"augusta" was recommissioned at the washington navy yard on 2 april 1866, cdr. alexander murray in command. a fortnight later, she received orders to proceed to new york; and she arrived at the new york navy yard on 23 april. on 5 may, she stood out into the atlantic in company with the double-turreted monitor and the side-wheel, double-ended gunboat . two days later, "ashuelot" left the group and set course for boston where she embarked gustavus vasa fox, the assistant secretary of the navy. "augusta" and the monitor arrived at halifax, nova scotia on 10 may and there, murray later reported, received ". . . the first flow of that tide of visitors which, wherever we went, overwhelmed us." underway again on 18 may, the two ships arrived at st. john's, newfoundland on 24 may. "ashuelot" rejoined the group there on 3 june.