Home Guard
Southern deserters not only had to fear the wrath of the Confederate Army but also the Home Guard. The Home Guard was a loosely organized militia in the South. Local men under the age of 18 and over the age of 45 patrolled their towns and surrounding areas. The Home Guard was sanctioned by state governments. If the Governor needed he could call on the Home Guard in the event of dire emergency. Members of the Home Guard were considered too old and too young to join the Confederate army. These militias were tasked not only with arresting deserters but also enforcing the draft, handling domestic disputes, gathering supplies for the army and punishing those suspected of having pro-Union sympathies. The Home Guard was also considered the last defense against the advancing Army of the Potomac. By 1863 all eleven Confederate states had Home Guard units roaming about, attempting to capture deserters. There was a cash reward for any Confederate deserters but that reward would most likely not be paid because of the debt of the Southern government. Some deserters that were captured by the Home Guard were executed while others were returned to the Confederate army. The Home Guard was not closely monitored and therefore was able to abuse their power while fulfilling their duties.
|