Deserter Letters
This page is dedicated to letters concerning those soldiers that deserted their North Carolina regiments, and the effects of deserters on the home front.
A planter and politician describes draft dodgers and deserters in Rutherford and Polk Counties, and the refusal of local authorities to arrest them.
Governor Vance informs Confederate Secretary of War of desertion problem in western North Carolina and proposes to raise a specific Confederate unit to deal with them
An officer and resident of Randolph County complains of the destruction caused by deserters and requests military forces be sent to Randolph, Moore, and Chatham Counties to stop them
General Pender describes the large number of deserters from North Carolina regiments in the army and blames it on judges whose rulings lead soldiers to believe they won't be punished.
General Lee warns that a great many North Carolina troops are deserting in groups and taking their arms with them in order to band together to prevent their capture
General Pettigrew complains that civilians are writing to soldiers encouraging them to desert, and blames the desertion on disaffection in the state legislature and home front
A farmer writes to Vance describing the actions of deserters hiding in Madison County, North Carolina
A Home Guard commander describes the problems with deserters in Randolph County, and neighboring counties.
A resident of Davidson County complains of the actions of deserters and anger of local soldiers sent to police them
A Buncombe County resident complains that nearly every soldier from his Swannanoa community has deserted
A resident describes the deserters in Rockingham County and suggests that the governor send regular troops to catch them
A Randolph County resident describes murders and property destruction caused by deserters and those hunting deserters
Colonel of 56th North Carolina talks about the difficult of catching deserters in Randolph County
Citizens complain that Confederate troops sent to arrest deserters in Wilkes caused more damage than benefit and requests that they be taken away from the region.
Local Home Guard commander declares that since Confederate troops were removed from Moore County, deserters have been wreaking havoc again; asks for help
Elderly Moore County citizen begs governor to discharge his son-in-law from service so that he can provide protection from deserters and help run the family businesses
Randolph County resident discusses deserters hiding in woods and being held in jail, and the complications associated with the legal proceedings and rounding up of those in the woods.
North Carolina Cavalry officer writes to Georgia governor from Clay County, NC, asking permission to go into Georgia to catch NC deserters who have fled across state lines.
