I have no information on the Branchville desertions. His records do not reveal the reason for his hospitalization, He would have been furloughed as his condition no longer required hospitalization and allowed to return home for convalescence. He may have decided to stay home, perhaps in hiding. Not at all uncommon at this time of the war.

One can also surmise, and probably the most likely, that his path back to his regiment was blocked by Yankee troops. And then again, there is no proof that he actually arrived at home shortly after release from the hospital.

This is noted on his Companies Muster Roll for the period June 30 to October 31, 1864

"This company has been constantly in the trenches around Petersburg since the commencement of the siege, it has participated in many of the engagements and has suffered severely, particularly on 30 July,"

They remained in the trenches through February 1865 when their records end.

Had he been captured by Federal forces while on furlough, we would expect to have Federal records as such in his file.