OPELOUSAS

On this day the 16th Ohio resumed their march at 6:00 a.m. and marched 12 miles to the town of Opelousas, Louisiana. There, they set up camp about 3:00 p.m. The weather was sunny but very cold and windy. Pvt. Peter Perrine tells us that some of the men went out foraging and were captured by the Rebels.

Cpl. Theodore Wolbach, Company E, in his series of articles entitled Camp and Field - The Old 16th Ohio, further describes the day:

At 6 a.m. the next day we were padding the hoof again. Twelve miles more brought us to Opelousas. On the way we passed a human skeleton hung up to a tree. It was a good specimen, every bone present and secured in its place. A large army cracker was struck [sic] between its grinning jaws. The soldiers foraged liberally around through the country, and a few were so unfortunate as to be captured by the enemy. None of the 'gobbled' men belonged to the 16th.

---

1863 military map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its march from Carrion Crow to Opelousas, Louisiana, on October 24, 1863.

---

Modern day map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its march from Carrion Crow to Opelousas, Louisiana, on October 24, 1863.

Blue pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio, northwest of Franklin, Louisiana, October 5, 1863.
Lavender pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio, southeast of New Iberia, Louisiana, October 6-8, 1863.
Aqua pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio, October 9, 1863.
Purple pin -Approximate location of the campsite of the 16th Ohio on the Vermilion Bayou (or River) near Vermilionville, Louisiana, from October 10 to 23, 1863.
Green pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio at or near Carrion Crow Bayou, October 23, 1863. It is hoped additional research will provide a more precise location of the troops camp in this area.
Yellow pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio at Opelousas, Louisiana, October 24, 1863.