CSA guard unit at Salisbury NC

on again

Sergeant
Joined
Jun 17, 2024
A guard memorial [reference only]

Were CSA Reserve/state Milita used to guard POW camps?

Is it known what units were stationed at each camp by state?
 
David O McRaven was another guard at Salisbury. He was too old for regular army when mustering July 1864, so he went into the 4th Regiment of Reserves, Seventy-Third North Carolina under Col. John F Hoke. This regiment served mainly on guard duty at Salisbury.

 
The Confederate Reserves were not militia. They were Confederate troops composed of boys and men subject to conscription, ages 17, and 45-50 years of age organized after February, 1864. Some States separated them into age classed units, like North Carolina, which had "Junior" and "Senior" Reserves regiments. Others may not have bothered.

The Reserves forces were formed by the Confederacy to allow for the release of units of more able-bodied men to take the field at the front lines. To that end they were to serve only within the bounds of the State in which they were raised.

They were widely used for the guarding of Prisoners. For example at Camp Sumter, Andersonville, Georgia in the summer of 1864:

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In North Carolina, the State formed the "Home Guard" which was a sort of State of NC reserve troops, composed of men subject to militia service (many militia officers served in the Home Guard as privates). They were employed in guarding prisoners for a time. But in 1864 many of them were subject to conscription into the CS Army Reserves.

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In North Carolina, the State formed the "Home Guard" which was a sort of State of NC reserve troops, composed of men subject to militia service (many militia officers served in the Home Guard as privates). They were employed in guarding prisoners for a time. But in 1864 many of them were subject to conscription into the CS Army Reserves.
What is the source for these two pages about the NC Home Guard? Useful material for my research!
AR
 
What is the source for these two pages about the NC Home Guard? Useful material for my research!
AR

Walter Clark:


The North Carolina State "Home Guards" formed in 1863 absorbed what remained of the North Carolina Militia. Unlike the Militia, which was subject to calling forth either to State (by the Governor) or the Confederacy (by the President); the Home Guards were akin State Reserve Troops formed identically to the militia, but not liable to militia service (or being called forth, etc.)

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That the said guards for home defense may be called out for service by the Governor in the defense of the State against invasion and to suppress insurrections, either by regiments, battalions or companies en masse, or by draft or volunteers from the same, as he in his discretion may direct; shall be under his command through the officers appointed as herein provided; shall serve only within the limits of this State, and in tours of duty to be prescribed by the Governor, not exceeding three months at one term. They, or so many of them as may be at any one time called into service, may be organized into infantry, artillery or cavalry as he may direct, and the infantry and artillery may be mounted if he shall so determine, the men furnishing their own horses and accoutrements and arms when approved by the Governor, on such terms as he shall prescribe.

Gov. Vance ordered such public arms in the hands of the NC Militia to be turned over to the commanders of the Home Guards companies in the counties, etc.
 
A guard memorial [reference only]

Were CSA Reserve/state Milita used to guard POW camps?

Is it known what units were stationed at each camp by state?
The Salisbury prison guard was a special unit, known as the Prison Guard Battalion, and commanded by Captain C. D. Freeman. The battalion's composition is very confusing:
- Originally formed 2/1/62 with 4 companies, most of these were transferred as A, B, C, and D of the 42nd NC Infantry (4/22/62)
- The ones that didn't transfer formed a new company (5/1/62), but it was transferred as A, 57th NC Infantry (7/17/62)
- 2 new companies organized 1/63; 1 company transferred as G, 66th NC Infantry 10/2/63, but the other company remained (Capt. C. D. Freeman's)
- A second company organized 12/1/63 under Capt. Henry P. Allen
- A third company organized 3/4/64 under Capt. Edward D. Snead

The battalion surrendered May 1-2, 1865.
 

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