Congress changed age limits in the act of February 17, 1864. Before that boys younger than eighteen could and did volunteer. Lewis Baugh appears to have been one of these. Governor Watts engaged in a war of words over several "boy" companies which entered service in late 1863 and early 1864. Since none of the enlisted men were required by law to enroll in Confederate service, Watts understood them as acting under his orders.

Under the new law mentioned, seventeen-year olds would be assigned to newly organized Junior Reserve companies. They could still volunteer for regular duty in an existing Confederate regiment. The great majority appear to have been members of Junior Reserves, whose service was governed by special rules. After service in their home state for one year, reserve commands were assigned to duty like any other Confederate regiment. For example, one year after the law passed, the 1st and 2nd Alabama Reserves became the 62nd and 63rd Alabama Regiments.