1) Regarding being recorded absent and later present: were these daily records, or an end-of-the-month records that summarized what happened at any point in time during the month?
Companies were mustered for pay bi-monthly, every two months, and these are the records we usually find providing information on a man's service
Company Muster Rolls for the period
Nov. & Dec, 1863 Present
Dec. 31, 1863 to Aug. 31, 1864 Absent In barracks at Savannah. Left in hospital at Monticello On his way to his Co. was arrested & confined Last paid Dec. 31, 1863
[No mention of desertion or AWOL, many times Companies could not conduct their bi-monthly musters, this being an example of having missed 3 musters]
Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, 1864 Present, last time paid Apl. 30, 1864
Record of Events [for the above period]
"The discipline of this company is such as to keep it in a constant state of discontent. The instruction is miserable, the men not being able to dismount or go through any simple movements. It is my firm believe and impression that of this company any was properly officered it would be as efficient as any in the filed, but in its present state it is certainly an expense to the Government."
There are no subsequent muster rolls in the records
[Note, it was normal vb nmat these musters to make note of the efficiency and discipline of the company]
2) When A.B. Middleton was captured May 10, 1865: Did he desert for a second time, or was he captured by Union troops?
Any clarity on the location of the capture?
A. B. Middleton, Pvt. 29 Ga Cav appears in a list of Prisoners of War surrendered to Brig. Gen. E. M. McCook by Maj. Gen. Sam Jones, C. S. A., at Tallahassee, Fla., May 10, 1865, Where paroled Albany Ga, When paroled May 26, 1865
[This ended his military service as well as the Confederacy]
3) Would A.B.'s 1864 desertion have prohibited him from applying for pension benefits?
Not to my knowledge having served honorably till the end of the war
4) Any insights on how CSA deserters were treated by their contemporaries after the war?
Obviously he returned to the regiment and served honorably till the end. He would not have been considered a deserter. Many men were absent from their commands for extended periods of time, recorded on the rolls as deserters or being AWOL, later returning to their regiments, some being subject to court martial, some not, but serving honorably thereafter
5) Your reply did not mention a pension application by A.B. Did you happen to look for one?
No, former Confederate soldiers applied for pensions from the state in which they were residing at the time of application, not from the state which he served. Also, pensions were only granted from former Confederate states. States such as California, Colorado, Oregon, etc. would not have paid Confederate pensions.
6) Is a timeline available as to where the 29th Battalion served?
Regimental Assignments
29th GA Cavalry Battalion
Organized: on 2/1/64
Mustered Out: 4/26/65
From
To
Brigade
Division
Corps
Army
Comment
Apr '64
Jul '64
Dist of Florida Division
Dept of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
.....
Jul '64
Aug '64
Jackson's/Miller's Brigade
Dept of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
.....
Oct '64
Nov '64
McLaws' Division
Dept of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
6 companies
.....
Oct '64
Feb '65
Jackson's/Miller's Brigade
Dept of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
2 companies