This question pertains specifically to Sharpshooters in the ANV, and even more specifically to the Louisiana Brigades. I'm trying to pin down information on how Sharpshooter Battalions worked. I know that early in the war, individual regiments would send forward companies and entire regiments might be sent forward for a Brigade to be skirmishers for a battle line. At some point the powers that be must have concluded that they could do much better with trained marksmen in these roles. I have seen many references in correspondence concerning the La. Brigades use of sharpshooters as the screen for main battle lines but it appears that by at least 1864 and perhaps in mid-1863, these sharpshooters might have had their own organization. My question is was this formed WITHIN the individual Brigades and were men pulled from all of the various regiments to serve in this capacity when going into battle? There is no mention of a separate duty or organization within the CMSR's. I know that Captain Patrick Keary was sent home in 1863 to form a battalion of Sharpshooters for the La. Brigades but when Richard Taylor found he was here, took the various companies for his own use, thus they never made it to Virginia. By 1864, even William Seymour mentions his appointing officers to command the Sharpshooters, etc. so I'm thinking this was a hand picked group that was probably the same men used every time. Can anyone substantiate or refute this? Sorry, I just have not read the details of the formation of sharpshooter battalions and such and would like to know more about this and how they worked within the framework of a Brigade. Thanks.