Hi there I have an ancestor who deserted during the Civil War, and, probably when they decided he definitely wasn't coming back, he was mustered out a few months later. I think it was a way of "clearing the books" and keeping the place tidy! Best wishes, John PERPETUALLY SEEKING: RYSDYK in Holland and New York/New Jersey: ELSWORTH in New York: PHILLIPS in London: GRASEMANN in Germany and London: BRICKS IN MY BRICKWALL INCLUDE: LEVERSTONE, ALLEN, PETLEY, RAINES, LEGASSICKE, WOODHAM, URMSON, ARNOLD, KING, ACOTT, TROTTER, ANDERSON, HOWELS, MITCHELL, ALFORD, WILLIS, TROTMAN, MANSFIELD, SWINDLE, NICKELS, PAVEY, ELWES, ILOTT, AND BEAUFORT, all in the UK. -----Original Message----- From: Bette [mailto:betterich@uswest.net] Sent: 21 May 2000 17:07 To: NY-Military-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [NY-Mil] Significance of "mustered out" and "desertion" You can get mustered out for any reason at all. End of period of enlistment, illness, color-blindness, flat feet, you name it. Mustered out and discharged are generally the same. Usually you can not get a pension unless you have been honorably discharged. Someone who deserts has not had any kind of discharge usually unless it is resolved at a later date. Because of errors and other circumstances a person listed as a deserter might get a pension. In genealogy as in most things there are no absolutes. Never say never. ----- Original Message ----- From: <HZMagida@aol.com> To: <NY-Military-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 10:19 AM Subject: [NY-Mil] Significance of "mustered out" and "desertion" > In reading data from ancestry.com civil war database - the term "muster" > seems to be used in different ways - it suggests a transfer or transition > between military units or a type of discharge. > > One possible relative was "mustered out" about six weeks after enlistment - > before his unit was sent on any military missions. Can anyone comment on > what that means? Voluntary discharge? medically unfit? > > Another possible relative deserted after two years of service in a NY > Infantry - would desertion automatically disqualify him for a pension (e.g. > no record)? > > --Helen Magida > Baltimore, MD > >