Trivia 8-16-16 Deserters

[sarladaise]

Adrian J. Vidal, Texas
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fvi14

Edit - Oh me, oh my, another semantic question about what should be considered to meet the definition of "desertion."

The source shows that Vidal did desert the Confederate Army and joined the Union. Then he apparently attempted to resign from the Union Army, and headquarters ultimately consented to grant him an honorable discharge - but before the discharge came through, Vidal had fled his post and gone to Mexico to fight with Cortina and the Juaristas.

So, when he went off to Mexico, did that constitute desertion, or was it simply a case of being AWOL?

I am going to accept this response, since I would think that his actions indicate an intention to desert, even though the Army apparently never charged him with that offense.

Hoosier

 

[chellers]

John R. Denton, from Tennessee

http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2015/04/he-deserted-confederate-and-union.html
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=44087698
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=carolynwhitaker&id=I1992
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/...2cg&pcat=34&fh=2&h=10090826&recoff=&ml_rpos=3
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=carolynwhitaker&id=I1992

 

[lelliott19]

Credit for question submitted.

I really hope this one wasnt too difficult. I hope everyone was able to find at least one man who fits the criteria and enjoyed the search? If not, you can throw *virtual* stones if you like.

 

[Montana Territory]

Private John R. Denton, Tennessee

John R. Denton enlisted at age 18 as a private into Company B of the 3rd Tennessee Mounted Infantry Regiment (CS) at Knoxville, Tennessee on May 23, 1861, and subsequently fought at the Battle of Manassas in July. He was sent to a hospital in Manassas by order of a surgeon on October 13, 1861 and was present for duty in January of 1862, before deserting the Confederate army in Tennessee after February of 1862. Denton then enlisted into the Union army as a Private in Company D of the 11th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (US) at Lebanon, Kentucky on May 7, 1863. Company D was recorded as being "very undisciplined", and Denton again deserted by July 15, 1863, this time from Camp Nelson, Kentucky. He was arrested by Union soldiers on October 3, 1864 in Roane County, Tennessee and held in confinement at Knoxville until February of 1865. John Denton remains one of only a relatively small number of soldiers to desert from both the Confederate and Union armies during the American Civil War.


http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2015/04/he-deserted-confederate-and-union.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/21734563@N04/2227837494
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=carolynwhitaker&id=I1992
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search...oldierId=9436DA95-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CTN0003RIT
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search...oldierId=0437DA95-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UTN0011RC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ First Bull Run Confederate order of battle

 

[JOHN42768]

Philip Van Buskirk
source:http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/civilwar/id/1198/rec/1

 

[JOHN42768]

Please add to above: Philip Van Buskirk Virginia

 

[GELongstreet]

I´m not completely sure what the part with the state means, but I´m afraid it rules out the famous Henry Morton Stanley as he just immigrated (Became a POW while serving in the CSA, galvanized into the USA until being released for medical reasons and joined the USN from which he deserted.).

So my pic is Milton J. Adams. He served in the 63rd PA Infantry, became a prisoner at Petersburg and was sent to Andersonville, Georgia. There he was recruited into O'Neill's 10th Tennessee Infantry. In December 64 he, with 253 other galvanized yankees of the regiment, was taken prisoner by the USA and sent to Alton, Illinois. There he and the others changed sides again and were enlisted in the 5th U.S. Volunteers. I think that qualifies him ... though he even deserted another time in May 65.

Source: When Yankees Fought Yankees: Galvanized Troops in Battle During the War Between the States
by Brian Chastain (Part 3, section The Men of O'Neill's Regiment Confederate Infantry)

Edit - The "part with the state" meant that you were supposed to name the state from which the double deserter came. However, since you mentioned that he originally served in the 63rd Pennsylvania, evidently Adams came from Pennsylvania.

Again, it is questionable whether someone who was taken prisoner and then "Galvanized" into the other army should be considered to have "deserted," but since there seem to have been conflicting opinions on that issue, I will accept this answer.

Hoosier

 

[hoosier]

John Denton from Tennessee

http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2015/04/he-deserted-confederate-and-union.html

 

[ami]

John R. Denton of Tennessee
Denton volunteered for Company B (Monroe County, TN), 3rd Tennessee Regiment of Confederate Volunteers in Knoxville, TN on May 23, 1861 and fought at Manassas. We know he was still present for duty as of February 1862, but on May 7, 1863 he switched sides and enlisted for three years at Lebanon, KY in Company D, 11th Tennessee Cavalry, Union Army Volunteers. That didn't last long. By July Denton was listed as a deserter from Camp Nelson, KY. The following month's muster rolls reported Private John Denton absent from recruiting duty. http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2015/04/he-deserted-confederate-and-union.html