Fredericksburg, Wednesday, May 13, 1863. Spartan Band diarist William H. Hill wrote:
Pettus Guards Private David W. Martin “deserted to the enemy last night by wading the [Rappahannock] river. He is a notorious coward and a scoundrel and was under arrest for cowardice in [the May 3] battle when he deserted.”
Independent historian Jess N. McLean found a Union record stating that Martin had “intended to desert for 12 months [and] was always a Union man of principle. Was blacksmith and wagon worker….yet living north of Philadelphia [PA].”
13TH MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY REGIMENT 