Home Guard (Union)
Encyclopedia
In the American Civil War
the Home Guard or Home Guards were local militia raised from Union loyalists.
after the start of the Civil War there were several competing organizations attempting to either take the state out of the Union or keep the state within it. Home Guard companies and regiments were raised by Union supporters, particularly German-Americans to oppose the secessionist paramilitary Minutemen, secessionist elements in the official Missouri Volunteer Militia and eventually the secessionist Missouri State Guard
. Many of the Home Guard regiments in the St. Louis area were raised from pre-existing Wide Awakes
, a Republican Party organization established during the 1860 election, and from members of the German Turnverein cultural organization.
St. Louis Unionists were mustered into Federal service in April 1861. Five regiments were designated the 1st-5th Missouri Volunteers and five additional regiments were created as the United States Reserve Corps. The second group were commonly referred to as the (St. Louis) Home Guard, and their creation was criticized as these regiments exceeded the requirement for Missouri volunteers under the Militia Act of 1792. During the Price-Harney Truce Governor Claiborne Jackson and Missouri State Guard commander Major General Sterling Price
demanded that the 1st-5th U.S.R.C. be disbanded as illegal organizations. (These regiments continued to serve though the Missouri Secession Crisis, later being converted into three-year regiments.)
Once actual hostilities began in the state in June 1861, Union loyalists as Home Guard units in areas outside of St. Louis were organized and mobilized by Brigadier General
Nathaniel Lyon
to oppose Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard which was forming at the same time. One of these units, the Benton County Home Guards, was defeated by a battalion of Missouri State Guards at the Battle of Cole Camp
.
In late 1861 and early 1862 the three-month service Home Guard were replaced by Unionist militia regiments including the new Missouri State Militia (Union)
as well as the compulsory Enrolled Missouri Militia
in July 1862 and the Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia
formed later.
, Iowa Home Guard companies on the other side of the Des Moines River
protected the supply depots.
, Kentucky in September 1861 as well as the Battle of Camp Wildcat
and many other skirmishes.
were recruited from the Five Civilized Tribes
in the Indian Territory
. Although the tribal leadership had supported the Confederacy
, many of the tribal members did not.
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...
the Home Guard or Home Guards were local militia raised from Union loyalists.
Missouri
In MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
after the start of the Civil War there were several competing organizations attempting to either take the state out of the Union or keep the state within it. Home Guard companies and regiments were raised by Union supporters, particularly German-Americans to oppose the secessionist paramilitary Minutemen, secessionist elements in the official Missouri Volunteer Militia and eventually the secessionist Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
. Many of the Home Guard regiments in the St. Louis area were raised from pre-existing Wide Awakes
Wide Awakes
The Wide Awakes was a paramilitary campaign organization affiliated with the Republican Party during the United States presidential election of 1860. Similar organizations affiliated with the Democratic Party were called the "Douglas Invincibles", "Young Hickories" or "Earthquakes"...
, a Republican Party organization established during the 1860 election, and from members of the German Turnverein cultural organization.
St. Louis Unionists were mustered into Federal service in April 1861. Five regiments were designated the 1st-5th Missouri Volunteers and five additional regiments were created as the United States Reserve Corps. The second group were commonly referred to as the (St. Louis) Home Guard, and their creation was criticized as these regiments exceeded the requirement for Missouri volunteers under the Militia Act of 1792. During the Price-Harney Truce Governor Claiborne Jackson and Missouri State Guard commander Major General Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
demanded that the 1st-5th U.S.R.C. be disbanded as illegal organizations. (These regiments continued to serve though the Missouri Secession Crisis, later being converted into three-year regiments.)
Once actual hostilities began in the state in June 1861, Union loyalists as Home Guard units in areas outside of St. Louis were organized and mobilized by Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Nathaniel Lyon
Nathaniel Lyon
Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War and is noted for his actions in the state of Missouri at the beginning of the conflict....
to oppose Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard which was forming at the same time. One of these units, the Benton County Home Guards, was defeated by a battalion of Missouri State Guards at the Battle of Cole Camp
Battle of Cole Camp (1861)
The Battle of Cole Camp was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring on June 19, 1861, in Benton County, Missouri. The rebel victory assured an open line of march for the fleeing governor and Missouri State Guard away from Lyon's force in Boonville....
.
In late 1861 and early 1862 the three-month service Home Guard were replaced by Unionist militia regiments including the new Missouri State Militia (Union)
Missouri State Militia (Union)
The Missouri State Militia was a federally funded state militia organization of Missouri conceived in 1861 and beginning service in 1862 during the American Civil War...
as well as the compulsory Enrolled Missouri Militia
Enrolled Missouri Militia
The Enrolled Missouri Militia was a state militia organization of Missouri in 1862 during the American Civil War. It was a part-time force whose primary purpose was to serve as garrison and infrastructure guards, both to augment the Unionist Missouri State Militia in defense versus raids and to...
in July 1862 and the Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia
Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia
The Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia or PEMM also known as the Detailed Militia was a state militia organization of Missouri's Union government during the American Civil War...
formed later.
Iowa
Iowa Home Guard companies provided border defense along the Missouri border during the Civil War. During the Battle of Athens, MissouriBattle of Athens (1861)
The Battle of Athens was an American Civil War skirmish that took place in northeast Missouri in 1861 near present Revere and southeast Iowa along the Des Moines River across from Croton...
, Iowa Home Guard companies on the other side of the Des Moines River
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
protected the supply depots.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Home Guard participated in the Battle of BarbourvilleBattle of Barbourville
The Battle of Barbourville was one of the early engagements of the American Civil War. It occurred September 19, 1861, in Knox County, Kentucky during the campaign known as the Kentucky Confederate Offensive...
, Kentucky in September 1861 as well as the Battle of Camp Wildcat
Battle of Camp Wildcat
The Battle of Camp Wildcat was one of the early engagements of the American Civil War. It occurred October 21, 1861, in northern Laurel County, Kentucky during the campaign known as the Kentucky Confederate Offensive...
and many other skirmishes.
Indian Territory
Union volunteer infantry regiments known as the Indian Home GuardIndian Home Guard (American Civil War)
The Indian Home Guard were volunteer infantry regiments recruited from the Five Civilized Tribes of Indian Territory to support the Union during the American Civil War....
were recruited from the Five Civilized Tribes
Five Civilized Tribes
The Five Civilized Tribes were the five Native American nations—the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole—that were considered civilized by Anglo-European settlers during the colonial and early federal period because they adopted many of the colonists' customs and had generally good...
in the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. Although the tribal leadership had supported the Confederacy
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...
, many of the tribal members did not.
External links
- http://www.civilwarstlouis.com/History/HomeGuard.htm
- http://members.aol.com/hrftx/BCHG.htm
- http://home.usmo.com/~momollus/MOREG/HG.htm
- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~cappscreek/mohghistory.html