"When the Federals' final campaign against the city commenced in late March 1865, the post commander called for the organization of Creoles and free blacks into local defense companies. Maury assigned a person to organize the men reporting for duty and authorized these men to elect their own company officers, as long as they chose white men. By April 8, one company (known as the Native Guards) had formed. Although the city's assistant chief of police served as company commander, the other officers were Creoles. There is no evidence that this unit saw any active duty, and it probably disbanded when the Federals occupied Mobile."
Arthur W. Bergeron, Confederate Mobile, p. 106

Report from Mobile dated March 29-
"In this great emergency the citizens of Mobile are doing their whole duty. The old men and young boys, the Creoles and negroes, are organized, and will be ready to fall into the ditches around the city the moment their services are wanted. They are cool, calm and collected."
Augusta Chronicle, April 11, 1865

The Confederate Local Defense Act

AN ACT to authorize the formation of volunteer companies for local defense. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That for the purpose of local defense in any portion of the Confederate States, any number of persons not liable to military duty, may associate themselves as a military company, elect their own officers and establish rules and regulations for their own government, and shall be considered as belonging to the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, serving without pay or allowances, and entitled, when captured by the enemy, to all the privileges of prisoners of war: Provided, That such company shall, as soon as practicable, transmit their muster-roll, or a list of the names of the officers and privates thereof, to the Governor of the State, the commanding general of the department, or any brigadier general in the State or Confederate service, to be forwarded to the Secretary of War; but the President or the commander of the military district may, at any time, disband such companies: Provided, That in the States and districts in which the act entitled "An act to further provide for the public defense," approved April the sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and the acts amendatory thereof, have been suspended, persons of any age, resident within such States or districts, may volunteer and form part of such companies so long as such suspension shall continue: Provided, That no person shall become a member of said company until he shall have first taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America in writing, a copy of which shall be filed with the muster-roll of said company as above prescribed. Approved October 13, 1862.