The Houston-New Orleans Railroad was only complete and operational from Houston to Beaumont and from Brasher City La. (Morgan City) to New Orleans at the start of the War. The gap between Beaumont and Brasher City wasn't closed until after the War. The Texas Regiments that were in Hood's Brigade in Virginia travel by train from Houston to Beaumont, and then by steamer down the Neches and then up the Sabine to Neblett's Bluff.From there they marched east to New Iberia and took a steamer down Bayou Teche to Brasher City. From Brasher City they took the train east to New Orleans.The route from the Sabine to the Teche was so bad in wet weather that the preferred route east from Texas was Neblett's Bluff to Alexandria La. and then down the Red River to the Mississippi. Neblett's Bluff was an important way station,supply center and campground for the Confederate Army throughout the War.