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via Cape Horn, arriving in that port in November, 1861. His ship then engaged in transporting troops and horses for General Butler's expedition to Ship Island. He was first officer on the government transport Western Empire on a like trip with troops and horses, and the transport followed the United States fleet to New Orleans. Being convinced that the war would be fought to the bitter end and feeling that every man owes something to his government in times of great emergency, he applied for and received appointment as acting ensign in the volunteer navy, August 18, 1862, and was promoted to acting master, September 29, 1864. He was commissioned ensign, United States navy, March 12, 1868; master, December 18, 1868; lieutenant, March 21, 1870; lieutenant-commander, February 22, 1883; commander, February 7, 1893; and was retired by age limit December 5, 1897. While he was attached to the United States steamship Augusta that steamer convoyed the monitor, Miantonomoh, with Assistant Secretary Fox, United States navy, on board, to Russia, to convey the congratulations of the United States government to Alexander II. on his escape from assassination; and after visiting the chief ports of Europe, the monitor and her convoy reached New York, May 6, 1867. Lieutenant Tanner served as navigator and astronomer of the Dewey expedition on the lower California coast in 1872. He commanded the Pacific Mail steamer Colon on thirteen voyages between New York and Aspinwall, 1874-75, and was in command of the City of Peking of the same company between San Francisco and Japan and China, 1876-78. He returned to regular duty in 1878, and commanded the United States steamship Speedwell, on special service in 1879 under the United States Fish Commission, engaged in deep sea exploration. He supervised the construction of (and afterward commanded) the United States Fish Commission steamer, Fish Hawk, 1879-82, and the Albatross, built from his designs, 1882-87, employed in deep sea exploration on the Atlantic coast, British North America, and the Caribbean sea; and 1888-94 on a scientific voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and in the exploration of Alaskan fishing grounds and those of the Pacific coast from the Bering sea to Panama. He also made a cable survey between the coast of California and the Sandwich Islands. After a continuous work on the Albatross of eleven and One-half years, he was detached, and on January 1, 1895, was ordered to special duty with the United States Commission of Fish and Fish-