Confederate Home Guard
Encyclopedia
The Confederate Home Guard (1861–1865) was a somewhat loosely organized militia that was under the direction and authority of the Confederate States of America
, working in coordination with the Confederate Army, and was tasked with both the defense of the Confederate home front
during the American Civil War
, as well as to help track down and capture Confederate Army deserters. Basically, the Home Guard was a type of militia
for the Confederacy in that it did have a rank structure and did have certain regulations, whether those were enforced or not.
Home Guard units were, essentially, to be a last defense against any invading Union forces. They also were used at times to gather information about invading Union forces troop movements, as well as to identify and control any local civilians who were considered sympathetic to the Union cause. They received no military training, and although they could be drafted into the Confederate service if need be, there are only a few cases in which that happened, due to the Home Guard actually being recognized as a type of service in itself to the Confederacy.
was offered by the Confederate government for the capture of deserters, although it was rarely paid due to the government's debt.
While most able-bodied Southern men went away to war, many stayed behind, either by choice or due to something that prevented them from serving in the army. Although many states did not initially form Home Guard units, by 1863 all eleven Confederate states had done so. Initially tasked with being the defense force against any Union Army
elements that might pass through the Confederate battle lines and enter into Southern territory, the Home Guard was later utilized to help capture Confederate army deserters returning to their homes.
The Home Guard possessed a wide range of powers, whether those powers were legitimate and recognized by the Confederacy or not. Because during the war there were few Southern men at home, there were few to stand in the way of any Home Guard unit that wished to abuse its powers by taking advantage of or mistreating Southern civilians. In addition to this, due to the war demanding so much attention from the Confederate Congress, not to mention the other branches of the government and the military, little attention was paid to the Home Guard units. All were commanded locally, and rarely did they receive any specific direction. In essence, the Home Guard units could work as they pleased, and more often than not they made their own decisions and priorities.
Depending on the area, Home Guard units would be at times nothing more than a group of men identified as being the "Home Guard", working from home as they pleased. At other times, most usually in states located in what was known as the "Eastern theater" of the war, Home Guard units had base camps and headquarters, went on patrol, and scouted for possible deserters or Union stragglers. Most of the time, Home Guard units were poorly equipped, due to shortages of goods, ammunition, and weapons to supply the Confederate Army. They rarely dressed in anything that could be called a uniform, but did make efforts to wear the same color clothing as the Confederate soldiers.
By the middle of the war, many Home Guard units were composed of wounded soldiers that had returned to heal from wounds received in battle.
Deserters that were encountered by Home Guard patrols were dealt with in many different fashions. At times, the deserting soldiers would be returned to the Army via Confederate units that were stationed near to whatever area the deserters were captured. Sometimes deserters were executed by the Home Guard.
By 1864, the Union Army occupied much of the formerly Confederate-controlled areas. With Union forces now patrolling home-front areas, many Home Guard units disbanded to avoid being considered or mistaken for guerrillas, and it became increasingly difficult for the Confederacy to enforce any action against deserters who returned home. Even in the Western theater states of Arkansas
, Texas
and Louisiana
Union troops were regularly seen, and at times the troops had taken control of many towns or cities. Some Southern citizens who lived in those states and who did not support secession had now openly come out in their support of the Union, often forming Union Army regiments or units to serve in that army. These newly formed Union units, made up of local citizens, personally knew the members of the Home Guard, which greatly hampered if not completely disabled the Home Guard's ability to function.
By the war's end, very few such units were still in existence. However some were still active in areas where Union soldiers were less common, although these were mostly bands of thieves
preying on the less fortunate. One of the most notorious of these was the "Independent Rangers" led by early Old West outlaw
Cullen Baker
. In late 1864, this band was responsible for what became known as the Massacre of Saline, when they murdered ten unarmed men from Perry County, Arkansas on the Saline River
.
by Charles Frazier
and the film of the same name
written and directed by Anthony Minghella
. As both novel and film are presented from the sympathetic point of view of a Confederate deserter, the Home Guards hunting him are the villains.
In Gone with the Wind
, the Home Guard fights General Sherman's army when it invades Atlanta. The soldiers fight bravely but lose the battle and many are killed.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, working in coordination with the Confederate Army, and was tasked with both the defense of the Confederate home front
Home front
Home front is the informal term commonly used to describe the civilian populace of the nation at war as an active support system of their military....
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, as well as to help track down and capture Confederate Army deserters. Basically, the Home Guard was a type of militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
for the Confederacy in that it did have a rank structure and did have certain regulations, whether those were enforced or not.
Home Guard units were, essentially, to be a last defense against any invading Union forces. They also were used at times to gather information about invading Union forces troop movements, as well as to identify and control any local civilians who were considered sympathetic to the Union cause. They received no military training, and although they could be drafted into the Confederate service if need be, there are only a few cases in which that happened, due to the Home Guard actually being recognized as a type of service in itself to the Confederacy.
Background and implementation
Despite home guard units receiving very little attention through history, the Home Guard units that were formed had a purpose, although most units consisted of volunteers and paid no salary. A bountyBounty (reward)
A bounty is a payment or reward often offered by a group as an incentive for the accomplishment of a task by someone usually not associated with the group. Bounties are most commonly issued for the capture or retrieval of a person or object. They are typically in the form of money...
was offered by the Confederate government for the capture of deserters, although it was rarely paid due to the government's debt.
While most able-bodied Southern men went away to war, many stayed behind, either by choice or due to something that prevented them from serving in the army. Although many states did not initially form Home Guard units, by 1863 all eleven Confederate states had done so. Initially tasked with being the defense force against any Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
elements that might pass through the Confederate battle lines and enter into Southern territory, the Home Guard was later utilized to help capture Confederate army deserters returning to their homes.
The Home Guard possessed a wide range of powers, whether those powers were legitimate and recognized by the Confederacy or not. Because during the war there were few Southern men at home, there were few to stand in the way of any Home Guard unit that wished to abuse its powers by taking advantage of or mistreating Southern civilians. In addition to this, due to the war demanding so much attention from the Confederate Congress, not to mention the other branches of the government and the military, little attention was paid to the Home Guard units. All were commanded locally, and rarely did they receive any specific direction. In essence, the Home Guard units could work as they pleased, and more often than not they made their own decisions and priorities.
Depending on the area, Home Guard units would be at times nothing more than a group of men identified as being the "Home Guard", working from home as they pleased. At other times, most usually in states located in what was known as the "Eastern theater" of the war, Home Guard units had base camps and headquarters, went on patrol, and scouted for possible deserters or Union stragglers. Most of the time, Home Guard units were poorly equipped, due to shortages of goods, ammunition, and weapons to supply the Confederate Army. They rarely dressed in anything that could be called a uniform, but did make efforts to wear the same color clothing as the Confederate soldiers.
By the middle of the war, many Home Guard units were composed of wounded soldiers that had returned to heal from wounds received in battle.
Deserters that were encountered by Home Guard patrols were dealt with in many different fashions. At times, the deserting soldiers would be returned to the Army via Confederate units that were stationed near to whatever area the deserters were captured. Sometimes deserters were executed by the Home Guard.
By 1864, the Union Army occupied much of the formerly Confederate-controlled areas. With Union forces now patrolling home-front areas, many Home Guard units disbanded to avoid being considered or mistaken for guerrillas, and it became increasingly difficult for the Confederacy to enforce any action against deserters who returned home. Even in the Western theater states of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Union troops were regularly seen, and at times the troops had taken control of many towns or cities. Some Southern citizens who lived in those states and who did not support secession had now openly come out in their support of the Union, often forming Union Army regiments or units to serve in that army. These newly formed Union units, made up of local citizens, personally knew the members of the Home Guard, which greatly hampered if not completely disabled the Home Guard's ability to function.
By the war's end, very few such units were still in existence. However some were still active in areas where Union soldiers were less common, although these were mostly bands of thieves
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
preying on the less fortunate. One of the most notorious of these was the "Independent Rangers" led by early Old West outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
Cullen Baker
Cullen Baker
Cullen Montgomery Baker , was a Tennessee-born Texas and Arkansas desperado whose gang is alleged to have killed hundreds of people including former slaves during the early days of the American Old West, in the years following the Civil War, although these numbers are likely inaccurate, and the...
. In late 1864, this band was responsible for what became known as the Massacre of Saline, when they murdered ten unarmed men from Perry County, Arkansas on the Saline River
Saline River (Ouachita River)
The Saline River is a tributary of the Ouachita River in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Arkansas.The Saline River begins in the eastern foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in Saline and Garland counties and is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Ouachita River Basin...
.
In fiction
The Confederate Home Guard plays a major role in the novel Cold MountainCold Mountain (novel)
Cold Mountain is a 1997 historical fiction novel by Charles Frazier. It tells the story of W. P. Inman, a wounded deserter from the Confederate army near the end of the American Civil War who walks for months to return to Ada Monroe, the love of his life; the story shares several similarities with...
by Charles Frazier
Charles Frazier
Charles Frazier is an award-winning American historical novelist.Frazier was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1973. He earned an M.A. from Appalachian State University in the mid-1970s, and received his Ph.D. in English from the University...
and the film of the same name
Cold Mountain (film)
Cold Mountain is a 2003 war drama film written and directed by Anthony Minghella. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Charles Frazier...
written and directed by Anthony Minghella
Anthony Minghella
Anthony Minghella, CBE was an English film director, playwright and screenwriter. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors at the British Film Institute between 2003 and 2007....
. As both novel and film are presented from the sympathetic point of view of a Confederate deserter, the Home Guards hunting him are the villains.
In Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
, the Home Guard fights General Sherman's army when it invades Atlanta. The soldiers fight bravely but lose the battle and many are killed.