We numbered a little over seven hundred persons, including the families of officers and soldiers.

Passage was secured for us on the old steamer Ohio, commanded at the time by Captain Schenck, of the navy.

It had not been determined, until a day or two before starting, that the 4th infantry should go by the Ohio; consequently, a complement of passengers had already been secured.

The addition of over seven hundred to this list crowded the steamer most uncomfortably, especially for the tropics in July.
In eight days Aspinwall was reached.

At that time the streets of the town were eight or ten inches under water, and foot passengers passed from place to place on raised foot-walks.