My 4x great grandfather was Micajah Blackwell of Dickson County, Tennessee. Micajah was a half Creek Indian from Georgia with a huge mystery of parental history. I only know his creek because a few of his kids registered in the roles as 1/4 Creek. They were from two different marriages from white mothers with no ancestry in a Native American sense so it's a logical assumption. Micajah first enlisted Enlisted Oct. 24,1861in Dickson Co. Tenn for 12 Mos at Age 32 as a Pvt. in Capt. T.W. Beaumont's Company 50th Tenn Inf. But then it says: Discharged Nov. 10,1861.

Why would he only spend 17 days in the Confederate Army and what would grant him a discharge so soon?

In February of 1863 his son enlisted in the 11th Tennessee and Micajah some how joined by getting conscripted. His records then say Captured July 2,1863 during the retreat from Tullahoma to Chattanooga. Somtime between Nov. and Dec. 1863 he made his escape but never returned.

Any ideas on where he made his escape from and why did he not return? Apparently at some point him and his son deserted but returned as they were only bringing the crop in. Maybe that's why he didn't return but why did he not suffer any repercussions for not returning or did he actually return and just hadn't at that time? He died in 1866 but as of now I'm not sure why. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Christopher