Morganza Spillway emergency use to divert additional water from the Mississippi River into the Morganza floodway, which merges downstream with the Atchafalaya floodway before entering the Gulf. Diversion of water from the Mississippi's main channel has the effect of lowering water level in the Mississippi downstream of the spillway, helping to relieve stress on levees and other flood control structures both upstream and down. Besides controlling flooding in a given event, the system is also designed to prevent the Mississippi River from permanently altering course down the Atchafalaya River, bypassing Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Water that passes the Morganza Spillway first
67th Indiana Infantry Regiment 10-May 22. Advance from Franklin to Alexandria March 14–26. Battle of Sabine Cross Roads April 8. Monett's Ferry, Cane River Crossing, April 23. Constructing dam at Alexandria April 30-May 10. Retreat to Morganza May 13–20. At Morganza and Baton Rouge until August. Operations in Mobile Bay against Forts Gaines and Morgan August 2–23. Siege and surrender of Fort Gaines August 3–8. Capture of Fort Morgan August 23. Duty at Morganza until December. Expedition to mouth of White River November 12–20. The regiment lost a total of 249 men during service; 1 officer and 52 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded,