SOUTH TO CARRION CROW BAYOU

After marching and camping for nearly seven weeks since leaving New Orleans, the 16th Ohio was now ordered to backtrack on their route, and head southeast. On this cloudy morning, the regiment started at 7:00 am and marched south, back to Carrion Crow Bayou.

As described by Cpl. Wolbach, on October 24, when the regiment was marching up to Opelousas, Private Thomas B. Linn, Company B, also states:

Pass a human skeleton some wretch had hung on a large tree by the roadside after sticking a hard-tack in its mouth.

Linn also tell us that Companies B and E were suddently ordered to march to an unknown destination.

At this time, there was serious enemy activity in the area. The Confederates had re-assembled a large force, including many men who had been captured at Vicksburg and paroled, and hoped to mount an offensive to drive out the Union and re-take Louisiana.

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1863 military map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its march from Opelousas to Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana, arriving there on October 27, 1863.

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Modern day map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its march from Opelousas to Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana, arriving there on October 27, 1863.

Blue pin -Approximate location of the 16th Ohio at Opelousas, Louisiana, October 24-26, 1863.
Green pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio at or near Carrion Crow Bayou, October 27, 1863.