The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-12-06

There are thirteen unattached companies. IL
addition to these there is one company from this
State in the 10th Virginia Cavalry, five in the 7th
Confederate Cavalry, four in the cd Georgia Reg
iment and one in the 6lst Virginia Infantry.
2. MILITIA AND GUARD FOR HOME DEFENCE.
The Guard for Home Defence throughout the
State has been employed 10 experimenting deserters
and returning them to the army and in aiding the
civil authorities in preserving order. In the last
four months they have returned to the army 1889
deserters and recusant Conscrpts, 42l of whom
have been apprehended and the rest surrendered
themselves under your proclamation of the oath of
August last.
In addition to these duties the Guard west of
the Blue Ridge have been kept almost constantly
in the field to repel invasion from East Tennessee
and to operate against disloyal citizens who have
gone over to the enemy.
With the view of keeping in the field as many
of this class Of troops might be necessary, and
at the same time to interfere as little as possible
with the industrial pursuits of the country, they
have been divided into three classes each to
in succession, and for short periods of time.
The Guard in certain counties have been desig-
mated for service the western frontier and those
of the remaining counties for service in the east
ern part of the State The first class o. these lat
ter have about completed their first period of thir-
ty days service and are being relieved by the
second class.
1t seems impossible to obtain correct returns of
the Guard for Home Defence, but it is believed
that the officers in proportion to the effective
men as four to fifteen. This disparity arises from
the great reduction of the members originally en-
rolled occasioned by the law of Congress Of Febru-
airy last which takes out all above the age of forty
five years, and decreases the number of exemptions
from service in the Confederate army. 1t there
fore becomes necessary to reorganize this force
- 10 Lar, Af
organization, aud to organize force for field SER
vice, to be composed of all officers and others Of
the militia physically fit for such service. This
force to be organized into companies, battalions,
regiments, brigaGes and divisions, and the CON-
missions of the officers to be in force only when
called into the feld-at all other times the organi-
cation to be merged into the regular militia, where
the officers and men must serve with their militia
rank This would necessiate the suspension Of
the commissions Of militia officers while serving in
this new organization.
Should the Guard for Home Defence be abol-
ished and another organization substituted, time
should be given for the change to the end that the
public service do not suffer thereby.
There are in the State 1850 militia officers, and
1912 Home Guard officers. Many of these hold
commissions 10 both organizations.
g. ROLL OF HONOR.
The plan adopted for carrying into effect the
resolution of the General Assembly 10 regard to
this work was given in my last report. The off
Ger charged with its execution has been indefa:ig-
able in collecting necessary information. The re.
cords up to the LIST OF January last of the several
regiments, battalions and unattached companies,
have, with few exceptions, been received and trans
cribed in the books kept for that purpose. But
little information of the many changes that
have taken place during the present year has
been obtained, owing to the constant moving of the
troops, but as the campaign will soon close advan-
tage will be taken of it to collect more material
and thus continue the work from time to tune un-
til the close of the war.
T. oUARTERMAsTERs DEPARTMENT.
This Department has furnished clothing, camp
and garrison equippagc, pay, bounty, and transport
taton for the troops, and paid other miscellaneous
accounts.
The disbursements from the 3lst March, 1864, I
to Both September, 1864, are as follows:
Clothing, Camp and Garrison EquiPage, s., 765 so I
Wood, $500 90