Bruce,

I’ve not yet found any hard evidence that these specific units were officially recognised by either Georgia or Confederate officials. As to whether they were actually organised at all, I’m not sure, although I suspect that they were in some form or another. There were many so-called regiments and battalions allegedly formed in Georgia towards the end of the war, some of which seemed to have official recognition. Headquarters Georgia Reserve and Military District of Georgia, General Order No.30, dated 7 December 1864 (as recorded in the Confederate Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 2, p. 810) stated:

I. The following military organisations, raised under the authority of Governor Brown and afterwards received into the Confederate service by Gen. J. B. Hood, to-wit: the regiment commanded by Col. Findley, the battalions commanded by Majors Beall, Murkinson (Murchison), Graham, McCallum (McCollum) and Ledford and the battalion lately commanded by Lieut.Col. Glenn of Pickens County (whose commission was revoked because he was reported to Gov. Brown as a deserter) under the person who may have been elected to command it, will be maintained for sixty days from date in discharge of such duties as they may be called upon to perform.

II. After the expiration of the sixty days, all men between the ages of 18 and 45, subject to conscription will report to the proper enrolling officer for assignment to the army in the field - those liable either to militia duty or to services in the Reserves will remain in the present organizations.

It appears then that these units at least had some form of official basis, even though an attempt was being made to get some of the men into the regular service.

According to a report in the Southern Banner newspaper for 21 December 1864, Glenn’s brigade consisted of Bryan’s and Dorough’s Regiments and Dyer’s Battalion. In addition, McCollum’s and Baker’s Regiments and Pool’s Battalion were “organising”. There are several references to these units in the Georgia newspapers of the time. They may also have had some semblance of official authorisation like the other units listed above.

It is interesting to note, however, the comments of a contributor to the Southern Banner newspaper for 15 February 1865 who stated “There is a Col. Baker, a deserter from the army, who professes to have raised a regiment, and who is now marauding on Coosawattie River in Gordon County. His command is almost wholly made up of deserters - a great many belonged to the Yankee Home Guards. They do not fight and don’t intend to fight. This class of men have joined these bogus organizations to keep from fighting.”