Meantime Fox, intrusted with the general charge of the relief expedition, was sent by the President, March 30th, to New York, with verbal instructions to prepare for the voyage but to make no binding engagements. Not having received the written authority expected, he returned to Washington April 2d, and on the 4th the final decision was reached, and Fox was informed that a messenger would be sent to the authorities at Charleston to notify them of the President’s action. Fox mentioned to the President that he would have but nine days to charter vessels and reach Charleston, six hundred and thirty-two miles distant. He arrived at New York April 5th, bearing an order from General Scott to Lieutenant-Colonel H. L. Scott (son-in-law and aide-de-camp to the general-in-chief), embracing all his wants and directing Colonel Scott to give in his name all necessary instructions. Colonel Scott ridiculed the idea of relief, and his indifference caused the loss of half a day of precious time, besides furnishing recruits who, Fox complained, were “totally unfit” for the service they were sent on.[198] Fox at once engaged the large steamer _Baltic_ for troops and stores, and, after great difficulty, obtained three tugs, the _Uncle Ben_, _Freeborn_, and _Yankee_, the last fitted to throw hot water. The _Pocahontas_, _Pawnee_, and the revenue-cutter _Harriet Lane_, as already mentioned, were to be a part of the force, which thus, with the _Powhatan_, included four armed vessels, the last being of considerable power. The _Pawnee_, Commander Rowan, sailed from Washington the 9th; the _Pocahontas_, Captain Gillis, from Norfolk the 10th; the _Harriet Lane_, Captain Faunce, from New York the 8th; the _Baltic_, Captain Fletcher, the 9th. The _Powhatan_ was already far on her way to Pensacola. The _Baltic_ arrived at the rendezvous, ten miles east of Charleston bar, at 3 A.M. of the 12th, and found there the _Harriet Lane_; at six the _Pawnee_ arrived; the _Powhatan_ was not visible. The _Baltic_, followed by the _Harriet Lane_, stood in toward the land, where heavy guns were heard and the smoke and shells from the batteries which had opened that morning on Sumter were distinctly visible. Fox stood out to inform Rowan, of the _Pawnee_. Rowan asked for a pilot, declaring his intention of going in and sharing the fate of his brethren of the army. Fox went aboard the _Pawnee_ and informed him that he would answer for it that the government did not expect such a sacrifice, having settled maturely upon the policy in instructions to Captain Mercer and himself. The _Nashville_, from New York, and a number of merchant vessels off the bar, gave the appearance of the presence of a large naval fleet.