The Old Confederate Military Road 1862-1865

In 1862 when federal troops captured New Orleans and blockaded the mouth of the Mississippi River, Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor established headquarters in Central Louisiana, where they successfully stopped Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks' army in its drive to take West Louisiana. To furnish Taylor's army with supplies, a military road was established from Niblett's Bluff to Alexandria. This marks the beginning of the 18 mile route of the Old Confederate Military Road through Calcasieu Parish.