Damyankee Lad

[Sheltowee]

Loved this song as a kid. About a Union straggler who decides to masquerade as a confederate. Imbeds himself into southern society, and marries and has a large family. Keeps the deception active for the rest of his life.

Looked for some record of inspiration on the song- but nothing.

Anyone know of a similar story?

 

[lupaglupa]

Never heard of this one. There are certainly stories of people who assumed different identities after the War. I haven't heard one exactly like this but if it were true it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Somewhere, I think on this forum ( and darned it I can find it now!) I stumbled across the story of a very young Southern lad in a North Carolina regiment who, after the first days fighting at Gettysburg, had all he wanted of war and hid out for a period of time before asking help from a local family. He stayed in Gettysburg, eventually marrying a local girl and having a family there. @lupaglupa is that a story you recall?

 

[lupaglupa]

Somewhere, I think on this forum ( and darned it I can find it now!) I stumbled across the story of a very young Southern lad in a North Carolina regiment who, after the first days fighting at Gettysburg, had all he wanted of war and hid out for a period of time before asking help from a local family. He stayed in Gettysburg, eventually marrying a local girl and having a family there. @lupaglupa is that a story you recall?

It sounds vaguely familiar. @Tom Elmore have you heard that Gettysburg story?

 

[treebie2000]

Can't remember my source, but that allegedly happened to "Billy Bayly" and his Mother who lived north of town. After the first day's struggle, Billy later recounted:
"Sometime after midnight, we were awakened by a knocking at the kitchen door, and Mother told me to follow her downstairs. At the door we found a little fellow in a gray uniform, hardly taller than I am and only a couple years older, who said he had been through the battle of the day before, that his unit had been cut to pieces, that he was from North Carolina, was tired of fighting and never wanted to see another battle."
The boy was hidden away, and became a citizen of Gettysburg.
Sorry I can't remember where I got the story.

 

[treebie2000]

Here is the name of Tom Elmore's thread. I don't know how to link it.
"Story of the Bayly Family and Private Mias A. Wilson of the 16th North Carolina"

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I think this will work

Story of the Bayly Family and Private Mias A. Wilson of the 16th North Carolina | Gettysburg

Private Mias A. Wilson of Company F, 16th North Carolina, went missing during the battle and was afterwards listed as a deserter by his unit. Since there is no Federal record of his capture, a recently published reference lists him as presumed "killed" (Confederate Casualties at Gettysburg, by...

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