Thursday, January 1, 1863

Three soldiers deserted the 130th Illinois Infantry today.  Private Orrin P. Baker (Co. G) from Baldwinsville, Private Patrick Fitzgerald (Co. C) from Cairo, and Private Alexander Havens, also from Cairo and Company C.

These were not the first deserters.  At least two men deserted from Camp Butler and were never mustered in.  But these were the first desertions from the ranks for the 130th since their arrival in Memphis.  They would not be the last.

Given the conditions the soldiers faced, it should not be a surprise that desertion was fairly common throughout the entire Union army - even more extensive than in the Confederate ranks.