Why did Old Men and Young Boys fight at the Battle of June 9?

Question

There was a battle on June 9th, 1864, called the Battle of Old Men and Young Boys. What happened is that on that day, 125 strong Old Men and Young Boys under Maj. Fletcher Archer, that defended their beloved city of Petersburg, Virginia, from 1300 Union Calvary, and 1500 Union Infantry. Half of the Old Men and Young Boys population, was either killed, wounded, or captured. I don't understand why only Old Men and Young boys fought on that fateful day. Resources:
http://www.craterroad.com/9junebattle.html
http://www.craterroad.com/9juneceremony.html
http://www.craterroad.com/petersburg.html

Answer 1

There would have been no civilian men of military age left in Petersburg. 3 years of war (and the Confederacy had instituted a draft in 1862) had taken them. They were either dead, maimed, prisoner, or deployed elsewhere.

Answer 2

Cause they were too scared to stand up against a racist government, and did the bidding of a renegade wannabe country who was in the pocket of slavemasters? Yeah, that's it.