Yes, you are right about militia in the earlier time frame. During the volunteer period which ended on Apr 16, 1862, nearly all units raised for Confederate service initially organized under state authority. They were then "offered" by the governor of their state to the Confederate government, and turned over to that authority upon acceptance. Numerous examples of correspondence must be available in Governor Moore's papers. Normally transportation and other expenses incurred while under state control were accepted by the Confederate government. A study of letters received the Confederate Secretary of War shows very few direct offers of service. Nearly all came with special conditions which the Secretary of War could not accept.

The Conscript Act of Apr 16, 1862, sounded the death knell for existing state militias across the South. The law took effect on May 15, 1862, about three weeks after the fall of New Orleans. As mentioned, the Crescent Regiment (plus the Orleans Guard Battalion and 5th Company Washington Artillery) had been turned over for Confederate service almost immediately after entering state service, so the law did not impact these men until end of their ninety-day term. I would still like to know how they managed to be accepted under that limited term.

Other volunteer militia units reporting at Camp Moore following the fall of New Orleans were subject to the Conscript Act. We have already discussed the law's impact on militiamen who belonged to the Sumter Regiment. I'm more familiar with Alabama state militia that went into service in early March 1862. The law eviscerated these commands, just as it did Louisiana militia units that survived the capture of New Orleans.