Searching for grave of soldier executed for desertion
Joshua Pruitt of 53rd NC Infantry, G Co., Stokes Co.NC. Enlisted:20 Mar 1862; deserted 10 Oct 1862; returned 30 Nov 1862; deserted 20 May 1863; returned 30 Nov 1863; court-martialed 19 Dec 1863; executed by firing squad 15 Jan 1864.I have searched NARA, Soldiers & Sailors, and ordered official records from Natl Archives.(Sadly, the tiny bit of Archives data I received was all information I had already gleaned from various websites on my own.)
What was procedure for burial of an executed soldier? How do I find information on where he might be buried, would it be in the field where his unit was encamped for the winter, and why is it that I can find evidence of his widow collecting a pension in his name at later dates even though he deserted? Was there a bounty offered for deserters, and would there be record somewhere of that?I find it difficult to believe he would have deserted once, returned and suffered the humiliation and punishment for that crime, only to desert and willingly return again, especially leaving a wife and small children behind.
I'm completely at a standstill...help!
More Replies:
-
Re: Searching for grave of soldier executed for desertion
Loretta-Marie Dimond 12/22/10
-
Re: Searching for grave of soldier executed for desertion
Loretta-Marie Dimond 12/22/10