I too think this would be an interesting discussion thread,should you fellas get the time. It's a subject I havn't given much thought to. To show my ignorance on the subject-I get confused as to what was "home guard" what was milita and what was "state guard." Did Arkansas not have a state guard like the famous Missouri state guard? The absence of these organized units casts a new light on Gov. Rector's actions and Hindman's remarkable efforts to build an army in the spring of 1862.

P.S. Congrats on William Shea's excellent article on Prarie Grove in June's North and South. It looks like we can also expect a book length work on the subject-looking forward to it!