Apparently, Confederate prisoners, who were able, at times were offered the option of enlisting in the U.S. Army/Navy to get out of prison. Two brothers that I have traced were captured at the Battle of Cassville, Ga., sent to the Union prison at Rock Island Illinois and subsequently offered the option of enlisting in the US Army and sent to Ft Leavenworth KS to build roads and bridges.. Three others (also brothers) that were captured at the Battle of Resaca.(also in Ga.) were sent to the Alton Military Prison in Illinois. One died there, the other two opted to join the U.S. Navy when offered the opportunity. In all five instances, they had served three years in the Confederate Army prior to their capture. There are, however, no records of any application for pensions, that I have found. I'm sure there were deserters from the CSA, however, I would not apply thaterm to these people, unless I had walked in their shoes (or in their case, bare feet.). Plodding Along in Georgia, Betty