The Fourth Arkansas Union Cavalry was organized at Little Rock, AR, December 1863. Looks like a good percentage of these men were deserters from Confederate Units. The Civil War ended May 26, 1865.

Why did so many desert and join the Union Army in Dec. 1863?

Did these men realise they were loosing the war?

Where they thinking about their future?

Was there any finanical gain in switching sides?

Did the CSA run out of funds to pay their soldiers?

How much was the typical pay for a private in the CSA?

If a soldier serve for the South and North did he get two two pensions?

Did the Union veterans obtain a higher pension rate than the CSA veterans?

What was the penalty if the deserter was captured by the CSA?