The Deserter, a silent comedy set during the American Revolution, follows a loyal British drummer whose accidental pursuit of his canteen sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to his own downfall. After being mistaken for a deserter, the drummer is chased by two bumbling British soldiers and becomes lost in the woods. His situation worsens when he accidentally kills one of his pursuers, and he is eventually captured by American forces. Meanwhile, the British army marches off to battle, oblivious to the drama unfolding behind them. The story concludes with the drummer's execution, but a twist hints that the true end of the story may not be so clear-cut.
The Deserter
A drummer boy's desertion from the British army during the Revolutionary War sparks a treacherous pursuit as his former comrades relentlessly chase him.
