This is an interesting story for more research. Hope the family member gets back with us or someone can review his individual records.

This is my listing in the "Lest We Forget" roster for:

"Pvt David Beer, Co. C 7th Miss.David Pvt. discharged Feb. 1863 under conscript law, born in Bavaria, Germany. (age 25, 5'5", fair complexion, blue eyes, black hair, merchant)."

I would like to see the "joined from desertion" source before I'd make any assumptions.

Since he was a foreign national, he was eligible for discharge under the Conscript Act as early as Oct. 1862, but his actual discharge didn't occur until Feb. 1863. That tells me that he was held on the rolls from Sept.1861 to Feb. 1863 and he most likely was with the regiment at Shiloh, Munfordville and Murfreesboro.

My guess is that since he joined as a volunteer at Liberty it is not likely that he actually deserted before September. The regiment was basically in "Camp of Instruction" at the time and had only been on the coast since around August 20th. Possibly at the last minute in August he decided to not go with the regiment or missed the boat; then he showed up in Bay St. Louis before the 7th Miss. Vols were entered into Confederate service at the end of September.

The other option is that sometime between Sept.1861 and Feb 1863 he left the regiment and returned. I doubt he joined another unit, deserted and returned to reenlist in the 7th. That would be a stretch.

But without a document I won't change it in the roster. His full service records may indicate if he was present on any other rolls between Sept 1861 and Feb 1863.