard, catching them in the act, upon their refusal to surrender shot them as they attempted escape to friendly timber, or jumped from ferry boats crossing rivers. This latter method of escape, in the darkness of night, was frequently resorted to. It was questionable whether the wholesale desertion of substitutes--the evil was confined almost exclusively to them--did not make the conscript system a failure. ... [p.294] Five of the men who had eluded O'Neill's vigilance were subsequently apprehended in attempting to recross the Poto- [p.295] mac. They had enlisted under the names of Charles Walter, Gion Reanese, Emil Lai, Gion Folaney and George Kuhn. They were all foreigners, unacquainted with the English language except one. Two were Roman Catholics, another a Hebrew, and the others, if of any faith, were Protestants.

'Assigned to the regiment, they had never joined it and were wholly unknown to it. Charged with a crime, conviction for which was likely to be followed by capital punishment, they were sent to the regiment only as a forum where judicial cognizance could be taken of their offence. In fact conviction, followed by any of the punishments usually inflicted for desertion, would have connected them with the regiment only as prisoners awaiting trial or as criminals awaiting approval and execution of their sentences. They had, therefore, been thrown into an organization where they were entire strangers and which had with them neither friendship, memories nor associations, and as they had come there as prisoners only for the stern administration of military justice, they could look for little sympathy.

'Desertions, bounty-jumping and re-enlistment had followed each other with such alarming frequency that the death penalty became necessary as the surest method to prevent their recurrence. Except for desertion to the enemy, capital punishment was rarely, if ever, inflicted. The authorities, having determined, if possible, to eradicate the shameful practice of bounty-jumping, had instructed courts-martial in all well-established cases, upon conviction, to impose the severest penalty known to the law. This failing to entirely remove the evil, and "to be shot to death by musketry" being deemed too honorable a death for such abandoned characters, the mode of execution was subsequently changed to the rope and the gallows.

'Tempted by the very extravagant sums paid for substitutes and the large bounties offered by district organizations to complete their alloted quotas and thus avoid a draft, large numbers from the worst classes of the community entered the service. A large proportion never reached the army.

[page 296]

'The court which tried these five offenders was presided over by Colonel Joseph Hayes, 18th Massachusetts Volunteers, and convened, pursuant to General Order No. 35, of August 15, 1863, at head-quarters, 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps. The numbers arraigned, the frequency of the crime, the expected severity of the sentence, attracted the attention of the whole Army of the Potomac. Besides, it was almost the first, if not the first, of this class of cases, and was given unusual publicity, officially and otherwise. The prisoners were all found guilty and sentenced to be shot. The order, fixing the time of the execution as Wednesday, the 26th of August, between the hours of 12 M. and 4 P.M.,* [note 1] reached the regiment on the 24th, and was at once published to the prisoners by Major Herring, in the presence of the chaplain, through the aid of an interpreter. The difficulty in securing the services of a priest and rabbi, who came specially from their Northern homes, induced a respite until Saturday, the 29th, between the same hours. On the day following the announcement of their sentence, they addressed a communication to General Meade, craving a merciful reconsideration of the punishment imposed. It was the composition and in the handwriting of one of them, and read as follows:

'"BEVERLY FORD, VA., August 25, 1863.

"MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE:

"GENERAL:--We, the prisoners, implore your mercy in our behalf for the extension of our sentence, so that we may have time to make preparations to meet our God; for we, at the present time, are unprepared to die. Our time is very short. Two of us are Roman Catholics; we have no priest, and two are Protestants, and one is a Jew and has no rabbi to assist us in preparing to meet our God. And we ask mercy in behalf of our wives and children, and we also desire you to change our sentence to hard labor instead of death, as we think we have been wronfully sentenced; as we, being foreigners, were led astray by other soldiers, who promised us there would be no harm done.

"Your obedient servants,

"CHARLES WALTER,

"GION REANESE,

"EMIL LAI,

"GION FOLANEY,

"GEORGE KUHN."

'The death penalty having been announced, the guard was strengthened, and every movement of the condemned men closely and carefully watched. An exhaustive search was made for everything that might be employed to commit suicide. Captain Crocker was placed in charge of the guard, and Lieutenants Lewis, Bayne and Thomas were assigned to duty with him. Four men inside and four outside the place of confinement were continually on duty.

'Lewis conducted the search. He took a pocket-book from the Hebrew, who pleaded earnestly for its return. Lewis, yielding to his entreaties, was about returning it without examination, when Major Herring, who had supervised the operation, promptly directed him not to do so until he had carefully examined its contents. Concealed in its folds was a lancet. The Jew had not observed the examination, and when the pocket-book was handed him his countenance lightened, and, nervously clutching it, he began to search it closely. Discovering that the lancet had been removed, his countenance fell again, and, handing back the book to Lewis, he mournfully remarked through the interpreter, who had repeated all that had been said, that he had no further use for it and any one was free to retain it.

---

[second part of description in 118th PA's regimental history]

'From the time of the publication of the order until the day of the execution not a soldier was permitted to leave the regimental camp limits, nor were visitors allowed to enter them. All military exercises and camp duties were performed decorously and quietly. An order was issued forbidding noise and [page 298] levity, but it was needless; the awfulness and solemnity of the coming event pervaded every heart.

'It may seem strange to some that men who could shoot at others in battle without compunction should feel so serious about the fate of five deserters. It is one thing when soldiers with heated blood and inflamed passions, face to face and hand to hand in fierce conflict, inflict horrid wounds or death upon others. It is a very different thing to look forward to a scene in which men are to be done quietly to death without any of the circumstances which rob war of half its terrors and hide its real character.

'The day of the execution was bright, clear and cool. The site selected was the further end of a plain, in rear of the head-quarters of the 2d Brigade. The plain was sufficient in extent to accomodate the entire corps with each division deployed in line of masses, battalions doubled on the centre, on three sides of a hollow square. From the open front to the rear the ground gradually rose, bringing the final scene of the tragedy in full view of all the soldiery.

'The morning was busy with preparation. Twenty men, under Sergeant H. T. Peck, were detailed to bear the coffins, and ten pioneers, with spades and hatchets, under Sergeant Moselander, were charged with filling the graves and closing the coffins. Captain Crocker, to whom was assigned Lieutenant Wilson, commanded the guard of thirty men.

'Father S. L. Eagan, the Catholic priest, had arrived from Baltimore the afternoon before, and with Chaplain O'Neill had spent the night ministering religious consolation to those of the prisoners whose faith they represented. The Jewish rabbi, Dr. Zould, did not arrive until shortly before noon of the day of the execution.

'The prisoners, clothed in blue trousers and white flannel shirts, accompanied by the clergymen, the escort guard and detail, were marched a little after twelve o'clock to a house in the vicinity of the 2d Brigade's head-quarters to report to Captain Orne, the division provost-marshal, and there await the formation of the corps.

[p.299]

'The troops assembled slowly. The 1st and 2d Divisions were in position, occupying the second and fourth fronts of the square, when at three o'clock, without awaiting the arrival of the 3d, which subsequently hurried into its place, the solemn procession entered the enclosure on the right of the second front. On the right was the band, then followed Captain Orne, the provost-marshal, with fifty men of his guard, ten to each prisoner, as the executioners. Then there were two coffins, borne by four men each, and in their rear the condemned Hebrew with his rabbi. At a suggestion from Major Herring, the one representing the most ancient of religious creeds was assigned the right. Other coffins, each borne by four men and followed by the prisoners and the priest and chaplain, brought up the column of the condemned. The prisoners were all manacled. Four of them bore themselves manfully, moved steadily and stepped firmly. One, with weak and tottering gait, dragged himself along with difficulty, requiring support to maintain his footing. Captain Crocker, with his escort of thirty men, closed up the rear.

'The procession moved slowly; the guards, with reversed arms, keeping step to the mournful notes of the dead march. The silence was broken only by the low, doleful music, the whispered words of consolation of the men of God and the deliberate martial tread of the soldiers.

'The column, with the same slow, impressive pace, moved around the three fronts of the square and, halting at the first or open front, faced outward. The five coffins were placed opposite the foot of five new-made graves and a prisoner seated upon each. The provost-guard, subdivided into detachments of ten, with loaded pieces, faced their prisoners thirty paces from them.* [note 2]

'The provost-marshal read the orders directing the execution. [page 300] The minister, the priest and the rabbi engaged in earnest, fervent prayer. Time grew apace, and the hour within which this work of death must be consummated was rapidly expiring. General Griffin, who, annoyed from the beginning with unnecessary delays, had anxiously noted the waning hours, observed that but fifteen minutes were left for the completion of what remained to be done. In loud tones, his shrill, penetrating voice breaking the silence, he called to Captain Orne: "Shoot these men, or after ten minutes it will be murder. Shoot them at once!"

'To many and many of the thousands of those assembled there, there will but once more come so solemn a moment--the moment when death nears them.

'With a few parting words of hope and consolation, the clergy stood aside. Lieutenant Wilson quickly bandaged the eyes of the prisoners, and they--though in the full vigor of life and health--were literally upon the very brink of the grave.

'The terrible suspense was but for a moment. "Attention, guard!" shouted the clear, ringing voice of the provost-marshal. "Shoulder arms!" "Forward!" "Guide right!" "March!" Every tread of the guard fell upon the stilled hearts of the motionless army. Twenty-five paces were quickly covered. At six paces from the prisoners with appropriate pause and stern deliberation the command was given: "Halt!" "ready!" "aim!" "fire!" Simultaneously fifty muskets flashed. Military justice was satisfied and the law avenged.

'Four bodies fell back heavily with a solid thud; the fifth remained erect. "Inspection arms!" hurriedly ordered Captain Orne, and every ramrod sprang in ringing tones upon the breech. No soldier had failed of his duty, every musket had been discharged. Pistol in hand the provost-marshal moved to the figure which still sat erect upon the coffin (for it was his disagreeable duty to despatch the culprit if the musketry failed); but Surgeon Thomas had pronounced life extinct, and the body was laid upon the ground with the others. [page 302]

'The masses changed direction by the left flank, and amid the enlivening notes of "The Girl I Left Behind Me" broke into open column of companies, and marching by the bodies to see that the work of the executioner had been effectually done, the troops were soon back to their camps again.'

* [note 1]
'HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, August 23, 1863.
'General Orders No. 84.
'. . . . . These men evidently belonged to that class who are trading upon the necessities of the country and have embraced enlistment with a view to desertion for the purpose of gain. It is hoped the prompt punishment awarded to their crimes will have the effect to deter others from attempting a like criminal and dishonorable course of conduct, as the commanding general will unhesitatingly punish all such cases with the severest penalties of the law. This order will be published to every company in this army at the first retreat parade after its receipt.
'By order of GENERAL MEADE.'

* [note 2] 'The pieces are not loaded by those who bear them, and one in each of the ten is charged with a blank cartridge. None of the firing party is supposed to know who discharged the musket loaded without ball, and, as a consequence, none know who actually fired the fatal shots.'

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This really is excellent as it gives insight and first hand accounts through their eyes and experiences. 

Thank you so much 

---

Horrific and Sad; really sheds more light on the horrors of the U.S. Civil War!

Answer 2

My 3X great grandfather, William G Swanner, and his brother, James Alfred Swanner, both enlisted men from the 37th Regiment. North Carolina Infantry, deserted the same day from the picket line at Petersburg, Virginia. They were taken to Washington, D. C., where they signed oaths of Allegiance to the United States, and then were transferred to Titusville, Pennsylvania for the duration of the war.

Comments

Very nice work with their profiles!

The 37th NC was involved at the Battle of Cold Harbor which I know the 106th faced the NC Regiments in battle. The 37th was at Gettysburg! 

Very interesting 

Answer 3

I saw two statistics that I thought were interesting and present a pretty stark contrast.

First, "(o)fficial figures show ... over 200,000 Union soldiers deserted, with some estimates as high as 280,000."

https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/desertion,-cowardice-and-punishment.html#:~:text=Official%20figures%20show%20slightly%20over,the%20way%20among%20Confederate%20troops.

Second, a total of 147 Union soldiers were executed for desertion.

https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5853&context=etd

Comments

Thank you Roger,

I’m surprised at the number #147 seems very low in contrast to the many who did desert.

Good links 

Answer 4

Just my 2 cents, but no. I don't think you want to go down that rabbit hole.

Comments

Exactly ! 

Answer 5

I cannot answer specific to Nelson, but as to a separate category, I feel would be quite interesting. The horrors were unimaginable...imagine what the combatants endured. I, as I'm sure others as well, have an interesting discovery of a deserter who perhaps 18 months later re-enlisted under an alias in a different type of role. The widow was unsuccessful in her pension effort because of "service irregularities".

Answer 6

Occasionally, there was a positive reversal of fortune. Consider the case of Sgt. Andrew Tozier of the 20th Maine, who was one of the 120 deserters from the 2nd Maine assigned to Col. Chamberlain at Gettysburg after their regiment was disbanded. They had deserted mistakenly believing their enlistment was for only 2 (really 3) years.

He could have been shot. Instead, he progressed from deserter to color bearer and, for his bravery at Little Round Top, was awarded a Medal of Honor. His profile doesn't mention his desertion, but the story can be read at 

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/defense-little-round-top

as well as in Chamberlain's memoirs.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tozier-288

Comments

So Many Variables during the U.S. Civil War it’s really fascinating! The example provided is excellent. Thank you