Sorry I do not know anything but if 157 total deserted, you know they had a good reason to go.
Could he have gone over to the Union?
My ggg grandmother's brother deserted in Arkansas in the spring and by fall had joined the Union cavalry.
Deserted in CSA records does not always mean deserted. My great grandfather deserted right after
the Battle of Shiloh, so my cousin who was wanting to join the UDC nearly freaked out. But he was
wounded and unfit to march, so he was marked deserted.
Wishing you the best in your search.