My ancestor, William B. CONNER, deserted the 51st Virginia Infantry and went back to his home in Patrick County, VA. His last recorded presence was June 20, 1863. I am curious as to why he was not pursued.

Lt. Rufus J. WOOLWINE was commissioned, at times, to pursue and capture deserters. According to his diary, Lt. Rufus J. WOOLWINE visited various folks and parts of Patrick County approximately 42 times since William B. CONNER was not present for roll call. Why did he not mention William B. CONNER or any other Patrick County deserters?

One year earlier, Captain David Lee ROSS, of Company C(D) was dropped from rolls on 5/26/1862 and later reported to have headed up a home militia/guard. It is unknown if Capt. ROSS pursued William B. CONNER.

Lt. Woolwine recorded on August 31, three months after William B. CONNER's AWOL, that there were bushwhackers near the home of Paul HOWELL. And later, on January 24, 1865, Lt. Rufus WOOLWINE was at the home of James CONNER, possibly William B. CONNER's father.

At the end of his diary and the war, Lt. Rufus WOOLWINE was anxious to reunite with family and friends in the Jack Creek area of Patrick County, VA. Not once in his memoirs did he mention William B. CONNER or any Patrick County deserters.

I welcome any insightful and all general comments about desertion(s) from the Confederate Army. thank you