Soldiers in the 92nd Illinois Who Deserted
Surely most, if not all Civil War regiments, suffered loss through desertion.
Soldiers deserted their post for a variety of reasons, including family destitution on the home front, battlefield trauma, intolerable sickness or pain, or simply weariness of war.
At first glance, it is disturbing that anyone would abandon their comrades during wartime. However, unless we know their personal circumstances, let us not judge.
Having said that, however, I feel it is necessary to single them out, if only for the sake of all those other brave men who gave, in many cases, the ultimate sacrifice.
Andrew Calvin; deserted, 9/20/1862, four weeks after enlistment
Orrin B. Lawrence; deserted October 23, 1862, nine weeks after enlistment
Robert Lockwood; deserted January 30, 1863, then returned November 1, 1863
William Mitchell; deserted October 17, 1862, eight weeks after enlistment
Paris Rathbun; deserted 8/15/1864, during the Atlanta Campaign
George Richardson; deserted February 15, 1863