Can anyone help me with understanding exactly what the difference is between Conscript Guard and Home Guard (if there is a difference). What were their primary duties during the war? What about after the war? What is the significance of using the term "conscript catcher?" The reason I ask is because I have come across the following account of the death of our ancestor's son and am trying to understand the circumstances. On Friday, March 18, 1864 the Abingdon Virginian newspaper carried an article titled "Distressing Occurrence" regarding how Thomas Bailey was killed. "We are pained to have to record a very unpleasant affair, which we fear will result in the death of a most excellent young man, Thomas Bailey, son of Mr. James Bailey of this county. Mr. Baily was a member of Capt. Litchfield's company, which left this place Tuesday on its return to the army of the Potomac. After getting some seven miles east of this place, young Bailey, his brother and another member of the company, left the company with the intention of going to his fathers to tarry during the night. They overtook a young man by the name of Palmer, of the Conscript Guard of this county, and merely out of sport (it should never be done) Bailey applied the epithet of 'conscript catcher' to Palmer, which offended him. Some words ensued between all the parties, and Baily, as we presume from the information we have, merely to have some sport at the expense of Palmer, drew his saber and made a feint of charging upon him. Palmer fired upon Bailey and the ball took effect in the ! body. Mr. Bailey died Wednesday night." I wonder what became of Palmer??