During April 25th to May 1st of 1862, the Italian Brigade of New Orleans which consisted of former Italian Soldiers was chosen to police the city of New Orleans during the transition to the Union occupation. During that week, Algiers was looted and burned. The Italian Brigade kept order in the French Quarter.

The Italian Brigade of New Orleans in 1862 numbered 286 police officers. The Bersaglieri Society was formed in New Orleans in 1870. Many are buried in Metairie Cemetery on Italian row. The Bersaglieri, are a troop of marksmen in the Italian Army's infantry corps. They were originally created by General Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Royal Sardinian Army, which later became the Royal Italian Army.