A lot of the men who called themselves the Home Guard were actually deserters and draft dodgers that preyed on both Union and Confederate sympathizers. They pretty much helped themselves to whatever they wanted from people that were unable to defend themselves. Bad as it sounds I had a couple of Great Uncles who were in the North Carolina Calvary who supposedly deserted. They didn't join the Home Guard but some of the Home Guard came to their Father's home and stole his horses. My uncles ambushed the thieves and killed them. The Georgia State Line Troops were real Georgia Troops. My Great Great Grandfather had some problem with his chest that made him unable to fight but he was recruited as a Blacksmith for the Calvary of the Georgia State Line Troops.