Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

From the levee a very interesting spectacle presented itself, at about noon, to hundreds of spectators. On the firing of a signal gun, the steamers Empress, War Eagle, Jennie Deans, Warsaw, and City of Alton, simultaneously backed from the wharf, and dropped anchor in mid-stream. The movement was executed with admirable precision and fine effect. These steamers, with the Louisiana, January, and Graham, constitute the military fleet of eight vessels, to proceed down the Mississippi. Each bears aloft the Stars and Stripes, while the City of Alton, as the “flag steamer,” shows also the Union Jack and a broad pennon. The gallant vessels attracted much attention, and every movement respecting them was watched with keen interest.

At four P. M., the Seventeenth regiment, Illinois, Col. Ross commanding, broke up their encampment at the Abbey track, and marched into the city to Fifth street, and on Fifth, Washington avenue, Fourth, Chestnut, Main, Locust, and the Levee, to the steamer Warsaw, which had moved to the Keokuk landing, near the foot of Chestnut street, to receive them. The troops were preceded by an unusually excellent band of music, and presented a remarkably vigorous and imposing appearance. They were much admired as a corps of hardy and evidently intelligent and determined men. Company A of this regiment is Gen. Pope's body guard, and consists of picked men. Crowds gathered at the wharf and witnessed the interesting embarkation of the Illinois Seventeenth. The corps marched in good order on board the Warsaw, but a portion of them subsequently proceeded on board the Jennie Deans, which, together with the Empress, moved into the landing.

At eleven o'clock last night, the fleet and embarked troops remained awaiting complete readiness and orders to start. Major-General Fremont and staff went on board the City of Alton, to accompany and direct the expedition. Captain Bart Able is in charge of the fleet. The captains of the several vessels were published by us yesterday. It was expected that the boats would all start together at about daybreak this morning.