The Georgia in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Home Guard
In Response To: Home Guard ()

Charles --

The term 'Home Guard' gives one the impression of defense against invasion. However, home guards lacked the arms, equipment and training to be able to confront a Federal military incursion of any kind. They were expected to maintain law and order at home, arrest deserters and forward conscripts to the authorities. Sometimes deserters banded together in order to plunder farms, and people might be inclined to protect deserters and conscripts (especially if they were kin), so a home guard's work could be quite difficult. Also, they tended to be suspicious of Confederates who happened to be home on leave, so they could make life miserable for furloughed or discharged soldiers.

The portrayal of Home Guards in the book Cold Mountain really isn't far off base.

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Home Guard
Re: Home Guard