Desertion In Cold Mountain

The Civil War marked a defining moment in United States history. The American Civil War was fought within the United States between the North (Union) and South (Confederacy) starting from 1861 and ending in 1865. Known as one of the most destructive events in American history, countless people had died, families were torn apart, and the American economy greatly plummeted due to the war effort. Throughout the war, due to the many hardships that were faced, many people lost the will to continue fighting. Soldiers in particular who lost the will to continue fighting and ran away became known as deserters. In the movie Cold Mountain, Inman a Confederate soldier fled from the army after witnessing the gruesome hardships of the war. Throughout the

Many soldier left due to the lack of food, clothes, shoes, and equipment while other soldiers deserted not for the lack of supplies but to the opposition the Confederate policies and principles (1). However, the major cause of desertion was homesickness and to once again be with their families back home. Many men left the army after they became aware of the hardships and danger encountered by their families back home. Soldiers also deserted in an attempt to alleviate the hardships endured by their families and communities. Enlistment in the army kept men away from their homes for extended periods and destroyed the economic foundation of semi-subsistent mountain families. Crop failures, as well as salt shortages and guerilla raids, plagued Southern communities (3). Deteriorating home-front conditions compelled many families to write soldiers and urge them to desert and return home. In many of these cases, soldiers lost faith in the state 's ability to maintain order and relieve shortages of food and other supplies and chose family loyalty over allegiance to the Confederate army.
Desertion proved to be a major problems for Confederate war effort during the Civil War. Desertion debilitated and weakened Confederate military power to such an extent, that various laws and policies were passed in order to stop desertion. Many deserters left since they felt that they were fighting a losing war. However, deserters were punished for their disloyalty to extremes such as execution. But because life during the war was so exhausting and difficult to some extent, many soldiers were willing to take the risk of the consequence of becoming