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       11.
Most of us were quartered on the vessels during the winter. Everything was lovely for a while. The first part of the season resembled last years style very much. All the bummers and rumsuckers imaginable were [[underline]] "on the Expedition" [[/underline]]. The disregard of  discipline, rule or order in the Land Service was much the same. Wright & Chappel were made Majors. Lewis a Captain, and a host of new officers enjoyed the sweets of brass buttons and shoulder straps for the first time; the Companys uniform adorned the brothel, the street, and not unfrequently the ditch- Hyde was dismissed, but believe me others easier spared than even he were left. Fisher went home on leave. A man (Conlin) was dismissed and sent home for drunkeness, and returned by the next steamer, with orders to reinstate him, from New York. Ships were bought. Capt. Scammon rec'd further leave of absence. The work of fitting out the vessels and purchasing the marine stores was taken from him. Davidson and Glover faithful and devoted officers were refused further leave of absence by the Dept. partly through the machinations of Wright and Fisher. A new second in command arrived from New York named Frank N. Wicker, Lieut. Col. in rank. He is a