On the morning of the excursion, 13 July 1890, the "Sea Wing" left Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin at 7:30 am for its trip to the encampment south of Lake City towing a covered barge named the "Jim Grant" which would carry a number of the day's passengers. The "Sea Wing" first stopped at Trenton, Wisconsin at 8:30 am and then arrived at Red Wing at 9:30 am where approximately 150 waiting passengers at Red Wing got on board. Captain Wethern's family was already on board as well as a string orchestra that played for the passengers while the ship was en route. After leaving Red Wing the ship then stopped at Frontenac, Minnesota and then proceeded on to her destination arriving around 11:30 am that morning. The passengers disembarked and spent their time picnicking, visiting the troops and listening to a band concert later in the day.