Camp Moore National Cemetery, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Submitted for the Louisiana USGenWeb Archives, Military Resources by Jan Craven ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** A Special thanks to the ladies of Camp Moore Chapter of the UDC for giving the LaGenWeb Archives permission to place this in the archives. Camp Moore History Camp Moore, named for Governor Thomas Overton Moore of Louisiana, was located about 78 miles north of New Orleans on the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad ( now the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad) about one half mile above Tangipahoa Station. The greater part of the volunteer regiments and battalions which brought fame and honor to the State of Louisiana during the War for Southern Independence were assembled, organized, and trained in this camp. After the secession of Louisiana, the convention which took the state out of the Union approved an ordinance which established a regular state military force. During the months of January and February, military companies were formed, some with funds from the Military board, and some with private funds. By the middle of February, 28 volunteer companies had been furnished arms by the Military Board. Most of these arms had come from the seizure of the federal arsenal at Baton Rouge. There were enlisted a total of 1,765 men with the size of the companies varying from 120 men to 30 men, the minimum size set by the board. On March 19, 1861, a call was made by Confederate Secretary of War Leroy Walker for 1,700 volunteers to garrison forts inside the Confederacy. The legislature allowed Governor Moore to transfer state troops to Confederate service and permitted Louisiana citizens to volunteer for Confederate service. On April 8th, President Davis asked Louisiana for 3,000 additional troops, and after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, asked for 5,000 more. New Orleans was the place designated to receive the volunteers. The old Metairie race Course was used as a military camp, and by early May, some 3,000 troops were training there. The training camp, called Camp Walker, was deficient in many ways. The lack of easy access to clean drinking water, the swarms of mosquitoes from surrounding swamps, and the soft, marshy soil in the camp made the place intolerable to the men. A new training site was soon found near Tangipahoa. General Tracy, who commanded Camp Walker, began to transfer most of his troops by rail to Camp Moore on May 13, 1861. The 3rd Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers was to be left to complete its training at Camp Walker. Camp Moore was much better suited for use as a military camp than Camp Walker. At Camp Moore, there was an abundance of fresh, clean drinking water, plenty of shade, well drained soil, and almost no mosquitoes. While at Camp Moore, companies were brought to full strength, elected their officers, and formed into groups of ten companies willing to serve in the same regiment. These regiments were then brought into State service and elected regimental officers. The State then arranged for the regiments to be mustered into Confederate service. The regiments usually left Camp Moore within a couple of days of being mustered. Among those who went to the Army of Northern Virginia were the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Regiments of Volunteers and the 1st Special Battalion of Louisiana Volunteers ( Wheat's Battalion). Among those serving in Confederate commands in the western part of the Confederacy were the 4th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 30th Regiments of Louisiana Volunteers. Letters from soldiers and visitors at the camp describe it as being about one half mile above Tangipahoa Station and being bounded on the west by the railroad, on the south by Beaver Creek, and on the east by the Tangipahoa River. General Tracy's headquarters was near Beaver Creek, and along the creek there was a coffee house and restaurant, a grocery, the sutler, soda and refreshment shops, a barber shop, a photographer's salon, and a butcher shop. In the center of the camp was the parade ground. The letters also mention a camp cemetery where soldiers who died of disease were buried. Estimates of the number of men buried in the cemetery range from 250 to 800 men. Maj. General Mansfield Lovell, came to Camp Moore in October, 1861, and due to a lack of arms there, ordered the troops to camps close to New Orleans. When the federal fleet arrived at New Orleans on April 25, 1862, all the troops at New Orleans and in the surrounding area were ordered to move to Camp Moore. Governor Moore visited Camp Moore in May 1862, and stayed about 10 days. In the following months and years, Camp Moore was made a camp of instruction for Louisiana conscripts from east of the Mississippi River. It also served as a prisoner of war camp at one time. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, commanding the Florida Parishes, made his headquarters at Camp Moore with about 1000 men. On July 28, 1862, Gen John C. Breckinridge arrived at Camp Moore to make ready his campaign to liberate Baton Rouge from federal occupation. Breckinridge divided his 4000 men and the 1000 under Ruggles into two divisions and marched to Baton Rouge. On Aug. 5th, due to the failure of the CSS Arkansas to disperse the federal warships on the Mississippi, the Confederates were unsuccessful in regaining possession of Baton Rouge. Most of the infantry and artillery units in the Florida Parishes were moved to Port Hudson when that place was fortified, leaving only cavalry units in the area of Camp Moore. Some conscripts were left in the camp for training, and to look after supplies that were stored there. The camp was raided by federal cavalry in April 1863, and again in Oct. 1864, at which time the federals destroyed a large amount of stored clothing and dispersed the cattle kept there for Confederate use. In Nov. 1864, Gen Davidson passed through Tangipahoa with 5000 men and burned Camp Moore and all the outbuildings. The wooden headboards that marked the final resting place of the soldiers who had died at the camp were also destroyed, so families could not find their kin. This last raid finished Camp Moore as a military camp. In 1892, encampment No. 60 of the United Confederate Veterans was established at Tangipahoa, with their chief purpose being the care of the graves at Camp Moore. The Camp Moore chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was responsible for getting the donation of a two acre tract which encompassed the cemetery. They also got the legislature to appropriate funds to build a wall and fence around the old cemetery in 1904. The monument in the center of the cemetery was dedicated in Oct., 1907. In the 1960's another tract of land was procurred and a museum built using state funds. The museum was dedicated in May, 1965 and was designated a state commemorative area. In the 1980's Gov. Edwards closed the site, along with some other state commemorative areas across the state. It was no longer to be operated by the state. The site was reopened in June, 1993 as a private, non profit entity. Today, the museum and cemetery survive mostly on donations and volunteer help. It has only one paid position, that of part time curator. The museum contains numerous artifacts of the period and is open from 10 am - 4 pm Tuesday - Saturday. The grounds are a beautiful place for a picnic, wedding or just a quiet day in the country. Camp Moore is located along hwy 51 just north of Tangipahoa, La. Camp Moore can be reached from I-55, by taking the Tangipahoa exit. For more information, call the museum at 504-229-2438. List of Names Camp Moore Confederate Cemetery Row 1 Grave No. Name Company / Regiment Date of Death 1 Pvt. Benjamin Brown Co. D, 8th Louisiana Inf 2 Pvt. Joseph A. Rambin Co. H, 19th Louisiana Inf Dec.24th, 1861 3 Pvt. Firmin Demoulet Co. D, 27th Louisiana Inf April 21st, 1862 4 Pvt. George Hudspeth Co. B, 18th Louisiana Inf Oct. 20th, 1861 5 Pvt. Mills Ezell Co. C, 27th Louisiana Inf April 14th, 1862 6 Pvt. David McMellon Co. B, 17th Louisiana Inf Nov. 23rd, 1861 7 Pvt. John Stuart Co. B, 17th Louisiana Inf October 27, 1861 8 Pvt. Oliver H. Deas Co. E, 19th Louisiana Inf Dec. 25th, 1861 9 Pvt. Robert Platt Co. D, 27th Louisiana Inf April 16th, 1862 10 Pvt. J. Y. Felps Co. A, 16th Louisiana Inf Nov. 2nd, 1861 Row 2 11 Pvt. R. Lackey Co. B, 27th Louisiana Inf April 25th, 1862 12 Pvt. William D. Sayers Co. C, 16th Louisiana Inf October 7th, 1861 13 Pvt. James Hamilton Co. K, 17th Louisiana Inf Nov. 4th, 1861 14 Pvt. George Andrews Co. H, 19th Louisiana Inf Dec. 11th, 1861 15 Pvt. John Mincy Co. C, 9th Louisiana Inf July 28th, 1861 16 Pvt. Newton Dupree Co. B, 17th Louisiana Inf Oct. 19th, 1861 17 Pvt. John McAnally Co. I, 17th Louisiana Inf Oct. 23rd, 1861 18 Pvt. S. G. Kelley Co. G, 17th Louisiana Inf Oct. 16th, 1861 19 Pvt. Joseph Hamelton Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf Oct. 31st, 1861 20 Pvt. J. M. Chatham Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf Oct. 28th, 1861 Row 3 21 2nd Lt. A. J. Bird Co. H, 4th Louisiana Inf June 9th, 1861 22 Pvt. G. V. Stokes Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf October 21st, 1861 23 Pvt. Samuel Comwall Co. K, 17th Louisiana Inf November 9th, 1861 24 Pvt. John Wagner Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf October 31st, 1861 25 Pvt. J. A. J. Christian Co. K, 11th Louisiana Inf Sept. 12th, 1861 26 Pvt. Charles Kraft Co. D, 28th Louisiana Inf April 29th, 1862 27 Pvt. Jasper Landrum Co. E, 17th Louisiana Inf October 26th,1861 28 Pvt. A. E. Conner Co. H, 16th Louisiana Inf November 4th, 1861 29 Pvt. H. P. Strange Co. D, 12th Louisiana Inf October 24th, 1861 30 Pvt. Valmont LeBleue Co. D, Miles Louisiana Legion May 26th, 1862 Row 4 31 Pvt. G. W. Cox Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf October 16th, 1861 32 Pvt. Philibert Roblais Co. C, 18th Louisiana Inf October 28th, 1861 33 Pvt. Thomas L. Hargis Co. D, 9th Louisiana Inf June 1861 34 Pvt. Seth Dickson Co. C, 27th Louisiana Inf April 26th, 1862 35 Pvt. Jerry M. Brunson Co. A, 16th Louisiana Inf Nov. 28th, 1861 36 Pvt. William J. Walker Co. D, 12th Louisiana Inf Sept. 24th, 1861 37 Pvt. Thomas Cooley Co. E, 16th Louisiana Inf October 29th, 1861 38 Pvt. John T. Toney Co. I, 27th Louisiana Inf May 10th, 1862 39 Sgt. Reuben H. Prude Co. F, 19th Louisiana Inf Dec. 22nd, 1861 40 Pvt. T. W. Hawthorn Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf October 6th, 1861 Row 5 41 Pvt. E. O. Hubnes Co. B, 28th Louisiana Inf May 17th, 1862 42 Pvt. T. J. Stanford Co. B, 28th Louisiana Inf May 9th, 1862 43 Pvt. Henry C. Singleton Co. F, 18th Louisiana Inf November 2nd,1861 44 Pvt. F. Hewit Co. B, 27th Louisiana Inf May 3rd, 1862 45 Pvt. W. H. Yarborough Co. D, 9th Louisiana Inf July 21st, 1861 46 Pvt. William J. Cox Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf ------ 47 Pvt. Felix B. Darby Co. K, 16th Louisiana Inf Nov. 27th, 1861 48 Pvt. Jacob Jowers Co. E, 16th Louisiana Inf October 29th, 1861 49 Pvt. John O. Sapp Co. D, 9th Louisiana Inf July 12th, 1861 50 1st Lt. E. C. Andrews Co. A, 19th Louisiana Inf Dec. 22nd, 1861 Row 6 51 Pvt. J. W. Attaway Co. F, 17th Louisiana Inf Nov. 27th, 1861 52 Pvt. J. G. Leonard Co. E, 17th Louisiana Inf October 12th, 1861 53 Pvt. Thomas Woods Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf October 22nd, 1861 54 Pvt. Joseph W. Carter Co. C, 16th Louisiana Inf October 11th, 1861 55 Pvt. D. C. Harp Co. G, 17th Louisiana Inf October 16th, 1861 56 Pvt. Willima J. Lewis Co. D, 12th Louisiana Inf August 25th, 1861 57 Pvt. William Lambert Co. K, 16th Louisiana Inf October 24th, 1861 58 Pvt. J. B. Lawson Co. K, 16th Louisiana Inf October 20th, 1861 59 Pvt. John T. Carr Co. B, 12th Louisiana Inf August 14th, 1861 60 Pvt. G. W. Hawthorn Co. I, 27th Louisiana Inf May 10th, 1862 Row 7 61 Pvt. W. B. Swarengen Co. B, 17th Louisiana Inf October 30th, 1861 62 Pvt. William Yates Co. F, 17th Louisiana Inf October 19th, 1861 63 Corpl. L. L. Lynch Co. C, 18th Louisiana Inf October 15th, 1861 64 Pvt. James A. Shelby Co. G, 16th Louisiana Inf October 18th, 1861 65 Pvt. A. E. Barner Co. B, 19th Louisiana Inf Dec. 27th, 1861 66 Pvt. Joseph Hoover Co. E, Miles Louisiana Legion May 4th, 1862 67 Pvt. J. J. Holliday Co. F, 28th Louisiana Inf June 12th, 1862 68 Pvt. E. W. Franklin Co. B, 17th Louisiana Inf November 6th, 1861 69 Pvt. William M. Sutton Co. I, 17th Louisiana Inf Nov. 19th, 1861 70 Pvt. M. H. Vickers Co. C, 18th Louisiana Inf Nov. 19th, 1861 Row 8 71 Pvt. James P. Young Co. F, 12th Louisiana Inf Nov. 24th, 1861 72 Pvt. John H. Sears Co. D, 9th Louisiana Inf July 14th, 1861 73 Pvt. J. A. Voisin Co. D, 27th Louisiana Inf April 15th, 1862 74Pvt. George Wells Co. G, 16th Louisiana Inf October 19th, 1861 75 Pvt. Edward J. Allen Co. B, 12th Louisiana Inf Sept. 13th, 1861 76 Pvt. James Adeer Co. C, 9th Louisiana Inf October 2nd, 1861 77 Pvt. J. E. Price Co. D, 17th Louisiana Inf November 4th, 1861 78 Pvt. C. C. Mason Co. B, 27th Louisiana Inf May 1862 79 Pvt. W. G. Hughs Co. D, 6th Louisiana Inf May 30th, 1861 80 Pvt. John Martin Co. C, 9th Louisiana Inf 1861 Row 9 81 Pvt. A. LeBlanc Co. A, 30th Louisiana Inf July 14th, 1862 82 Pvt. William David Co. B, 27th Louisiana Inf May 6th, 1862 83 Pvt. Joshua A. Smith Co. K, 17th Louisiana Inf October 31st, 1861 84 Pvt. Richard Cason Co. A, 9th Louisiana Inf August 31st, 1861 85 Pvt. Mark Barentine Co. B, 28th Louisiana Inf May 18th, 1862 86 Pvt. H. B. Nerson Co. G, 13th Louisiana Inf Sept. 15th, 1861 87 Pvt. Soloman N. Newman Co. E, 16th Louisiana Inf October 27th, 1861 88 Pvt. Thomas W. Morgan Co. B, 28th Louisiana Inf May 23rd, 1862 89 Pvt. Edox Morril Co. B, 18th Louisiana Inf October 13th, 1861 90 Pvt. Robert Mires Co. I, 28th Louisiana Inf May 6th, 1862