Thanks for pointing this out. I have an ancestor (a ggg uncle) who deserted from a Union regiment at Thibodaux, Louisiana. I have yet to learn the details of what happened. Roger Lester keegan wrote: > also we must remember communication was not as we have it today! > could have taken ill or got shot and even lost his horse, a number of > things could have happen on his way back to camp and no way to inform his > unit. > I take a reports of desertions questionable. I often wonder how many of us > would "desert " under the conditions they had to endure. Ann > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <Wmdperkins@aol.com> > To: <civil-war@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:30 AM > Subject: [CIVIL-WAR] Desertion--different definitions for different times > > > >> morning yall, >> >> We must remember that during the American War of '61-65, a majority of the >> troops were volunteers who believed that they were serving to defend their >> homeland. >> >> When word would reach units that their families were in dire straits, just >> as in the War of '75-83, these brave men (boys mostly...) would be torn >> between >> their loyalty to their comrades and the needs of their families. >> >> Is it any wonder that many troopers slipped away to aid their families >> only >> to voluntarily return to their units, many to later pay the ultimate >> price. >> >> Desertion for cowardice is one thing, truly deserving punishment, leaving >> ones unit is technically desertion but back then it was total war, not as >> we >> have now. >> >> have a great weekend >> >> Bill >> >> >> >> **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's >> hottest >> products. >> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >