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Indiana Deserters - Civil War
What Happened to the Deserters of Company G, 93rd Indiana Infantry?
As you search your family genealogy, what if you find a Civil War ancestor who's not a hero, but a deserter? It might be a let-down or a shock, but think it though. There are many factors that influence a soldier's behavior during wartime.
In my great-great grandfather's diary, I found his list of the men he served with in Company G, 93rd Indiana Infantry. A separate page was headed "Names of deserters of Co. G. of 93 regiment.of Ind. volunteer Infantry." I was curious about the seven names listed. Could I find anything about these men 150 years later? How had their lives turned out after they deserted their regiment in wartime? What caused them to desert?
Library of Congress graphic available from Zazzle:
Civil War Soldier Being Welcomed Home by lc_civilwar
Abraham Bates Tower's List of Deserters from Company G, the 93rd Indiana Infantry - Page 11 of my great-great grandfather's pocket diary
Alphonse Dupont - Deserted 1 June 1864
He deserted at Memphis, but returned about six months later on 16 December 1864. There was no trial and he was restored to duty but lost his pay for that time.
After the war, he married Marie Goffinet. They had six children. He died in 1919.
August Dupont - Deserted June 1864
He deserted at the same time as his brother Alphonse Dupont (above) and returned the same time. He was reinstated but lost pay for the time absent. He married Elisa Rhodes. He died in 1907.
One in seven enlisted Union soldiers and one in nine Confederate soldiers deserted.
Jerome Goffinet - Deserted March 13, 1863
(is this the right Jerome?) Marie Leonie DAMIN and Jerome GOFFINET Sr. were married on 14 November 1866 in St. Augustine Catholic Church, Leopold, Perry County, Indiana, USA.
- Jerome GOFFINET
Belgiums in the American Civil War. - BELGIUM-ROOTS Project: Perry County (Indiana, USA) - Saint Augustine's Catholic Church (Leopold)
Jerome Jos. MARECHAL, born March 4, 1858, son of Vic. and Cath. Goffinet; ; baptized March 7,1858; sponsors Jerome Goffinet and Mary Damon - The Goffinet Family Tree:Information about Jerome Goffinet
Jerome Goffinet (b. July 17, 1827, d. May 17, 1889) Jerome Goffinet (son of Lambert Goffinet and Anne Marguerite Goffinet) was born July 17, 1827 in Bulles, Luxembourg, and died May 17, 1889. He married Anne Marie Amelie Goffinet on May 12, 1858, da
Private Francis M. Hobbs - Deserted December 13, 1863
The company roster lists him as deserting on December 14, 1863. My ancestor's diary just lists him as F.M. Hobbs.
I had no success finding anything about his life in my online searches.
His place of residence when he joined Company G was listed as Maxville, Indiana. He was mustered in on August 28, 1862.
- 93rd Infantry, Company G roster
Francis M. Hobbs is listed on page 512.
Desertion During the Civil War
William M. Sturdevant - Deserted July 22, 1864
His residence was listed as Memphis. He deserted on July 22, 1864.
On Abraham Tower's list, the last name was spelled Sturdyvan. Probably just Abraham's attempt at spelling it from having heard the name. He also listed the first name as James, but the official roster lists William M. Sturdevant.
I found him on ancestry.com with an enlistment date of 8 Dec 1863. So it was 7 months later that he deserted.
The Roster for the 93rd Indiana Volunteers
- 93rd Indiana Volunteers - Roster
page 512 of Indiana Volunteers - 93rd Regiment. Read this online.
Reasons Soldiers Deserted During the Civil War
Captured deserters generally were not shot or hanged because manpower was so precious.
- Lack of necessary equipment, clothing and food
- Becoming discouraged and tired of the long war
- Problems at home needing their presence
- Health problems
- The need to go home for planting season
More about Civil War Deserters
- Desertion In The Civil War Armies
Reasons why soldiers in the American Civil War deserted. - Deserters in the Civil War
This summary is on the site "Ask a Historian." It talks about how wide-spread desertion was in the American Civil War and how it was punished.
How Recruitment Affected Desertion
- Civil War Recruitment Posters
At first troops serving in the Civil War were volunteers eager to fight for a cause that was important to them. As the war dragged on, it became harder to recruit so bounties were offered. Sometimes men deserted, then signed up again to get a bounty.
How Would You Feel to Find an Ancestor Was a Deserter?
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Diaries Tell the Story of Desertions in the South
© 2011 Virginia Allain
