From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 20, 1862:
A soldier branded for desertion.
–The court-martial now in session recently sentenced Corporal Richard R. Poore, of company A, 15th Virginia cavalry battalion, for desertion, to be reduced to the ranks, forfeit all pay and allowances now due him, to be branded on the right hip with the letter D, one and a quarter inch long, have his head shaved, and be drummed out of the service. The branding, drumming out, and head shaving was performed at the Military Station of the Eastern District yesterday at 3½ o’clock, in presence of Bossieux’s Guard and the President’s Guard. A couple of lifers and the drum corps were brought into service to beat after the retiring culprit the rogue’s march. After the ceremonies incident to such an occasion had been gone through with Poore was returned to prison to be sent to his own company and again drummed. There are a large number in the prison whose sentences by court-martial are not yet executed.
Branding and the rogue’s march are among the punishments listed at “THE PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE” at THE BLUE RIDGE GRAYS.
Amazing how the same items draw our attention — I had this one in my file for the date, though I decided to go with another story instead. Desertion was a continuing problem in both armies, but perhaps more so in the South, where men were often fighting near their homes.
Thanks for the comment, Allen. Every time we land on the same story I remember the week during my youth when both Time and Newsweek featured Bruce Springsteen on their covers (after the Born to Run album was released). People were wondering how both magazines could pick the same soft news story to feature in the same week.