Layout of Camp Moore
Shown below is a map of the layout of Camp Moore. This map is a contemporary version using a sketch drawn in 1862 by Pvt. John E. Hall of Co. E, 27th Louisiana Infantry, many soldier's letters and descriptions and thermal imaging work still ongoing at Camp Moore.
The sutler area had several sutlers, a couple of "restaurants" and at least one photographer. Mrs. E. Beachbard ran an ambrotype saloon on Rampart St. in New Orleans but was enterprising enough to set up here and take pictures of the soldiers. Unfortunately, she succumbed to disease on Nov. 22nd, 1861 (during a measles outbreak) and died. She was buried in the new Tangipahoa Town Cemetery about a mile away. Many men remarked about the crystal clear water of Beaver Creek and mentioned that they drew drinking water from the upper part (near the sutlers and camp) and bathed in the lower part. The men would also bathe in the Tangipahoa River. Camp Tracy was the upper part of Camp Moore and is mentioned as being anywhere from 100 yards to 1/4 mile north of the main camp, although still a part of Camp Moore. The men and all visitors were actually discharged from the "cars" in the town of Tangipahoa and used various footpaths to approach the Camp. Sentries were posted in all directions for about one mile from Camp Moore. Guards were posted 24 hours per day. The broken dotted line in the top left shows the current boundaries of Camp Moore. The railbed is currently in use. The museum is located just west of the cemetery.
The above scene is taken of part of the actual camping ground at Camp Moore. It is taken looking southeastward from the area about where the sutlers were located. The tree line covers the view of Beaver Creek which meanders from right to left just below this entire tree line.
This is a view of the parade ground looking eastward from about where the Commissary house was once located. The cemetery is just out of view in the left distance and the main camp was located to the right of this position. The part of the upper camp known as Camp Tracy is located between the treelines to the left of center.
The above aerial photograph was taken in 1961 before the museum was built and is of a view facing eastward. In the foreground is the railbed of the current Illinois Central Gulf railroad, built on the old railbed of the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad. In the center of the picture is the cemetery with the monument standing in its center. On the right is a partial view of the parade ground and in the top right and center is the remains of what was known as Camp Tracy or the "upper camp". Out of view to the far right was the main camp, sutler area and Beaver Creek. The Tangipahoa River snakes left to right through the upper treeline along the darker treed area.
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Website design by N. Wayne Cosby
In memory of my beloved Christin