US Army

[collin]

Hello,  I   have been looking at the US Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1914 for the period 1856-57
There are 44 men on each page and over half of them deserted, some of them twice!
What was happening? or was that normal? Ours was in the 5th infantry and he and another deserted on the same day in June 1857
Thank you

[Christine53]

This book , The Regular Army Before the Civil War , states " the regimental history notes that 55 percent of the recruits deserted before completing their enlistments " . It goes on to talk about garrison life being dull and there being very little to relieve the monotony.

https://history.army.mil/html/books/075/75-1/CMH_Pub_75-1.pdf

[collin]

That looks an interesting read
Thank you Christine