Captain Breaker had been restored to his former rank, and was to be the commander of the Bellevite.
It was two months before the ship was ready to go into commission.
Important alterations had been made below, and the armament had been taken from her deck, substituting for it a Parrot midship piece, of eight-inch bore, and carrying a one hundred and fifty pound shot, two sixty-pounders, and two thirty-pounders.

This was a heavy armament, but the ship was strong enough to bear it.
Joel Dashington and Ethan Blowitt were appointed as masters, and were to be the first and second lieutenants, while Christy Passford was the third.

Leon Bolter was made a first assistant engineer, and Fred Faggs the second.

Sampson obtained his place as a first-class fireman, with the expectation of soon becoming an assistant engineer, for he was well qualified for the position.
Captain Passford, though he had offered his services in any capacity in which he might be needed, had been induced to withdraw his application for the reason that he could be of more service to the cause at home than he could in the field or at sea.

He was a man of influence, and he was needed in civil life.