Graphic: Deserters

[josh54739]

Hello,
I was wondering how deserters were treated after the war. I think I read about a widow who's pension was suspended because her husband had deserted.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Hello,
I was wondering how deserters were treated after the war. I think I read about a widow who's pension was suspended because her husband had deserted.

Any veteran, on either side had to prove " honorable service " to obtain a pension. I had a relative in Tennessee who's Union soldier husband died in a Confederate prison in Virginia. She spent the better part of the 1870's trying to obtain a pension because his grave was never located and body was never recovered. So both the Federal government and the former Confederate States were REAL particular who they awarded pensions to.

 

[leftyhunter]

I would think quite a few deserters moved west after the CW so they could have a fresh start in life. I would be less then surprised if more then a few immigrated overseas to restart their lives.
Leftyhunter

 

[John Hartwell]

Even erroneous reports of desertion could prevent a disabled veteran, or his dependents from receiving a pension. I've seen cases in which a man was once reported deserted while he was in hospital from combat wounds. He returned to duty, was later wounded again, and discharged as disabled. But, the desertion record had not been expunged , and it took him two years, and an Act of Congress for him to get a pension! In another case, a sick woman and three children were denied a pension and left destitute because her husband had deserted.

Most deserters, of course, simply disappeared and were never heard from again. Moved away, or taking a new name, no one knew they were deserters.

jno

 

[leftyhunter]

Even erroneous reports of desertion could prevent a disabled veteran, or his dependents from receiving a pension. I've seen cases in which a man was once reported deserted while he was in hospital from combat wounds. He returned to duty, was later wounded again, and discharged as disabled. But, the desertion record had not been expunged , and it took him two years, and an Act of Congress for him to get a pension! In another case, a sick woman and three children were denied a pension and left destitute because her husband had deserted.

Most deserters, of course, simply disappeared and were never heard from again. Moved away, or taking a new name, no one knew they were deserters.

jno

True. In the pre computer and biometric era it was a whole lot easier to recreate ones past.
Leftyhunter

 

[TerryB]

If the rolls claimed you deserted, you could get members of your unit to swear you were there at the surrender. I have one case in the Ervin family of that happening, and the board awarded his widow a pension. The sad thing is that you might be on furlough at home and not be able to get back due to shifting lines. Some of those guys were pressured into taking the oath by family and neighbors. Those who gave in and took the oath before Lee surrendered were usually not able to get a pension, no matter how honorable their combat record.

 

[Nathanb1]

One of my great-grandfather's brothers enlisted after The Great Hanging in 1862. He apparently deserted once he was close enough to Kansas, and never came back home. Considering he was a unionist, I doubt he'd have applied for a Confederate Pension. I haven't checked to see if the wife he left behind did.

 

[Robert Gray]

GRAPHIC No pension for this man's family.

 

[TerryB]

I once found the story of a Confederate from Tennessee who deserted to the Union before the Battle of Shiloh. The story was in a Nashville newspaper on microfilm I was looking at. His name was variously spelled Roland, Rolllin or Rolen, etc. His CSRs show that the newspaper was correct. He was executed at Corinth on April 14, 1862, having been captured at Shiloh. Then I also found his story in Sam Watkins' book. Very odd to get three sources that virtually agree on every detail except how to spell his name.