 "Lancaster", flagship of the Pacific Squadron, was cruising in the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) when the Civil War started, and did not find out about the outbreak of hostilities until it arrived in Hawaii, two months later.President Abraham Lincoln signed Edward Robie's commission as Chief Engineer in September 1861, and Robie went to sea again, this time on the steam sloop USS "Mohican".The "Mohican" was involved in the capture of forts at Port Royal, South Carolina and Fernandina, Florida, and on blockading duty off Charleston, South Carolina.