Dave,

It is certainly possible he changed his name after deserting, but probably more to hide out from any Federal authorities who might be pursuing him.

The ending of the war did not automatically give the soldiers the right to go home. When they enlisted in the Union army, they had to serve until discharged. The Confederates, of course, went home when the war ended because their government and army had ceased to exist. Those in the Union service, however, were required to remain in the army until they were officially discharged.

His unit was not discharged until later in the year, but evidently after the fighting ended he decided that enough was enough and headed out. This was desertion and, if captured, he technically could have been shot (although as far as I can tell, no great effort was made to round deserters back up after the end of the war).

Dale