If Scott had ever been elected colonel of a Jackson County militia regiment, it would have been proper to refer to him by that title. In many counties militia functions such as drill by brigades, regiments or battalions were not observed as prescribed by Alabama law. Consequently a field officer of state militia had little to do, but people in his county still recognized him by his militia rank.

When war came and volunteer companies began to form, company officers normally offered their services to the State of Alabama. The governor accepted or declined such tenders on behalf of the state. When the governor accepted tenders of service, he usually directed captains to report with their companies at a camp where other companies were being assembled. Here companies were organized into regiments or battalions, the governor then offering the services of these organizations to the Confederate government.

Sometimes militia officers appeared at company or regimental camps when these units organized. On such occasions they acted as military representatives of the governor, signing company muster rolls to verify that each member was actually present for duty at enrollment. This was important for pay purposes because most enlistments began on this date. For that reason, names of militia officers sometimes appear on the rolls of Alabama companies in the “enlisted by” column. Ranks are shown anywhere from general to captain. Their presence of militia officers was by no means required; it may have been no more than a means of acknowledging a senior member of the community.