Very interesting stuff. I'm researching the Violett Guards, Co. K, 6th LA Infantry.

They were composed/comprised mainly of members of Irad Ferry Volunteer Fire Co. No. 12 (named for an heroic New Orleans fireman).

Since not all their members were from Irad Ferry, I started looking at other N.O. volunteer fire companies to see if everyone in the unit was a volunteer fireman. (N.O. didn't have a professional fire department until ca. 1892 because the volunteers were leading citizens who were too proud to accept money for doing their civil duty and protecting the community from "conflagration"!)

This has led me to transcribing the Compiled Service Records for the Violett Guards, the Louisiana Fire Brigade/Regiment (in process) and the Orleans Fire Battalion/Regiment (in process), as well as searching for newspaper articles about all three units as Confederate/Louisiana Militia.

The two battalions/regiments are, indeed, often confused.

The renowned and wonderful Art Bergeron doesn't even mention the Louisiana Fire Battalion/Regiment in his excellent "Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865.

So, I'm just wondering what your interest in the units is (if any) and what types of sources you might have that I might not be aware of.

I'm mainly using footnote.com, N.O. period newspapers, and whatever I can scrounge from the Net (which isn't much!).

Thanks! -- Jim Huffman, Violett Guards, Co. K, 6th LA Infantry Vols, CSA

PS: Matt -- What were you specifically footnoting? Maybe it's something Dan or I can help you with. Can't wait for the book!!!