stations。IreachedPittsburglateinJune，andfoundtheorderrelievingmefromrecruitingservice，anddetailingmyclassmateH。
B。Fieldtomyplace。IwasassignedtoCompanyF，thenunderordersforCalifornia。ByprivatelettersfromLieutenantOrd，I
heardthatthecompanyhadalreadystartedfromFortMcHenryforGovernor’sIsland，NewYorkHarbor，totakepassageforCaliforniainanavaltransport。Iworkedallthatnight，madeupmyaccountscurrent，andturnedoverthebalanceofcashtothecitizenphysician，Dr。McDowell;andalsoclosedmyclothingandpropertyreturns，leavingblankreceiptswiththesamegentlemanforField’ssignature，whenheshouldgetthere，tobeforwardedtotheDepartmentatWashington，andtheduplicatestome。TheseIdidnotreceiveformorethanayear。IrememberthatIgotmyordersabout8p。m。onenight，andtookpassageintheboatforBrownsville，thenextmorningtraveledbystagefromBrownsvilletoCumberland，Maryland，andthencebycarstoBaltimore，Philadelphia，andNewYork，inagreathurrylesttheshipmightsailwithoutme。IfoundCompanyFatGovernor’sIsland，CaptainC。Q。Tompkinsincommand，LieutenantE。O。C。Ordseniorfirst—lieutenant，myselfjuniorfirst—lieutenant，LucienLoeserandCharlesMinorthesecond—lieutenants。
Thecompanyhadbeenfilleduptoonehundredprivates，twelvenon—commissionedofficers，andoneordnancesergeant（Layton），makingonehundredandthirteenenlistedmenandfiveofficers。
Dr。JamesL。Ordhadbeenemployedasactingassistantsurgeontoaccompanytheexpedition，andLieutenantH。W。Halleck，oftheengineers，wasalsotogoalong。TheUnitedStatesstore—shipLexingtonwasthenpreparingattheNavy—Yard，Brooklyn，tocarryusaroundCapeHorntoCalifornia。Shewasreceivingonboardthenecessarystoresforthelongvoyage，andforserviceafterourarrivalthere。Lieutenant—CommanderTheodorusBaileywasincommandofthevessel，LieutenantWilliamH。Macombexecutiveofficer，andPassed—MidshipmenMuse，Spotts，andJ。W。A。