LIFE

Atchafalaya Voices: Mysteries aboud on the Old Spanish Trail

Linda Connolly Tribe

Whenever my parents said, “We are going to the country,” this meant we were going to Carencro, where my father was born. If they said “We are going down the road,” they were on their way to Ricohoc, where my mother grew up.

Along the way to Ricohoc, my mother would point out special houses and landmarks to us. Near Centerville, she showed us a large, coffin-shaped box supported by huge limbs in an oak tree. The box was suspended about 40 to 50 feet from the ground and many leaves almost obscured it.

When I researched this, I found the box was actually a rain water-holding tank, not a soldier’s final resting place. The Confederates used the water for drinking, cooking, and bathing during the Civil War.

Further down the road, she showed us a tall cylinder structure protruding from Bayou Teche. She did not know the history behind it, so we were content making up our own stories.

In reality, the structure was a casualty from the Battle of Irish Bend during the Civil War, which started two days after the Battle of Bisland — April 17, 1863. The Yankee gunboat Diana was coming south from Grand Lake north of Ricohoc. Meeting in Franklin, a battle ensued and the Confederates confiscated the Diana.

The Yankees tried to reclaim the boat — although at first unsuccessful, they were persistent. When the Confederates were losing ground and knew they could no longer be in possession of the boat, they sabotaged it and the remains lay in Bayou Teche. Over the years, the Diana sank lower into the mushy bayou leaving the now barely visible smoke stack.

One magnificent mansion was built close to the Old Spanish Trail near Ricohoc. As we passed in front of it, the only things visible were large columns. Years previously a fire destroyed this beautiful structure, leaving these tall sentries to guard the land.

My mother said candles were burned in every window at Christmastime. We made up a story that the house burned because someone left a lone candle burning starting the fire.

The trip to Ricohoc was filled with stories of suspense and tragedy.

Her imagination kept us quiet, and before we knew it, our family was safely on Ricohoc.

Linda Connolly Tribe is a grandmother of four and a great-grandmother of two who documents memories of her family.