The Georgia 1st Infantry Regiment Reserves was commanded by Maj. W. R. Symons. In Confederate Military History this unit is referred to as a battalion, although the unit had a full 10 companies and possibly 11. This command served in Georgia, especially in the Savannah campaign after the fall of Atlanta, and the Carolina's Campaign. Companies Of The Georgia 1st Infantry Regiment Reserves (A) J. M. Dye and W. H. C. Mills, (B) J. Cunningham, (C) Wm. M. Davidson, (D) J. B. Hussey, (E) A. Morrison, (F) B. Millican, (G) R. A. Peeples, (H) W. C. Allen., (I) James M. Dye, (K) Charles W. Hersey.

The provisional Texas government gave James Bowie "command." He and James Fannin were appointed "colonels." After Bowie died at the Alamo, Fannin was left sole "Colonel" of the "Texas Army." In 1862, James H. Fannin organized Company B of the 60th Georgia Regiment but did not enter service with it. He later organized and commanded the 1st Georgia Reserves. These men served primarily as prison guards at Andersonville. The reserves were a part of some 5,000 men who served as guards and staff at different times. Col. Fannin remembered that he seldom had more than a thousand or twelve hundred men fit for duty. At the close of the war the prisoners at Andersonville were transferred to Camp Lawton near Waynesboro and Florence South Carolina. Some of the men of the 1st may have accompanied the prisoners, but it appears most of them were involved in the battle of West Point and captured along with Col. Fannin. Companies Of The GA 1st Infantry Regiment Reserves Company A - From the counties of Heard (18), Coweta (29), Campbell (1), Carroll (1), DeKalb (5), Henry (1), Jackson (2), Meriwether (1), Walton (1), Franklin (1) and one was listed as living in Anderson District, SC. Company B - From Oglethorpe (44), Greene (13), Taliaferro (4), Elbert (3), Walton (6), Clarke (7), Madison (5), Morgan (8), and DeKalb (1). Company C - From Meriwether (2), Troup (14), Clark (2), Franklin (1), DeKalb (1), Baldwin (1), Jasper (3), Walton (1), Jackson (3), Hancock (1), Clayton? (1), Morgan (1), Oglethorpe (2), Green (4), Wilkinson (1), Cherokee (2), Madison (1) as well as 3 listed from Robertson (?) County, NC and 1 from the Lawrence (Laurens) District? SC. Company D - From Elbert (33), Franklin (2), Hart (13), Newton (12), Madison (3), with one listing his place of residence as Chester District, SC Company E - At least one soldier's place of residence is known - Meriwether County, Georgia. Company F - Company G - Company H - Coweta County, Jefferson County, Harris County, Tolbert County, Wilcox County & Carroll County, GA. Company I - Campbell County, GA (1), Fayette County, GA (2) and Carroll County, GA (3). Company K - Carroll County, Georgia.

The Georgia 1st Infantry Regiment Regulars completed its organization at Macon, Georgia, in April, 1861, and soon moved to Virginia. The men were from Atlanta and Brunswick, Glynn and Montgomery counties. It was brigaded under General Toombs and in April, 1862, contained 367 effectives. Transferred to G.T. Anderson's Brigade, the unit fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Fredericksburg. The 1st was then sent back to its home state to recruit due to its losses of men to wounds and disease. During the summer of 1864, the 1st Georgia Regulars was stationed in the Charleston area and later saw action at Savannah and in North Carolina. The regiment reported 3 killed and 19 wounded at Savage's Station, had 27 killed and 77 wounded at Second Manassas, and lost 3 killed and 25 wounded at Olustee. Only 45 officers and men surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.

In December 1863, the state's general assembly reorganized the state militia and it became known as Joe Brown's Pets. In his ongoing attempt to maintain a body of troops under Georgia command, Brown then organized the Georgia State Guards and the Georgia State Reserves, both commanded by Major Gen. Howell Cobb. The State Guards were short-lived had been disbanded by early 1864 due to pressure from the CS government and changes in the conscription law. Shortly after disbanding the Guards, Gov. Brown and Gen. Cobb organized the Reserve. Though technically these men were on six month enlistments, many served for the duration of The War. Many served as POW guards at Andersonville and Macon. Both units were comprised of men otherwise exempt from Confederate States conscription. Companies Of The Ga 1st Infantry Regiment State Guards Men who made up this regiment were from the following counties: Greene Taliaferro Warren Baldwin Hancock Washington Madison Elbert Oglethorpe Wilkes Lincoln Columbia