September 6, 1863

A MOVE INTO THE BAYOU COUNTRY

On this day, the 16th Ohio and its brigade ended their stay at Carrollton, crossed the Mississippi River to Algiers and moved out into the bayou country heading west toward Brashear City (now Morgan City), Louisiana. The regiment stopped at the village of Bayou Boeuf (present day Amelia, Louisiana). Private Thomas Linn states:

Came aboard the steam-boat Atlantic and run down to Algiers this morning. Waited in Algiers for railroad train until about 4 o'clock P.M. when we went aboard and started, running nearly all night and arriving at Bayou Beauf (Boeuf) in the after part of the night.

1863 map (portion) showing the route of the 16th Ohio from its camp at Carrollton, near New Orleans, across the Mississippi River to Algiers where they boarded trains and rode west to Bayou Boeuf (Amelia), Louisiana. Note: It is highly likely the railroad that transported the regiment west was the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western.

1853 railroad map (portion) showing the route of the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad from Algiers, west to and beyond Brashear City, Louisiana. Bayou Boeuf is clearly visible along with railroad mileages, confirming those recorded by members of the 16th Ohio on their trip from Algiers to Brashear City.

Modern day map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio from their campsite in Carrollton, Louisiana, taking a steamer down the Mississippi River about seven miles to Algiers, then boarding a train and riding 67 miles to Bayou Boeuf (present day Amelia), about seven miles east of Brashear City (now Morgan City), Louisiana.

Blue pin - Approximate location of the campsite of the 16th Ohio in Carrollton, Louisiana, August 15 to September 6, 1863.
Green pin - Algiers, Louisiana, where the 16th Ohio boarded a train headed west to Brashear City (now Morgan City), Louisiana, at 4:00pm on September 6, 1863.
Yellow pin - Approximate location of the campsite of the 16th Ohio at Bayou Boeuf (present day Amelia) where they arrived on a train, late at night on September 6 (or morning of the 7th), and stayed until the morning of September 11, 1863

1865 photo of two trains, one of the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad (left most) and a U.S. military train, parked in front of the mechanic shops at Algiers, Louisiana.