 Depending on the area, Home Guard units would be at times nothing more than a group of men identified as such, working from home as they pleased.At other times, most usually in states located in what was known as the Eastern theater of the war, Home Guard units had base camps and headquarters, went on patrol, and scouted for possible deserters or Union stragglers.Most of the time, Home Guard units were poorly equipped, due to shortages of goods, ammunition, and weapons to supply the Confederate Army.