Regulations required that after a period of so many days, etc., an absentee was to be recorded as Absent Without Leave on the Company's bi-monthly muster for pay.

Thereafter, after another given period of time, he would be listed as Deserted.

In quite a few cases many of those so classified would again appear as Present.

Not all company muster rolls survived the war to be available when the Compiled Service Records were produced.

I've seen a number of men whose records last showed them as Deserted, show up in post war reunion pictures and also have had pension applications approved.

The Tennessee Pension board was quite tough and anyone who signed a loyalty oath prior to Lee's surrender were turned down.

George Martin