Derrick, this would make for quite an interesting research project, to determine reasoning for these men all to desert their regiment on the same day - it would probably make for quite a book! Here in the north, I've encountered cases of desertion, also - and often, men later returned to their regiment, or joined into another. [Like you, I've also read of the men who went home to plant/harvest, and returned afterward.] However, there were those, also, who faced a firing squad or rope for their desertion. So - did that mean they would rather face a squad of their own men and be executed, rather than take their chances with the enemy? Difficult to know the mind of a man when faced with such decisions - especially since we are looking back in time, and none of us today can truly know their circumstances. Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Derick Hartshorn" <DerickH@charter.net> To: <civil-war@rootsweb.com>; <mpruddy@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 6:37 PM Subject: Re: [CIVIL-WAR] Company E, 53rd Regiment, NC Troops - desertions > Alice, if we let the dead rest in peace, we wouldn't be involved with > genealogy, now, would we. > > As for the desertions, I am well aware of the circumstances that > brought on being aware from a unit. They varied and not all, by any > means, were based on cowardice. The reason many left their units was > to return home to plant of harvest crops. I have several poignant > stories and copies of letters on my web sites that illustrate the > subject quite vividly. Please see: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nccatawm/lanier.htm and > http://carolinakin.com/Letter-index.htm > > Many folks are not aware of the Indian battles that occurred out west > during the time of 1861-65. There are lengthy records in the "War of > the Rebellion" series. > As for the Union units the deserters joined, I'm sure they didn't > have a choice as to whether they would be faced with fighting against > Confederates or Indians. > > The Nat. Park Service has one of the best sites on the web for > locating men and units, both Union and Confederate. > > See: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html Click on SOLDIERS. > For the example below, enter a last name from the list below of a > soldier who joined the Union army. > Click on UNION. Enter North Carolina. > > The response page will list the Regiment and a description can be > found for that unit. > You will note that nearly all regiments were organized in Eastern > Tennessee and were part of the Division of General Stoneman. > These regiments did to my area of North Carolina what Sherman did to Georgia. > Our Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp is named for a young Lieutenant > who was shot in the back by occupying yankee troops, ten days after > the war ended! > > Owning and working with 15-volume set of individual NC Companies and > Regiments "North Carolina Troops-A Roster 1861-1865," I have never > personally seen a company that had a record of desertions to the > degree of Co. E, 53rd Regiment. Within the accounts of that regiment > are those of many men who deserted and returned to their unit. Those > I did not list. We will likely never know the reason for these > actions on an individual basis. Two families I have studied were the > Cook and Jessup families, many of whom are listed below. They all > joined on the same day and deserted on the same day. I do know that > these families settled in Westfield Twp., Surry County in the early > 1700's. The rest is a mystery. > > --Derick