Gordon Smith states, "'ante-bellum' Georgia was in an almost constant swirl of 'war or rumors of war'" due to the presence of Tories, Indians, bandits, privateers, and border disputes with France and Spain.
"Central to the American concept of a republican democracy, composed as it was of citizen-soldiers, the militia system was essential to the political and social structure.
Formally established pursuant to the Militia Act of 1784, these theoretically contained one company of at least sixty-three men … the governor as commander-in-chief.
... "The General Militia Acts of 1803, 1807, and 1818 directed that all district male residents from eighteen to forty-five years old, except those exempted by laws such as ministers, enrol in their district company and perform regularly scheduled drills, at the designated unit muster ground.
On April 16, 1865, in response to Wilson's Raid through Alabama, militia forces under the command of Brigadier General Robert C. Tyler engaged U.S. soldiers at the Battle of West Point.