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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jan 5, 2003 15:43:46 GMT -5
While reading BHW material I have come across the reference to "home guards." Was this a subset of the militia? Were they mustered into state militia or were they federalized?
There appears to be some issues whether they were elgible for pay. I thought I had a specific account of this, but can not put my finger on it at this time.
One account that alluded to a pay issue was Peter Parkinson, Jr. in a "mini" biography of Henry Dodge. History of Iowa County, C. W. Butterfield, 1881, pp 605-606.
Gen. Dodge was not a wealthy man by any means, but his word was good for almost any amount. He also had the men in the forts mustered into service, and drew pay for the same through his influence in Congress. Had it not been for this policy of his, the country would most undoubtedly have been abandoned, for the inhabitants could not otherwise have remained here, having no means of subsistence.
Larry K.
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Post by Robert Braun on Jan 6, 2003 9:06:43 GMT -5
I do not recall running into references to a "home guard" per se. Do you have a context to share? This might shed more light on these formations.
Certainly, there were companies that were formed and mustered with the intention to have them serve as a dismounted or semi-mounted force for the purpose of defending a fort or strongpoint.
Dodge formed several of the Michigan Territory companies, augmented by two Illinois companies into the mounted force known as the "Michigan Mounted Volunteers."
This of course only looks at the M. T. experience. The Illinois situation may have been different.
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