Thank you, Bruce,
Would deserters be eligible for pensions? If not, would NARA still be likely to have service records on them? I received another pension record for an Illinois veteran back when it wouldn't break the bank, and there was only one little scrap from prior to his mother's application.

Maybe my question should really be are there service records on individuals apart from pension applications? Somewhere there must exist original records stating that these men deserted on this date so it could be put on the index cards, even though it is doubtful they ever applied for a pension.

I've attached a link to one of the cards.
Richard