 On October 3, 1863, the men of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks' Union Army of the Gulf marched out of Berwick, Louisiana.Their destination was Texas, their intended route was across the prairies of south-western Louisiana, and their objective was to restore Texas to the Union.The Federals did not make it to Texas but by November 17 were marching back into New Iberia, having gotten no farther than Opelousas.