 On 22 May, the expedition, commanded by Lt. Edwin De Haven, sailed from New York with "Rescue's" captain, Acting Master Samuel P. Griffin, second in command.Sailing independently the first days out, the two ships rendezvoused at the Whalefish Islands in Disko Bay, Greenland, and on 29 June headed for Melville Bay and the northern route across Baffin Bay to Lancaster Sound.On 1 July they encountered their first pack ice off Haröe Island.