72 GREELY KELIEP EXPEDITION, 



ecuted with judgment and skill. Starting later than the other two 

 vessels of the expedition, and having much less steam power, the 

 Alert did not reach so high a latitude as the Thetis and Bear. She 

 penetrated the ice region to an extent that surprised me, notwith- 

 standing the detention occasioned in awaiting favorable opportuni- 

 ties to advance with safety to the Loch Gar^ry. 



Commander Coflfin pushed the Alert into an advanced position in 

 Melville Bay, until his progress was arrested by ice too heavy for 

 him to break or drive asunder. I feel that he accomplished success- 

 fully and skillfully all that was practicable and possible under the 

 circumstances. 



The greatest confidence was felt that he would carry out his in- 

 structions to the letter in the event that it would be necessary for 

 me to remain in the Arctic beyond the present year ; I therefore 

 pushed on with no uncertainty about what he would do. 



Lieut. W. H. Emory, jr., commanding the Bear, was under my 

 immediate observation during most of the cruise. It affords me the 

 greatest pleasure to testify to the promptness, energy, and skillful- 

 ness of this meritorious officer ; his coolness and good judgment were 

 valuable to me. On no occasion was it necessary to either prompt 

 or order him to discharge duties. He was always on the watch with 

 the keenest appreciation of the situation in anticipating all my 

 wishes. Signkls were never necessary between the two ships. 



His earnest example of loyalty to the service we were sent to per- 

 form was caught up by his officers and crew, so that the two ships 

 were always worked with the utmost accord and harmony; he en- 

 joyed and deserved my entire confidence. 



I would commend him especially to the Department as an officer 

 of high professional merit and competency, and would frankly state 

 that much of the success of the expedition was due to him and to 

 his ably officered ship. 



Lieut. Uriel Sebree, of the Thetis,-¥. H. Crosby of the Bear, and 

 C. J. Badger, of the Alert, were the executive and navigating offi- 

 cers of their respective vessels. Lieutenant Sebree being on board 

 the Thetis, and Lieutenant Crosby on the Bear, came under my 

 'immediate observation, and of them, I am able to bear personal tes- 

 timony. I need say no more in their favor than to inform the 

 Department that two more capable, efficient and energetic officers 

 could not have been selected for the positions they filled; they were 

 always ready, always prompt, always zealous, and always cheerful; 

 both enjoyed the complete confidence of their commanding officers 

 in discharging their duties; they were in no senseless skillful or less 

 competent than their commanding officers, so that if accident had 

 incapacitated the leaders the ships would have been left in able hands. 



Their services were invaluable to the expedition, and I hold them 

 in the highest estimation professionally and personally. 



