A BETTER CAMP

On this day, after 45 days in a wet and miserable camp at Young's Point, Louisiana, the 16th Ohio, with the Second Brigade, now commanded by Col. Lionel Allen Sheldon (Colonel of the 42nd Ohio), break camp, board steamers and move 11 miles up river (north) to Milliken's Bend. The regiment would camp here for another 28 days.

On their trip to Milliken's Bend, the 16th Ohio again took the steamer Fanny Bullitt. This is the same ship that took them from Memphis to the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, up to the Battle of Arkansas Post and back to Young's Point for the winter.

Private Peter Perrine, Company C, tells us the men were paid off and clothing accounts were settled. He also states that the camp at Milliken's Bend was good.

According to Gen. William T. Sherman, McCLernand's 13th Army Corps corps, including the Second Brigade and 16th Ohio, was moved to Milliken's Bend to escape the high water of the Mississippi during one of the wettest winters in many years.

Milliken's Bend was a small community of about 200. Grant used this spot along with Young's Point to winter his army and stage the assault on Vicksburg that was sure to come as soon as weather and season permitted.

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Modern map of the route of the 16th Ohio and the Second Brigade when it moved from it's winter camp at Young's Point, Louisiana, to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, a distance of about 11 miles.

Blue pin - approximate location of the 16th Ohio's camp at Young's Point, Louisiana, March 8, 1863
Red pin - approximate location of the 16th Ohio's camp at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, March 8, 1863