WOW, George! You are truly amazing!!
I've only recently started researching my Civil War ancestors. I have learned more from you in two messages about the ins and outs of our CSA Soldiers than I have previously had a chance to research! As a history buff, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the information and letters that you took the time to share with me. Thanks! I do recall having a few soldiers in my line that would seem to have been enlisted or conscripted out of Mississippi (as well as Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas). My ancestors were an adventurous group of people..lol.
I have not yet found any Union soldiers, but with my maternal ancestors being part of 'Le Grand Derangement' of Acadia, Nova Scotia, I am aware of some that were settled or conscripted into servitude at several New England colonies, so I would think there could easily be a possibility.
Historically, Acadians have tried to remain neutral when warring factions entered their homeland having no direct affect on them. Most were not slave owners nor English speaking and lived in a somewhat isolated world with the exception of a few neighbors. In these more rural areas of the plains or basin, many were not even considered for conscription until the first or second World Wars where they were often used as translators in the French campaigns. ..... Oops, getting off topic..... Sorry!!.
I'm including the Ancestry.com entry that referenced the 15 July 1863 desertion date you questioned.. Having read the letters in your last message, I suspect that Lessin may probably left on the 'furlough' erroneously mentioned by 'officers' before the approval was actually given by Jefferson Davis. Once having returned to his family (which would have been a longer trek from Vicksburg), Lessin either chose not to return to his unit or having left before the furlough was official and may not have been aware of the return date or location.
Thank you so much for your attention to detail and for sharing with this happy history hunter!
Petra
American Civil War Soldiers
about Lessin Absheir
Name: Lessin Absheir
Enlistment Date: 20 Oct 1862
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: Louisiana
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 20 October 1862.
Enlisted in Company D, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment Louisiana on 20 Oct 1862.
Deserted from Company D, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment Louisiana on 15 Jul 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Sources: 103,103
Source Citation: Side served: Confederacy; State served: Louisiana; Enlistment date: 20 Oct 1862..
Source Information:
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.
Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA form the following list of works.
Copyright 1997-2000
Historical Data Systems, Inc.
PO Box 35
Duxbury.