Governor Joe Brown decided that all military units would send representatives to Milledgeville to perfect the military system of Georgia.  The subject of secession from the Union was hot at this time and when the step was taken, about half the Gate City Guard resigned.  The Ranks were soon filled with volunteers; they converged on Macon where the First Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Ramsey's) was formed, and volunteered for duty in the Confederate Army.  The Gate City Guard, now Company F was sent to Pensacola where it prepared for an assault on Fort Pickens.  Before the assault was launched, however, they were ordered to Virginia, to join General Robert Garnett.  There they participated in the battles of Laurel Hill and Corrick's Ford and many other actions, serving under Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.  They were then ordered to Lynchburg to be disbanded because their year of service was up.  Many joined other outfits, primarily the 12th Georgia Light Artillery Bn. and fought on until Appomattox.