Year: 1861

We have already mentioned the action of the
Firemen's Charitable Association, at late meet
ing, in adopting a measure to constitute the fire
companies band of home military companies to
act in unison, as one grand body for home protec-
ton, whatever may happen We are happy to
learn that the idea takes well among the fremen
of New Orleans. Several of tie fire companies
are already on military footing, and it is proba-
BILE that the rest of the fire companies will fall into
the military arrangement. Regarding this business
a cotemporary makes these sensible remarks


There is one reason why the Fire Brigade should
be mustered into service for home protection,
which in itself is of great importance-Athe quick
ness with which it can be called out. According
to the plan below, at least five hundred soldiers
could be concentrated at any given point in half
an hour, and in an hour twelve Or fifteen hundred
would be collected. The regular militia can never
become so alert as this, by reason of the we'll
known fact that only the practiced ear of the fire.
man catches the alarm of the bells at all tfmes-n
sleep, or during the noise and turmoil of the day
and in the event, improbable as it is, of an nsur-
rection Or other dangerous emergency, the ability
to assemble and move over thousand well armed
and drilled men within an hour after the COM
mencement of the outbreak, would most likely
prove the salvation Of the city.


The following is the propos ed plan for the mill
tary organization Of the fire department:


A PLAN FOR THE MILITARY ORGANIZATION Or
r. i
companies composing the New Orleans Fire De-
partment shall be armed and equipped as militia,
to serve as such at the call Of the Governor of the
State Of Louisiana the Mayor of the city of New
Orleans, within the corporate limits of the city ot
New Orleans.


2. Such militia service shall not exempt any
company, or the members thereof from the faith
tul and Jealous performance of their duties under
the fire contract.


3. The Fire Department, in its auxiliary militia
organization, shall be known as the Fire Brigade


4. The Fire Brigade shall consist Of not more
than twenty four companies OF infantry, light in
fautry or ri1emen the said companies being per-
mitted to choose the style of drill after their organ
ization No company shall have more than one
hundred men, rank and file.


s. The rules and regulations governing the militia
of the State of Louisiana shall be adopted for the
government of the Fire Brigade, excepting in so far
as they may conflict with this plan of organization.


6. The meeting room of each company shall be
the arsenal and drill room Of the same, and the
arms and accoutrements shall be kept there. A
small magazine containing twenty rounds of ball
cartridges for each member, shall be kept in the
feed room, or some other safe and convenient place
unless otherwise provided for. Each house Keeper
shall perform the duties of armorer.


7. There shall be one style of uniform adopted
for the whole Fire Brigade, cheap and serviceable,
which shall be hereafter agreed upon.


s. The military organization of each company
shall be separate and distinct from its regular
organization as fire company as to permit mem
bers to JOIN or remain in the company as firemen
without belonging to the Military Brigade, and also
permit of members being received into the military
organization who shall not be members of the fire
company nor be liable to perform fire duties.


8. Twelve blows upon the fire alarm bells sha
be signal directing the members Of the Fire Bri.
gade to assemble with the utmost dispatch at theit
respective arsenals, and the point OF immediate
concentration of the companies shall be indicated
by number tapped in the signal boxes.


The foregoing plan is to besubmitted to the com
mittee representing the several fire companies, a
ameetng to be held on Sunday, to.morrow) The
Board of Military Commissioners will, no doubt
furnish the Brigade with the necessary accoutre
ments, but if they should refuse to grant them fo
the reason that The Brigade will not act outside
the city limits, then the City Conncl should act il
the matter, and probably will.