Is it Desertion if...

[gary]

Just read an account of a soldier who received a furlough and returned home mid-Jan, 1865 to Georgia. Sherman waltzes through and blocks the way for him to return to the Army of Northern Virginia. So far, so good. But shouldn't that soldier have offered his services to the local Provost if any or militia? He seemed rather cavalier and didn't even make an effort to return to the colors.

Mind you, I'm not being judgmental about him. As a bona-fide shirker (and bummer at heart), I wouldn't have gone back either.

 

[gary]

It was very late in the war and Sherman was marching through the Carolinas just about the time when he was suppose to return to the ANV. Can't say I blame him as I would have stayed home myself. The commentaries by reviewers about his book were written by veterans and they didn't seem to bear any resentment for him not having returned.

 

[Lnwlf]

Really old thread started by a still active member! Score!!!

Gary, do you remember the name of the book that you found this account? A lot of us enjoy the soldier accounts so if you remember please let us know! Thanks!

 

[leftyhunter]

Just read an account of a soldier who received a furlough and returned home mid-Jan, 1865 to Georgia. Sherman waltzes through and blocks the way for him to return to the Army of Northern Virginia. So far, so good. But shouldn't that soldier have offered his services to the local Provost if any or militia? He seemed rather cavalier and didn't even make an effort to return to the colors.

Mind you, I'm not being judgmental about him. As a bona-fide shirker (and bummer at heart), I wouldn't have gone back either.

Desertion is solely determined by the rules of what ever military a man is either enlisted or conscripted into.
Leftyhunter

 

[DixieRifles]

While searching my ancestor and his brother and brother-in-law who served in the same regiment, the latter one seemed to have been a "hosptal rat". He dropped from the rolls in 1864. Later I found him serving in a local militia defending Atlanta.
I still wonder if he got caught and was placed in the trenches as a form of punishment-- but I will never know why he left his company.

 

[ikesdad]

Maybe he just had a gutfull.

 

[gary]

Desertion is solely determined by the rules of what ever military a man is either enlisted or conscripted into.
Leftyhunter

I thought desertion was determined by the state of mind of the soldier. If there was never an intent to return to the colors, it is desertion. If he's out on the town to get drunk and doesn't report back on time, then it's AWOL and merely company punishment.

Regarding whether a man is enlisted or consripted, Confederate soldiers of 1862 were not discharged when their term of enlistment expired and everyone was compelled to remain in their unit. People after 1862 could hire a substitute (practice stopped around 1864), find an occupation that exempted them from the draft (politician, some civil service or overseer on a plantation).

So, please enlighten me as to the distinction in 1864-5?

 

[huskerblitz]

Actually I think it is determined more by the court martial result. I've seen countless desertion charges reduced to being AWOL and it was determined by the military commission that tried the individual.

 

[diane]

Sometimes desertion is determined by the state of mind of the commander. Forrest executed two soldiers for desertion even though they claimed to have had permission to go home for a little. He was having a terrible time keeping his men from disappearing and it was necessary to make an example of somebody. Unfortunately, these two were father and son and it turned out they really did have the proper paperwork and permission from another officer. Oops doesn't begin to say it but desertion was a major problem near the end.

 

[Specster]

Just read an account of a soldier who received a furlough and returned home mid-Jan, 1865 to Georgia. Sherman waltzes through and blocks the way for him to return to the Army of Northern Virginia. So far, so good. But shouldn't that soldier have offered his services to the local Provost if any or militia? He seemed rather cavalier and didn't even make an effort to return to the colors.

Mind you, I'm not being judgmental about him. As a bona-fide shirker (and bummer at heart), I wouldn't have gone back either.

The writing was on the wal by that time and men were leaving (call it what you will) in droves. I do not fault him with much of anything

 

[ikesdad]

Yep, enough is enough.

 

[leftyhunter]

I thought desertion was determined by the state of mind of the soldier. If there was never an intent to return to the colors, it is desertion. If he's out on the town to get drunk and doesn't report back on time, then it's AWOL and merely company punishment.

Regarding whether a man is enlisted or consripted, Confederate soldiers of 1862 were not discharged when their term of enlistment expired and everyone was compelled to remain in their unit. People after 1862 could hire a substitute (practice stopped around 1864), find an occupation that exempted them from the draft (politician, some civil service or overseer on a plantation).

So, please enlighten me as to the distinction in 1864-5?

Desertion is not determined by what a deserter thinks or feels. It is determined solely by what whatever the military that one deserts says it is.
The Confederacy sometimes shot deserters and sometimes they just put them back on the front lines. It just depended on who was in charge of said deserters that day.
Yes I am aware of exemptions from the Confederate Army. I have a whole thread with sourced evidence about thsy"did conscription help or hurt the CSA?"
Leftyhunter

 

[jgoodguy]

Desertion is not determined by what a deserter thinks or feels. It is determined solely by what whatever the military that one deserts says it is.
The Confederacy sometimes shot deserters and sometimes they just put them back on the front lines. It just depended on who was in charge of said deserters that day.
Yes I am aware of exemptions from the Confederate Army. I have a whole thread with sourced evidence about thsy"did conscription help or hurt the CSA?"
Leftyhunter

Thread
Did Conscription help or hurt the Confederacy?

 

[JohnW.]

There was no legit desertion...it was whoever didn't love ya, reported you gone.

 

[gary]

Lnwlf - I spent about 1/2 hour in my library looking for the source. I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Lnwlf]

Lnwlf - I spent about 1/2 hour in my library looking for the source. I'll try again tomorrow.

Thanks! I appreciate your effort! If nothing else this has been a good discussion for a good question!