Schumburg, who now is in command, orders "all officers not
otherwise commissioned to join Colonel MacIver's 'Corps of
Officers.'"

The _Lilian_ ran out of coal, and to obtain firewood put in at
Cedar Keys. For two weeks the patriots cut wood and drilled upon
the beach, when they were captured by a British gun-boat and
taken to Nassau. There they were set at liberty, but their arms,
boat, and stores were confiscated.

In a sailing vessel MacIver finally reached Cuba, and under
Goicouria, who had made a successful landing, saw some "help
yourself" fighting. Goicouria's force was finally scattered, and
MacIver escaped from the Spanish soldiery only by putting to sea
in an open boat, in which he endeavored to make Jamaica.

On the third day out he was picked up by a steamer and again
landed at Nassau, from which place he returned to New York.

At that time in this city there was a very interesting man named
Thaddeus P. Mott, who had been an officer in our army and later
had entered the service of Ismail Pasha. By the Khedive he had
been appointed a general of division and had received permission
to reorganize the Egyptian army.

His object in coming to New York was to engage officers for that
service. He came at an opportune moment. At that time the city
was filled with men who, in the Rebellion, on one side or the
other, had held command, and many of these, unfitted by four
years of soldiering for any other calling, readily accepted the