I read this entire thread, and I'd like to throw my cents in regarding why they may have skiddaddled. The obvious is what you gentlemen have already stated, which is pressure under fire, etc. But, what about the family connections? Did any of the men who desserted have family on the other side w/ the Union? I'd be willing to bet some or many of them did. I know why some of my kin switched from confederate to Union. There was no way that Alvin Musgrave was willing to kill his father, who was on the Union side. Yep, close to half of my kin were locked up in the brigade house after the leader of the family joined the Union ranks. Close to half of the family went to the Union side & half stayed confederate.