The owls have caught him

[major bill]

If some one takes North Carolina discharge at night while on picket duty it was said "The owls have caught him." So I have to ask where the term "North Carolina discharge" came from? Also why was a Unionist from eastern North Carolina called a "buffalo"?

 

[jgoodguy]

FWIW
https://altchive.org/private-voices/gone-spout

J. W. Reese, a private in the 60th North Carolina, wrote home after several soldiers deserted from another regiment in his brigade: "sevril has went out of the 58 N C Regmant the Boys Calls this when on[e] Runs A way or is missing that the owls has Cout him."

owls have caught him idiomatic expression To go missing at night; to desert while on picket.

July 9, 1864: A compney out of the 54 verginia Regmant Belonging to ouer Bregad one nite whil on picket the liutenant in Command of the Companey he went over an mad airraingmet with the yankeys pickets and *** Back and tuck the Companey over with him and sum has went sence and sevril has went out of the 58 N C Regmant the Boys Calls this when on[e] Runs A way or is miss ing that the owls has Cout him or them. (J. W. Reese, Reese Papers Duke) Buncombe County, NC

North Carolina discharge noun phrase Desertion.

April 1862: I Rote to you about the North Carolina Discharge & this is the tennessee dis charge [= execution]. (Henry Robinson, Robinson Letters Emory) Jackson County, GA​

 

[Patrick H]

FWIW
https://altchive.org/private-voices/gone-spout

J. W. Reese, a private in the 60th North Carolina, wrote home after several soldiers deserted from another regiment in his brigade: "sevril has went out of the 58 N C Regmant the Boys Calls this when on[e] Runs A way or is missing that the owls has Cout him."

owls have caught him idiomatic expression To go missing at night; to desert while on picket.

July 9, 1864: A compney out of the 54 verginia Regmant Belonging to ouer Bregad one nite whil on picket the liutenant in Command of the Companey he went over an mad airraingmet with the yankeys pickets and *** Back and tuck the Companey over with him and sum has went sence and sevril has went out of the 58 N C Regmant the Boys Calls this when on[e] Runs A way or is miss ing that the owls has Cout him or them. (J. W. Reese, Reese Papers Duke) Buncombe County, NC

North Carolina discharge noun phrase Desertion.

April 1862: I Rote to you about the North Carolina Discharge & this is the tennessee dis charge [= execution]. (Henry Robinson, Robinson Letters Emory) Jackson County, GA​

That's what I guessed. I like the expression.