'Skull Island' on the Mermentau River: Remains of the Last Slaves From Africa?

In the last post, I mentioned the USS Eugenie/USS Glasgow going on an expedition to Mermentau Lake in Louisiana.  Wikipedia made no mention of the lake, but did of the river.

It is located in the western part of the state.

The Mermentau River has the infamous "Negro Island"  (also known as "Skull Island") near the tiny village of Grand Chenier. In March 1867, countless skeletons, skulls and leg bones were found still shackled by rusting leg irons.

It is thought that with the Civil War over, a slaver ship, fearful of being caught violating the 1820 U.S. law on Slave Trade would be charged with piracy and hanged.

It is believed that this gruesome discovery might be the human cargo carried by the slaver  schooner Huntress which is known to be the last slave ship to leave the Congo with a cargo of 200 slaves.

A Horrible Story.  --Old B-Runner