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This the way things were done in Alabama. Other states must have employed very similar means of organizing military commands.
A company often had more than one date and place associated with its organization. In 1861 a company first organized under state militia laws. Records will show date and place of organization, including election of officers. The captain then forwarded a muster roll to the governor, requesting commissions for himself and his lieutenants.
If the governor decided to call the company into service, instructions written on robins-egg blue ruled sheets were sent to the Secretary of State concerning commissions to be issued. Bearing a special state watermark, these name each of the officers as well as a delivery address for the commissions.
The governor sometimes declined offers of service, so this was no mere formality. Sometimes the company declined to modify their offer (disagreements usually involved the term of enlistment) and disbanded. For instance, Capt. W. W. Horton of the "Marengo Mounted Guards" declined to accept a term of service of more than twelve months. Horton angrily disbanded his company and went home.
If accepted, the governor then telegraphed the company captain with marching orders. For example, the "Yancey Guards" of Jefferson County organized at Jonesboro, Ala., July 6, 1861. Issued marching orders on July 29, 1861, the company left for Camp Johnston at Auburn, Ala., Aug. 19, 1861. Officers and men mustered in Confederate service at Camp Johnston on Aug. 31, 1861.
Officers who communicated directly with the Confederate War Department went through a similar process. Correspondence directed to the Secretary of War contains numerous offers of service that were declined. Sometimes the SoW declined simply because officers and men who wanted to enter service had no arms of their own and expected the Confederate government to provide them. During much of 1861 firearms were in short supply, so many offers were declined on that basis alone.
Officers were anxious to have companies accepted in service as quickly as possible. Until a company was accepted, officers could not draw equipment, uniforms or rations. The longer the acceptance process took, the longer officers had to feed and house their men on their own account. Officers also wanted a commission in hand bearing the governor's signature. Without it, volunteers had no evidence that their officers had any real authority. If matters dragged on for too long, men might be included to leave for home or join another command, forcing officers to disband the remaining troops.
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