The 29th Tennessee Regt. would have been with the Army of Tennessee during the winter of 1863-64 at Dalton GA.

Desertion at Dalton GA in December 1864 makes no sense for any Confederate soldier. At that time Dalton was well inside Federal lines, so no Confederate command would have been there. The statement is either untruthful or inaccurate because a desertion at that date and place simply isn't reasonable.