James Rufus Rufty, Fought in Civil War, Deserted captured escaped, Returned?, Oral tradition from my grandmother, Buried in St. Matthews Episcopal Church Salisbury, NC

James Rufus Rufty, uncle Ruf, is my great great great uncle.

He fought in the Civil War.

I first learned of uncle ruf (roof) from my maternal grandmother, Myrtle Inez Rufty Barringer in the 70’s.

This is what she told me.

He was a strong, stocky man.

He had deserted during the Civil War, was captured and being led with a rope around his neck, to be hung the next day.

He chewed through the rope, overpowered the guards and escaped.

She also showed me a knife rack that he had made which I believe is now owned by her daughter, my aunt Nell.

A question remains, did Rufus return to the war after escaping?

From a Rufty Family genealogical site.