Numerous recruits were obtained in various parts of the United States. While interest in it was strongest in the South, many men in the North and West were ready, for one reason or another, to cast in their lot with Lopez. An important rallying point was Cincinnati, Ohio, and from that city a party of 120 men started southward on April 4, 1850, on the river steamer _Martha Washington_, which had been chartered for the purpose. A stop was made at a point on the Kentucky shore, and more men were there taken aboard. The trip down to New Orleans consumed a week, which time was spent by the men in card-playing, carousing and indeed almost everything save serious reflection upon the momentous undertaking before them. There were a few among them of earnest purpose; and when the expedition was completed at New Orleans it comprised a number of men of high character and standing, members of some of the foremost families of that part of the United States. But the majority of the recruits were adventurers of the type familiar in most such undertakings. To them the enterprise meant not so much the freeing of Cuba from Spanish oppression as it meant getting "easy money," the fun of seeing a new country, good food, and if the worst happened ... it was on the knees of the gods.
It was April 11 when the boat reached Freeport, a town a few miles up the river from New Orleans, where the men were hidden; or supposed to be hidden, for little secrecy was attained, Spanish spies and United States citizens being equally aware of their presence. There were two hundred and fifty men in the party, and on April 25 they set sail for Cuba on the Steamer _Georgiana_, with a supply of muskets and 10,000 rounds of ammunition, which however did not come on board until after the mouth of the Mississippi was passed. Lopez himself was not with this company, for his work of organization was not completed, and he remained behind to join them later.
A second company of about 160 men was organized in New Orleans, and set sail on May 2, on the _Susan Loud_, and a third company was to follow on the _Creole_. On May 6 the _Susan Loud_ reached the place where she was to meet the _Creole_, and she raised the new flag of Cuba for the first time on the Gulf of Mexico. Here she was joined the next day by the _Creole_ and another day was taken up in transferring the men from one vessel to the other, the _Creole_ being much the faster of the two; the idea being that the slower boat could follow at leisure. On the _Creole_ there were only 130, making 290 men in this portion of the expedition. The newcomers on the _Creole_ were for the first time introduced to their commander, Lopez, and it is recorded that he promptly won all hearts by his pleasing personality.