Mississippi River channel if flood-control structures are overtopped or heavily damaged during a severe flood. Failure of the Old River Control Structure, the Morganza Spillway, or nearby levees would likely re-route the main channel of the Mississippi through Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin and down the Atchafalaya River to reach the Gulf of Mexico south of Morgan City in southern Louisiana. This route provides a more direct path to the Gulf of Mexico than the present Mississippi River channel through Baton Rouge and New Orleans. While the risk of such a diversion is present during any major flood event, such a change has so
3rd Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry Gulf, to September 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of Morganza, Dept. of the Gulf, to February 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of Morganza, Dept. of the Gulf, to May 1865. Northern District of Louisiana, Dept. of the Gulf, to July 1865. Moved from Benton Barracks, Missouri, to Port Hudson, Louisiana, arriving March 19, 1864, and duty there till June. Moved to Morganza, Louisiana, and duty there till June 1865. Action at Mt. Pleasant Landing, Louisiana, May 15, 1864 (Detachment). Expedition from Morganza to Bayou Sara September 6–7, 1864. Moved to