During the war the Confederate army pursued deserters as best they could. I've got an article pending approval for publication right now that looks at the "desertion" of 99 guards from Camp Ford in July 1864. I put desertion in quotes because military officials saw it as desertion while the men saw it as self reassignment to another unit. That's not allowed according to the Confederate Articles of War. The men were all returned--some voluntarily, the bulk captured south of Dallas. They were confined for a short period of time and then went back to their unit. Of the four ringleaders that went to court martial, three were put to hard labor with ball and chain, and the lieutenant was stripped of pay and rank and turned over for conscription.
Vicki Betts