Hello Listers. I just received the Civil War Service File for my gg grandfather, John H. Cooley, who served as a Private with Company G of the 62nd NY Infantry (I previously sent for a pension file and was told that none is available). I am very confused by what I received. The file consisted of 35 Company Muster Roll, Regimental Return and Hospital Muster Roll cards. John Cooley was apparently wounded and sent to the U.S.A. General Hospital at David's Island, New York Harbor on July 2, 1862. He spent two and a half months there and the last of three Hospital Muster Roll cards says that he "deserted from Gen'l Hosp, D.I., NY - Sept. 21, 1862". His Company Muster Roll cards continue to say that he was sick or wounded in the hospital, for the whole term of his enlistment and he is mustered out on June 24, 1864 (21 months later!). Under "Remarks" on a Co. Muster-out Roll card dated "Fort Schuyler, NYH, Aug 30, 1865" he is listed as "deserted". In addition, there is a Casualty Sheet that lists the Nature of Casualty as "Deserted" and Date of Discharge, Death etc. as Sept 21, 1862. I have several questions: 1. Did John Cooley just walk out of the hospital and desert the Army? 2. Did his Company just assume he was still recuperating in the hospital and continue to fill Muster Rolls accordingly? 3. The Casualty Sheet lists the source of information as "Roll 3. David's Island Hospital". What are those records and are they still available? 4. Where can I find additional information about the hospital on David's Island? My apologies for such a long post and thanks to all for your kind indulgence and assistance. Bob Meany