I found an order dated Feb 4, 1864 in the ORs that a depot was to be established in Sparta, LA and 50,000 "rations" were to be placed there. That's all I found on Sparta in the ORs. At the time, Sparta was the Bienville parish seat. What I would like to find out is, was there a permanent camp, hospital or fort there and what unit(s) may have been assigned there during February/March of 64?

This is in reference to a Confederate soldier who was supposed to have been there in March of 64 and whose family thought he, "has not yet been exchanged but I was told that the exchange will take place in a week or two." This is a little confusing; what would a Confederate prisoner, not exchanged, be doing in Confederate held territory in that proximity to Shreveport?

Any thoughts?