Misleading C.S. desertion records

[bill_torrens]

I think this is a very interesting article, which suggests that Confederate rates of desertion may not have been nearly as high as the primary source materials suggest: http://www.etymonline.com/cw/desert1.htm

[johan_steele]

Bill, good link

[wt_jimbos]

Interesting article indeed, and one I enjoyed. Just one question, is a soldier deserting into federal lines, taken prisoner, if so does he stand as a statistic of desertion or captured. This could have an effect on what the article is trying to convey at times.

[johan_steele]

I think what this article does is explain the desertion rates in a much more complete amner than most would expect.

To the CS he would stand as AWOL or MIA... to the Federal records he would stand as a POW. I have seen one record that took the POW numbers listed in US possesion and added them to the CS desertion rates and used that as a men lost number to the CS. W/ those kind of numbers there were no trrops left to fight! Abviously a wrong conclusion. Statistics can be used to prove anything if the numbers are manipulated enough. As Mark Twain put it: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, **** lies and statistics."

THe prevelance of "French Leave" certainly upped the Deserion precentage... I think the desertion rates approaching 40% from all causes has been the best researched I've come across... I wish I could find the reference off hand. IIRC it stated the desertion rates ebbed and flowed w/ the fortunes of War. I was stunned to see the high rate of desertion among units like the Stonewall Brigade.

AWOL/desertion rates did not differentiate between straggling, captured, killed and not reported, often detached duty and of coarse the men who actually deserted w/ no intention of returning.

THe CS quartermaster dept was... unprofessional and their recordkeeping practices were abhorent. Frankly when I see double digit desertion rates I cannot fathom it.

By the end many CS regiments had all but ceased to exist because of desertion. I recall reading of one accout in the west where a Captain woke up stepped out of his tent to find his entire company minus his 1st Sgt gone in the night. Though, by that time of the war a company might be less than twenty men.

(Message edited by johan_steele on November 06, 2004)

[thea_447]

True enough that CSA record keeping was terrible. In researching my husband's paternal great grandfather I at first, found him AWOL, only to find additional papers showing that he'd been in hospital for that period.

While we're on this subject I will add this, as he is one of many of my family on my mother's maternal side. My family has photo-copies of the actual pieces of paper of the original records noted (from microfilm). My sister Muffin reminded me of these:

Confederate Military Records show James M. Walls, Private (age 21)
enlisted in Chambers County Alabama September 2nd 1861, Company E, 14th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Authority is noted as Muster in Roll dated at Camp Johnston September 2nd 1861.
1921 Census of Confederate Soldiers notes J. M. Walls, Company E, 14th Alabama, enlisted at Chambers County, Alabama, 1861 and served until he was paroled when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. This Census noted he was born 11 January 1842, Chambers County Alabama, and his address, 1921, was Jasper, Alabama, Rt. 1, Box 25.
It is believed that James Monroe Walls actually enlisted 1 July 1861 at LaFayette (Chambers County), Alabama for the duration of the war as that is the information shown for him on all Company Muster Roll pay requests with a single exception which notes his enlistment date as 1 July 1864 (an obvious error).
On 18 July 1862 James was in Richmond, Virginia, where he received pay of $44 for four months' service.
James had at least nine medical cards among his military records; some were illegible.
J. M. Walls, Company E, 14th Alabama, appears on a "Report of
casualties of the 5th Brigade (Pryor's) in the engagements around
Richmond, Virginia, June 26 to July 1, 1862. Remarks: Missing*."
This report was dated July 11, 1862. *He was missing due to being
wounded. See report that follows. Confederate Military Service record of Company E, Gilmore Greys, Fourteenth Alabama Volunteers shows: "Walls, J. M., Private; Remarks:
Wounded the 27th of June (no year stated); Authority: M. D. Hurst,
1863, History of the Fourteenth Regiment."
James was admitted 28 June 1862 to General Hospital, Camp Winder,
Richmond, Virginia. Disease: wound on hand. This report noted
"Deserted: July 25, 1862." I believe this was an administrative error and the date should have been noted in the "Discharged" space which was directly above the "Deserted" space on the form, as Confederate Military Records (including pay vouchers and clothing issues) show James Monroe Walls served throughout the war and was paroled at Appomattox.
J. M. Walls is listed on Company Muster Rolls for May 1 to October 31, 1862.
Company Muster Rolls show James was present November and December 1862; another record during that same period notes he was admitted 26 November 1862 to the Hospital at Staunton, Virginia.
For January and February 1863 the Company Muster Roll noted he was sick in quarters.
On the Company Muster Roll for March and April 1863 Major Louis noted James was absent - "sick at Staunton, Virginia, descriptive list furnished."
Hospital Muster Roll, General Hospital, Staunton, Virginia dated 27
April 1863 concerning J. M. Walls reads: "for: (a blank space was
left) to February 28 1863; Attached to Hospital: March 17, 1862*; How employed: Dysentery; Last paid by Capt. Harris to Dec. 31, 1862; Remarks: Walls is improving slowly." *Should the date he was attached to hospital read 1863 instead of 1862 based on the information on the Company Muster Roll for March and April 1863??
James appears on Receipt Rolls for clothing for 3rd quarter 1863 (date of issue 18 July 1863; signature: x); and for 4th quarter 1863 (dates of issue 2 November and 31 December).
J. M. Walls, noted as Sgt. (but believe he remained a Pvt.), Co. E., was admitted 26 February 1864 at Receiving and Wayside Hospital or
General Hospital #9, Richmond, Virginia, with disposition: duty, date: 27 February 1864.
He appeared on Receipt Roll for clothing for 2nd quarter 1864 (date of issue not noted).
James appears on Register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital or General Hospital #9, Richmond, Virginia, admitted May (date illegible) 1864; disposition: Howard's Grove; date May 7 (or 17), 1864.
Records show James was received and admitted 16 May 1864 at General
Hospital, Howard's Grove, Richmond, Virginia, and was transferred 17 May 1864 to Danville, Virginia (another card shows "transferred May
18").
James was at C.S.A. General Hospital, Danville, Virginia 18 May 1864; complaint appears to read "Verl Sclopeticum;" tranferred 23 May 1864; Remarks: Hand.
A medical card which appears to be for J. M. Walls (but name almost
illegible) shows a soldier on a Register of Pettigrew General Hospital No. 13, Raleigh, North Carolina which notes May 30, 1864 disposition: transferred to Columbia, South Carolina.
James appears on Receipt Rolls for clothing for 3rd quarter 1864 (date of issue July 1864 [day of month not given]); and for 4th quarter 1864 (dates of issue 31 October 1864 and 1 November to 31 December 1864).
James M. Walls appears on "list of Prisoners of War belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by
General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A., commanding said Army, to Lieutenant
General U. S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States. Done at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865."
A letter from "Grammie" (Ella Bosworth Walls) to her granddaughter
Hazel Walls McCracken written 23 September 1926, reads: "Your Grampie is sinking slowly, he has not taken any nourishment in four days and is unconcious; he can't talk nor swallow anything." James Monroe Walls died between 23 and 27 September 1926. A gravemarker listing him and his wife is in Section 11, Pinecrest Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama.
He was a Mason, Woodman of the World and a Red Man. He was described as an honest, kind and good man.
RESEARCH NOTE: (1) Notes made by Hazel Walls McCracken and Ruth
Leonard Glover note that Ella Bosworth Walls and James Monroe Walls
lived on the Miller place in Horsehoe Bend after selling their place (have no idea what year this was or where "their place" was); need to check land records in Tallapoosa County, or Lee County. (See notes on Ella Bosworth Walls showing different locations where they lived.)(2)Check Mobile County for possible intestate records on James Monroe Walls (1926/1927).

[bill_torrens]

On the subject of desertions, does anyone know whether at the end of the war returning veterans of either side took issue with those of their neighbours whom they knew to have been deserters? Did deserters tend to move to new neighbourhoods? Were they allowed to join the GAR & UCV?

[johan_steele]

Bill, I have read accounts in the GAR where men were expelled because it was found out that they had deserted and at least once a man who turned out to be a bounty jumper was driven from the community and found himslef unwelcome everywhere he made his real name known.

tHere was also a very real difference in relation between veterans of the South who had fought through it all or until driven home by wounds or disease. Both the Union men and CS veterans had a common name for them: "Stay Behinders" but they also had a less polite term which the swear filter would likely ban me for life just for thinking.

It was particularly bad if a man who bragged about his military experiance was found to have been a deserter or god forbid a coward. Usually the real combat veterans would know the truth before too long by just listening.

[larry_cockerham]

Many Confederates deserted and returned as the article states. Many of these folks had large families at home, sometime nearby their service. The crops, if any, had to be harvested and what was left of the livestock and homeplace needed attention, not to mention wives and children. Wasn't so simple a time. Confederate service was not a monetary bonanza to say the least. At least the US Army offered some pay and equipment and supplies. The 63rd VA apparently was not paid from the time of Dalton, Georgia in mid winter 1864-65 until the few hardy souls left standing after Bentonville. At that point many had just gone home.