I agree, but lets not get back on the discussion of Lincoln's actions again. LOL
As for the question of the substitute deserting. I know that there were several cases of exactly that happening on both side. Of the substitute collecting the $300 bounty, especially in the North, as a substitute and then vanishing never to be seen again.
I've never heard the disposition of any of those cases. It seemed that the general attitude was "So the substitute ran off, Oh Well." I have never heard of any of these cases were the original Conscript, as this guy was in the case we are laughing about, was called on to fulfill his obligation.