THE COM^klANDER OF THE EXPEDITION. 7 



When the Secretary finished, he pushed his spectacles 

 up and looked at his visitor. 



" And you are Mr. De Long, are you ? Well, well, 

 this is a very strange state of affairs. Mr. Wood seems 

 very much excited ; but he is laboring under a delu- 

 sion. We have no intention of slighting him in any 

 way. You can return to the Academy. I will give 

 the necessary orders for your reception there, and 

 please say to Mr. Wood that he shall not be deprived 

 even of his imaginary right." 



So it happened that there were three cadets from the 

 Third Congressional District this time, and one of them, 

 who had won his position by sheer persistence, was en- 

 tirely satisfied with the state of affairs. He applied 

 himself vigorously to the work of the Academy, and 

 was graduated with distinction in 1865, just as the war 

 came to a close. 



He received his first orders for sea duty in November 

 of that year, when he was ordered to Boston to report 

 to Admiral Stringham for duty on board the U. S. 

 Steamer Canandaigua. Upon arrival at the navy yard 

 he went at once to the vessel to inspect his quarters. 

 He looked all over the ship, and finally entered the 

 steerage where he was to spend the next two years. 

 He inspected it very thoroughly and found that there 

 were but two berths in it, while it was to be occupied 

 by four midshipmen ; two therefore, it was plain, would 

 have to swing in hammocks. This was not at all ac- 

 cording to his views of what was proper, and off he 

 set to see the admiral about it, and have the matter 

 righted. On his way across the yard, he met some 

 officers who asked him where he was going. He told 

 his errand, and they at once approved it in the most 

 emphatic manner. 



