GARRISON DUTY - NEWS OF BATTLE

During this period, 16th Ohio performed garrison duty in New Iberia, Louisiana. Cpl. Theodore Wolbach, Company E, tell us:

The 120th O.V.I. was camped close to us and by some means not entirely satisfactory to all parties, but quite natural to soldiers in war time, many of their cooking utensils found their way into our camp. It was humorously reported that Quartermaster Dean, of the 120th, followed the 16th all the way to Iberia to get his kettles and dishes before he could get breakfast.

News reached us here of a severe fight that Gen. Burbridge's brigade had up at Carrion Crow Bayou. A large force of rebels made a sudden dash on our camp there and for a while our men were handled pretty rough. After reinforcements came the rebels were driven away.

Wolbach refers to the Battle of Carrion Crow (or Bayou Bourbeau), which took place at Grand Coteaus, Louisiana, on November 3, just six days after the 16th Ohio left the area. Though not decisive, the battle was a victory for the Confederates, who inflicted 716 Union casualties, killed, wounded or captured to the Confederates loss of 181.

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1863 military map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its march from the Vermilion River, near Vermilionville (Lafayette), to New Iberia, Louisiana, arriving there on October 30, 1863. The regiment would remain here until November 8.

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Modern day map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its march from the Vermilion River, near Vermilionville (Lafayette), to New Iberia, Louisiana, arriving there on October 30, 1863. The regiment would remain here until November 8.

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.
Red pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio on the Vermilion River near Vermilionville (Lafayette), October 29, 1863.
Aqua pin - Location of the 16th Ohio at New Iberia, Louisiana, October 30 to November 6, 1863.