There was also a state Militia the Indiana Legion that fought Confederate guerrillas in Kentucky.The Indiana Home Guard tried to delay John Hunt Morgan at Corydon Indiana, when he made his northern raid.
As a general rule Home Guards were local men who didn't fight conventional troops but we're used to fight guerrillas,bandits and round up deserter's at least Confederate home guards.Are militia and Home Guard two terms for effectively the same thing? Did Northern states have any Home Guard units? Or just western Union states?
mike
The Indiana Home Guard tried to delay John Hunt Morgan at Corydon Indiana, when he made his northern raid.
The Home Guard had several main duties which they were expected to perform. One of which was to protect and keep an eye out on the community while those who were able to fight and met all of the requirements to serve were at the front fighting. In some areas of the south there were bands of outlaws who would roam around and prey on the local communities robbing from the old men, women and children. So it was left to the Home Guard to defend or at least protect them from those sorts of dangers. As well they also had the duty to return deserters from their communities to the army to be pressed back into service. But if enemy soldiers were raiding or foraging in their areas of responsibility their duty was to defend the community against them and, if necessary, coordinate with state militia or regular forces to achieve that, if they were permitted.
That's true Lefty. While the Legion might have come up short against a sizeable train force like Morgan's men. They were in fact very effective at breaking up and raiding guerrillas from across the Ohio in Kentucky. They also maintained order in the State. Chased deserters and spiesThere was also a state Militia the Indiana Legion that fought Confederate guerrillas in Kentucky.
Leftyhunter
So when a deserter was captured by a Home Guard unit - was there a legal distinction between those that were hanged for desertion and those that were sent back into service? Or was it whatever mood the commander was in at the time?
Maryland had the Potomac Home Brigade, while Maryland is Southern State it didn’t leave the Union. Whether it would or wouldn’t have is an argument for another thread.
There were Unionist home guards behind Confederate lines that fought Confederate conscription officers as well as Confederate guerrillas when Union forces occupied their state's especially in Northern Alabama and Eastern Tennessee.Are militia and Home Guard two terms for effectively the same thing? Did Northern states have any Home Guard units? Or just western Union states?
mike
Yes and uniform National Guard units in East TN...in Kentucky you had a reb State Guard and a yank Home Guard. I don't know about the rest of the State but the warfare between the two groups in East Kentucky was just gruesome. No Marquis de Queensbury rules there.There were Unionist home guards behind Confederate lines that fought Confederate conscription officers as well as Confederate guerrillas when Union forces occupied their state's especially in Northern Alabama and Eastern Tennessee.
Leftyhunter
It's best to think of the Home Guards as local guys just doing what ever they want or think is best I E. The Shelton Laurel Massacre.Are militia and Home Guard two terms for effectively the same thing? Did Northern states have any Home Guard units? Or just western Union states?
mike
One very unique militia was a Union militia in Missouri called the " Paw Paw Militia". The PawPaw's were former pro Confederate men who joined the Missouri State Guard and in return for not having Union troops in their neighborhoods supposedly would keep the peace and keep out Confederate guerrillas.Are militia and Home Guard two terms for effectively the same thing? Did Northern states have any Home Guard units? Or just western Union states?
mike
You might be right in the Shelton Massacre. I have posted many times from two different books that the North Carolina Home Guards tortured women.I believe those involved in the Shelton Laurel were regular troops. But I agree with you about the Home Guard....some tried their best to retain the law and stop civil breakdown and others took advantage of the situation to feed their own power.