About desertion. Your ancestor could have gone home to help lay in crops and then return to his outfit. My ancestors are from that neck of the woods (Garretts, mostly) they married into the Seabolts and Postell families. Jackson L. Garrett my g-g-grandfather was with the 11th GA In fantry along with his brother Henry Eli. Garrett, who lost a couple of fingers off his left hand during the retreat to Richmond.