The College Square of Fox Lake, Wisconsin where the Citizens Guard Militia commonly drilled.

Courtesy of the Harriet O'Connell Historical Room

The Citizens Guard is a preservation & accuracy driven living history group that was re-vamped in December 2009 by current Hard Head Mess members and associates that have a deep interest in the original company that was founded in Fox Lake, Wisconsin on February 22, 1860.

The Citizens Guard is our preservation and local living history home for those who desire an accurate experience of portraying the common soldier from 1860-1865. We also are dedicated to fostering further research and increased interpretation of the men we attempt to portray. We are a 501c3 federal tax exempt entity in part by the gracious support of the Fox Lake Historical Society.

We are very proud of our preservation accomplishments over the years in the community of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Since 1999, we have helped to preserve the George H. Stevens GAR Post 100 Banner, several Civil War artifacts in the holdings of the Harriet O’Connor Historical Room & the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, raised funds in support of the sustainability the Community Congregational Museum (FLHS) where the Citizens Guard militia was founded, and assisted with the care of the monument and site of Company “G”, 1st United States Sharpshooters – (Wisconsin) at Gettysburg National Military Park. Over 20 of the Wisconsin Sharpshooters in Company “G” came from Fox Lake and surrounding communities. In addition at Gettysburg, in 2014 we have taken on the care of the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry’s monument and site on Culp’s Hill as part of the Adopt A Position Program. Our membership has a great interest in the Iron Brigade of the West and this is a great way to help preserve their memory at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Requirements of the Citizens Guard:

1. Membership in the Citizens Guard is open to individuals with a positive attitude towards an accurate portrayal and the desire to improve their overall impression on a continual basis.

2. All potential invitees will need to be sponsored into the Citizens Guard by an existing member to aid with rounding out their impression. Invitees also must have citizenship in the U.S., have no criminal record, and should be relatively physically fit to handle occasionally difficult conditions at events to include marches and temperature extremes.

3. All uniform and equipage should be correct in pattern, construction, and materials compared to the original documented articles at all times, as detailed in the Authenticity Guide of the Citizens Guard. In addition, uniform & equipage should be correct based on event-specific information for a particular portrayal.

4. We work closely with the Fox Lake Historical Society and their Congregational Community Museum (original building where the Citizens Guard was formed), the Harriet O’Connell Historical Room, the Hard Head Mess, the Old Northwest Volunteers, and other associates to support further education about the men from Fox Lake that upheld the honor of the West.

The Citizens Guard militia was the first of three militia groups to serve in Fox Lake and later to enter active military service in the federal army. On May 19, 1860, the editor of the Fox Lake Gazette wrote about Captain George H. Stevens Citizens Guard militia on their growing reputation in Fox Lake, Wisconsin:

“Most of the members of the Company were out in their uniforms last Monday evening on the College Square for a drill. They made a very fine appearance, and attracted a large crowd, among whom were a number of Ladies.”


Updated 2/28/14