Richard Briggs, aka, Private Richard Brown was drafted on Sept. 24, 1863 for 3 yrs. Service and assigned to Company B, 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He deserted on July 25, 1865 while the Regiment was at Weldon, North Carolina.
From the "History of the Ninety-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry", By Isaiah Price
He assumed the name Richard Briggs. Why he chose to desert in North Carolina when the War was already over is up to speculation. Maybe a "Southern Belle?" ( see Amy Hedrick (46543643) input below)
Note: Index Card has the Remark that he deserted July 25, 1865 but the charge was removed in 1886 - see letter from War department April 6, 1892. Apparently he was exonerated
On March 4, 2020, additional Information from Contributor: Amy Hedrick (46543643) GlynnGen.com Webmaster (Georgia)- Thank you Amy-:
Richard Brown was actually born Richard Briggs and he assumed the name of Richard Brown, not the other way around. It makes me wonder if this tombstone was for the real Richard Brown since Richard Briggs died as Richard Briggs and his pension file was filed under that surname with the alias Richard Brown.
Regardless, Richard Briggs was born 17 July 1840 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, his charge of desertion was dismissed and became his discharge under a war act that stated if the soldier willingly returned to duty after every absence, their last "absence" would be excused and not deemed a desertion.
He married a woman from Providence, Rhode Island in 1868, not a "southern belle". They divorced a few years later and eventually he remarried in 1881 to that southern belle whom he also deserted by 1900.
Mr. Briggs led a very colorful life and came from an interesting history; we have yet to discover why, after enlisting as himself in 1861, he was drafted as a substitute and as Richard Brown in 1863.
From the "History of the Ninety-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry", By Isaiah Price
He assumed the name Richard Briggs. Why he chose to desert in North Carolina when the War was already over is up to speculation. Maybe a "Southern Belle?" ( see Amy Hedrick (46543643) input below)
Note: Index Card has the Remark that he deserted July 25, 1865 but the charge was removed in 1886 - see letter from War department April 6, 1892. Apparently he was exonerated
On March 4, 2020, additional Information from Contributor: Amy Hedrick (46543643) GlynnGen.com Webmaster (Georgia)- Thank you Amy-:
Richard Brown was actually born Richard Briggs and he assumed the name of Richard Brown, not the other way around. It makes me wonder if this tombstone was for the real Richard Brown since Richard Briggs died as Richard Briggs and his pension file was filed under that surname with the alias Richard Brown.
Regardless, Richard Briggs was born 17 July 1840 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, his charge of desertion was dismissed and became his discharge under a war act that stated if the soldier willingly returned to duty after every absence, their last "absence" would be excused and not deemed a desertion.
He married a woman from Providence, Rhode Island in 1868, not a "southern belle". They divorced a few years later and eventually he remarried in 1881 to that southern belle whom he also deserted by 1900.
Mr. Briggs led a very colorful life and came from an interesting history; we have yet to discover why, after enlisting as himself in 1861, he was drafted as a substitute and as Richard Brown in 1863.
Richard Briggs, aka, Private Richard Brown was drafted on Sept. 24, 1863 for 3 yrs. Service and assigned to Company B, 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He deserted on July 25, 1865 while the Regiment was at Weldon, North Carolina.
From the "History of the Ninety-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry", By Isaiah Price
He assumed the name Richard Briggs. Why he chose to desert in North Carolina when the War was already over is up to speculation. Maybe a "Southern Belle?" ( see Amy Hedrick (46543643) input below)
Note: Index Card has the Remark that he deserted July 25, 1865 but the charge was removed in 1886 - see letter from War department April 6, 1892. Apparently he was exonerated
On March 4, 2020, additional Information from Contributor: Amy Hedrick (46543643) GlynnGen.com Webmaster (Georgia)- Thank you Amy-:
Richard Brown was actually born Richard Briggs and he assumed the name of Richard Brown, not the other way around. It makes me wonder if this tombstone was for the real Richard Brown since Richard Briggs died as Richard Briggs and his pension file was filed under that surname with the alias Richard Brown.
Regardless, Richard Briggs was born 17 July 1840 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, his charge of desertion was dismissed and became his discharge under a war act that stated if the soldier willingly returned to duty after every absence, their last "absence" would be excused and not deemed a desertion.
He married a woman from Providence, Rhode Island in 1868, not a "southern belle". They divorced a few years later and eventually he remarried in 1881 to that southern belle whom he also deserted by 1900.
Mr. Briggs led a very colorful life and came from an interesting history; we have yet to discover why, after enlisting as himself in 1861, he was drafted as a substitute and as Richard Brown in 1863.
From the "History of the Ninety-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry", By Isaiah Price
He assumed the name Richard Briggs. Why he chose to desert in North Carolina when the War was already over is up to speculation. Maybe a "Southern Belle?" ( see Amy Hedrick (46543643) input below)
Note: Index Card has the Remark that he deserted July 25, 1865 but the charge was removed in 1886 - see letter from War department April 6, 1892. Apparently he was exonerated
On March 4, 2020, additional Information from Contributor: Amy Hedrick (46543643) GlynnGen.com Webmaster (Georgia)- Thank you Amy-:
Richard Brown was actually born Richard Briggs and he assumed the name of Richard Brown, not the other way around. It makes me wonder if this tombstone was for the real Richard Brown since Richard Briggs died as Richard Briggs and his pension file was filed under that surname with the alias Richard Brown.
Regardless, Richard Briggs was born 17 July 1840 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, his charge of desertion was dismissed and became his discharge under a war act that stated if the soldier willingly returned to duty after every absence, their last "absence" would be excused and not deemed a desertion.
He married a woman from Providence, Rhode Island in 1868, not a "southern belle". They divorced a few years later and eventually he remarried in 1881 to that southern belle whom he also deserted by 1900.
Mr. Briggs led a very colorful life and came from an interesting history; we have yet to discover why, after enlisting as himself in 1861, he was drafted as a substitute and as Richard Brown in 1863.
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