SOUTH TO YELLOW BAYOU

Today the 16th Ohio and the troops of Gen. Nathaniel Banks resumed their march south, evacuating the Red River region of Louisiana. The regiment travelled 10 miles to Yellow Bayou, crossed on a pontoon bridge, and set up camp on the south side of the bayou at about 4:00 pm. It is believed the 16th Ohio and its Division were somewhere in the middle of Banks' column, with Gen. A. J. Smith performing rear guard duty. The lead elements of the Union troops had already reached the Atchafalaya River, several miles further south. Cpl. Theodore Wolbach, Company E, provides good detail on today's activities:

May 17th, at 1 o'clock a.m., we started again, marched about two miles through the gloom and waited for day light, then started again. About 10 a.m. there was heavy artillery and musketry fire in our rear. It was Smith's men and the cavalry having a round. We had some men killed and a few captured. The enemy were severely chastised and repulsed, yet they persistently followed us all day. Our main force with the trains crossed Yellow bayou on a pontoon bridge. At 4 o'clock p.m. our division marched over and stacked arms. Some of the advance troops of ours were crossing the Atchafalaya bayou two miles distant toward the Mississippi. A bayou connecting the Yellow with the Atchafalaya ran parallel with the road we were on. This bayou was filled with sawlogs near our halting place. It was easy to get over to the other side, so some of the boys were soon there exploring the adjacent neighborhood. Some lurking bushwhackers were discovered and put to flight by a couple of shots. The 8th Wisconsin, the regiment that carried the live eagle, was bivouaced close to us. Gen. A.J. Smith with a few staff officers rode rapidly past our division this evening. He was loudly cheered by the soldiers.

Pvt. Peter Perrine, Company C, mentions that Union General A. J. Smith's troops took over rear guard duty. The Rebels had retreated from Marksville with the approach of the Union army and moved west to or toward Cheneyville, Louisiana. As soon as the Federals moved south, the Rebels returned and followed them, approaching the rear of Banks' force, now south of Marksville.

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This period military map shows the approximate route taken by the 16th Ohio and other troops under Gen. Nathaniel Banks as they evacuated Alexandria, Louisiana, heading south and east along the Red River.

Note that original military attributions on the map reflect the earlier routes of Gen. Banks when he first marched up the Red River in an attempt to capture Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Modern day map showing the estimated route and location of the 16th Ohio on its march from Alexandria, Louisiana, southeast along the Red River toward the Mississippi River, retreating from the attacks of Confederate General Richard Taylor.

C - Highly estimated location of the 16th Ohio when it camped for the night of May 14, 1864.
D - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio when it camped for the night of May 15, 1864, near Ft. DeRussy, Louisiana.
E - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio when it camped for the night of May 16, 1864, below Marksville, Louisiana, and near where an unnamed bayou crosses the road.
F - Approximate location of the 16th Ohio when it camped for the night of May 17, 1864, just east of Yellow Bayou, Louisiana.