A couple days ago we read a report about a courageous and loyal Confederate soldier who deserted because he was concerned about his wife’s welfare. The deserter was executed. Here’s information from 150 years ago this week that indicates some soldiers deserted for more mercenary motives.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 28, 1863:
Military Notices. …
Three hundred Dollars reward.
I will pay $300 in cash to any one who will arrest Michael Rooney, who deserted from my company last night after having regularly entered as a substitute three days before. He is a short, thick-built Irishman and wore, when he left, a pair of blue Yankee pants, citizen’s coat, and a black wool hat, badly worn; he is 46 or 47 years old and has generally worked on railroads, he once lived in Alexandria; has recently lived in Richmond, where it is said he has a wife and two children. The above reward will be paid to any one who will lodge him in Castle Thunder or any other prison, and notify me of the same, or for his head, should he resist arrest.
Wm T Nicholson,
Capt comd’g Co. E, 37th N G Reg’t,
Lane’s Brigade, A P Hill’s Div.
February20th, 1863.
Five hundred Dollars reward.
–Deserted from comp’y E, 26th Virginia reg’t, on the 1st inst, Henry Scott, an Irishman about 47 years old, about 5 feet6½ inches high; dark-brown or black hair; bluish eyes; dark complexion; has a ship tattooed on his breast, a woman on each arm, the woman on the left arm has a child in her arms; has a star on the back of the left hand, and has lost a portion of the middle finger of the right hand.–Henry Scott was mustered as a substitute for Robt Edmundam of Halifax Co., Va. The above reward will be paid for his delivery to me at the camp of the 26th Virginia regiment, Wise’s brigade, near Chaffin’s Bluff.
John T Perrin, Capt Co B,
26th Virginia regiment.
Desert to substitute again some day? Henry Scott might have a tough time going incognito.
