ACTION ON THE HIGH SEAS

Today the regiment awoke to find themselves far out at sea in the Gulf of Mexico with no land in sight. The troops on board the steamship St. Mary were headed west, toward a landing on the Texas coast. The ocean became rough and seasickness soon took its toll. Cpl. Theodore Wolbach describes the rather graphic scene:

Frequently, down on the cabin deck, there would be a rush for the iron guard, at the ship's side, as some fellow ripened to throw up his 'hard-tack.' On the hurricane deck the yawls and life boats received the liberated 'bile,' and away down in the hold, poor fellows, reckless in this new and peculiar misery, retched over mess-pans and camp kettles.

The men not affected so much by seasickness explored the ship, fascinated by the intricate machinery and expert work of the sailors.

On this day a schooner was spotted under full sail, heading away from the St. Mary. The ship, showing no national flag, was suspected by the St. Mary's captain, and he ordered a chase. Once caught up, two warning shots were fired across the schooner's bow causing it to furl its sail and maneuver to allow conversation with the pursuing Union steamer. Both captains being quite unhappy with the other, the schooner's captain explained his ship was a captured blockade-runner, on it's way to New Orleans, and they had no national flag to hoist and identify itself. The incident on the high seas was thus concluded.

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Modern day map showing the approximate route of the 16th Ohio on its voyage from Algiers, Louisiana, down the Mississippi River and into the Gulf of Mexico, heading west toward the Texas Gulf Coast. This route is highly estimated based on general points and observations available from diaries of soldiers on board the St. Mary during this time.

Blue pin - Location of the 16th Ohio at Algiers, Louisiana, November 22 to 25, 1863.
Green pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio at midnight on November 25, 1863, en route to the Texas coast.
Yellow pin - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio at midnight on November 26, 1863, en route to the Texas coast.