The first American army to sail for foreign shores left San Francisco May 25.  At 4 o’clock in the afternoon Brigadier-General Anderson signaled from the Australia for the City of Pekin and the City of Sydney to get under way.  The signal was seen from the shore, and the waiting crowds cheered wildly.  No time was lost on board the transports.  The crews worked with a will and in a short time the anchors were up and the vessels were under way.  Then the 2,500 soldiers who had been impatiently awaiting the signal to start climbed to the rigging and swarmed all over the big ships, shouting and cheering like mad.

The big transports steamed slowly along the water front, and the crowd on shore raced along to keep them in sight.  The noise made by the patriotic citizens on sea and shore was something terrible.  Every steam whistle in the city appeared to be blowing, cannon were fired, and the din lasted fully an hour.

The three transports carried close on to 2,500 men.  The expedition, which was under the command of Brigadier-General Anderson, consisted of four companies of regulars, under command of Major Robe; the First Regiment California Volunteers, Colonel Smith; the First Regiment Oregon Volunteers, Colonel Summers; a battalion of fifty heavy artillery, Major Gary; about 100 sailors, and eleven naval officers.  The fleet was loaded with supplies to last a year, and carried a big cargo of ammunition and naval stores for Admiral Dewey’s fleet.

Four transports bearing about 4,000 men passed through the Golden Gate shortly after 1 o’clock on the 15th of June, amid scenes of great enthusiasm and patriotism unequaled in the history of San Francisco.  The four vessels which carried the troops were the China, Colon, Zealandia and Senator.  The fleet was accompanied down the bay by a large number of tugboats and bay steamers.

It was a few minutes past 1 o’clock when the China hoisted the blue Peter and warned the fleet to get under way.  The Senator had slipped into the stream and straightened out for the run to Manila.  When she reached the stream the China swung away from her anchorage and started down the bay, followed by the Colon and Zealandia and a long line of tugboats and steamers.

At 1:30 p. m. the fleet was off Lombard street and a few minutes later it was steaming past Meiggs’ wharf.  Thousands of people, attracted by the blowing of whistles, rushed to points of vantage on the city front and cheered the departing boats.  Soldiers crowded the fort at the point and shouted and waved their hats as the squadron passed out through the Golden Gate.  A heavy fog lay outside the bar, and before 2 o’clock the transports were lost in the mists.

Assigned to the China, General Greene’s flagship, and the largest, finest and fastest vessel of the fleet, was the First Eegiment Colorado Volunteer Infantry, 1,022 men; half a battalion of the Eighteenth United States Infantry, 150 men, and a detachment of United States engineers, 20 men.