THE LAST MISSION

This day would mark the last time the 16th Ohio went into combat.  The regiment, along with about 5,000 other troops, took steamers from their camp at Morganza Bend, Louisiana, down the Mississippi River to Bayou Sara.  The rather large body of troops reached the bayou about midnight and began disembarking.  Cpl Theodore Wolbach, Company E, tells us:

October 1st about 4,000 colored troops and 1,000 white ones went down to the village of Bayou Sara. The expedition was under the command of a Michigan colonel. Capt. Foster, of the fleet, landed some men before daylight. Shortly after the whole force was ashore ready to move. While landing a dead man was found on the beach. He was in a badly decomposed condition and appeared to have been dead for some time...

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This period map shows the approximate route of the 16th Ohio and the Union force which went on a scouting expedition from their camp at Morganza Bend, Louisiana, to Bayou Sara on October 1 and 2, 1864, aboard the steamer Choteau.

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Modern day map showing the estimated route and location of the 16th Ohio from their primary camp at Morganza Bend, Louisiana, to Bayou Sara on the Mississippi River..

A - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio's primary camp at Morganza Bend, Louisiana. The regiment camped in the spot from July 4 to October 6, 1864.
B - Approximate location where the 16th Ohio and large Union force landed around midnight on October 1, 1864.