Preparation for these movements began promptly, but stormy weather and delay in securing transportation made it over a week before the last of the departing batteries was able to leave Fort Warren. Meanwhile the posts for which these detachments from the regiment were destined had been garrisoned temporarily by the militia—commanded at first by General Mathews, and later by General Bancroft. Influenced by the prevailing uneasiness, Governor Wolcott, on May 7th, had prudently ordered his remaining State troops into the field for the protection of the coast until such time as the general Government should assume the responsibility, and the Fifth Infantry, the First and Second Battalions of Cadets, with the three light batteries, had been rendering valuable service at exposed points, from Hull to the mouth of the Merrimac. Unable to enter the volunteer service, under the limits imposed by the call of the President, these commands eagerly had responded to the call of the Commonwealth, and they most certainly are entitled to recognition for the faithful work performed, under most trying conditions as to weather, during the thirty days of their tour. [Illustration: Photograph by T. E. Marr, Boston. GARRISON ENCAMPMENT, FORT PICKERING. ] On June 1st, Lieutenant-Colonel Woodman and his command left for New Bedford, proceeding from Boston by rail; while, on the 3rd, Colonel Pfaff and the officers of his staff established regimental headquarters at Salem. On the 6th, Major Quinby and "A," "C," "D," and "H" Batteries left for their stations, followed on the 7th by "B" and "K" Batteries. All these latter commands were furnished with transportation by water, and it may be noted that the small steamers employed for the purpose were well loaded down by the troops and their baggage. It so happened that the departure of the detachments took place during a period of very heavy weather, and more than one anxious watcher stood on the parapet at Warren, to follow through field-glasses the course of the receding transports, as they rolled and pitched across the bay and towards the North Shore. The widely scattered detachments of the First now settled themselves as best they might at their respective coast-guard stations, and prepared to make the most of the scanty materials for defence which they found at hand. Under the final assignments, the distribution of the regimental strength was as follows: STATION. Officers. Men. Total.