Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway by residents and landowners since its inception. After the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, the engineering policy on the Mississippi River changed from building levees high enough to withstand the greatest recorded flood to include floodways. The Flood Control Act of 1928 authorized the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway in Missouri and the Morganza Spillway and Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana. Even before its authorization, the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway was the subject of controversy. In June 1927, President Calvin Coolidge instructed the Mississippi River Commission and the Corps of Engineers to
6th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Mason's Ford. Big Black River, June 9. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4–10. Near Baker's Creek July 7. Bolton's Station July 8 (detachment). Near Clinton July 8 (detachment). Near Jackson and near Clinton July 9 (detachment). Siege of Jackson July 10–17. Brookhaven July 18 (detachment). Near Morganza, La., September 8. Atchafalaya September 8–9. Hornersville, Mo., September 20 (2nd Battalion). Sterling's Farm, on Bayou Fordoche, near Morganza, September 27. Western Louisiana Campaign October 3-November 30. Reconnaissance toward Opelousas October 20. Opelousas, Barre Landing, October 21. Washington October 24. Bayou Bourbeaux November