In Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell depicts the "Home Guard" -- which in the early days of the War were composed of men who were deemed not fit for service in the military and so were charged with keeping the peace at home. In as early as 1864 the Home Guard in Atlanta was called to battle because the Confederacy has such a dire need for soldiers.

I want now to mention that I recently saw the Civil-War movie "Cold Mountain". In that movie, which takes place in North Carolina, the Home Guard -- mounted, armed, uniformed, and well-fed -- was riding up and down the mountains looking for deserters in the very late days of the War. One of the members of the Home Guard appeared to be in his early 20s and spoke at the final moment of the movie of having "the confidence of youth". First, what would a strong young man, with all the necessary skills to be a soldier (riding, shooting, etc.), be doing in the Home Guard? Surely he would have gone to fighting itself long before the winter of 1865? And even the two older members of the Home Guard were also able to fight and shoot and ride and kill. Why would they not have been called in well before the final days?

My question is: Would there be such a difference in the part played by the Georgia Home Guard toward the end of the War from that of the North Carolina Home Guard at the same time?

Thank you.

Christiana Reed