Bryan --

Thanks for your time and trouble. This explains the summer of 1861 version of "Home Guards". Their duties appear to have been directed towards maintaining law and order, which was the major purpose of most militia organizations. As time went on, militiamen in most Confederate states turned their attention away from slaves and more toward pursuit and apprehension of white men trying to avoid military service.

Local Defense companies authorized by the Confederate Congress are curious organizations. They didn't receive pay, didn't have to report to any military authorities, and only had to have twenty names on roll. It's unclear to me what military purpose Congress had in mind with LD units, let alone what military purpose was accomplished.

When you have time, I'd be interested to learn more about the antebellum Arkansas militia and its influence on military organizations of 1861.