Mississippi flood of 1973 The Morganza Spillway was opened, flooding portions of the Atchafalaya River basin in Louisiana and causing the deaths of thousands of head of livestock and white-tailed deer. The 1973 flood was notable for nearly causing the failure of the Old River Control Structure above the Mississippi River Delta, which would have sent the Mississippi's main channel flowing into the Atchafalaya River and bypassing most of the delta region including the major port of New Orleans, Louisiana. In spite of record high flows, flood stages were not as high as past events. Red River Landing, Louisiana reached 58.22 feet on May
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,