Missing vs. taken prisoner vs. deserted

[DixieRifles]

Same with Kentucky. They would list men as missing in action until they had information that the soldier in question was actually a POW. Then records would be updated.

But that isn't the question. She found some listed as "POW" and some listed as "Missing and POW".

There are many records with entries simply stated as "Missing in action". If there was not actual battle, they could be listed as "AWOL". Then the soldier would walk back into camp without punishment because it was determined he had become separated from the unit or was wounded or sick.

 

[Dave D]

Probably not your situation, but keep in mind that deserter might not mean deserter. Example: I had a Federal ancestor that was with an Ohio regiment, he got sick, then while in the Hospital, was recruited by the Marine Brigade which I guess was with the Navy, and the Army was jealous of the other branch, and reported him as deserter, AWOL. whatever! All that time he was actually with the Marine Brigade fighting at Vicksburg!

My gr gr grandad had signed up for a one year enlistment in the 5th Virginia Infantry and after a year he enlisted in the 12th Virginia Cavalry. A muster roll of the infantry company taken after he had gone to the cavalry showed him to be AWOL and then a subsequent roll said he deserted. But at the bottom of the last card of his infantry record there's a short statement that says "Now in Cavalry service".

So, I guess word didn't get back to the muster officer that my gggdad's infantry enlistment had ended properly and that he had moved on to the cavalry. The AWOL and deserter statements were still on his record. Stupid bureaucracy ...

 

[huskerblitz]

But that isn't the question. She found some listed as "POW" and some listed as "Missing and POW".

There are many records with entries simply stated as "Missing in action". If there was not actual battle, they could be listed as "AWOL". Then the soldier would walk back into camp without punishment because it was determined he had become separated from the unit or was wounded or sick.

I was agreeing with the poster above me. Certainly, she may have found some listed as you describe, but that wasn't the case in regiment I research.