Desertion the ultimate dereliction of duty
Desertion in antiquity: Desertion was a crime under Roman military law.
The Black Watch execution: In 1743, three members of the Scottish Black Watch regiment—Samuel McPherson.
American War of Independence: Between 1776 and 1783 during the American War of Independence.
Napoleonic Wars: Desertion by British combatants during the Napoleonic Wars was rife.
Desertions on both sides: Over 100,000 deserted the Confederate Army.
Newton Knight: The most famous rebel deserter was Newton Knight.
Mark Twain: Before his writing career took off under his pen name of Mark Twain.
Death of John Barnett: On September 17, 1862, a Union soldier, Private John Thomas Barnett.
The First World War: Both Britain and France took a strong line towards deserters in the First World War.