Captains of the Fleet

The Atlantic Fleet got underway from Hampton Roads under the command of Rear-Admiral Robley Evans, a graduate of the Naval Academy, loyal to the Union, who fought a received to severe wounds in the Civil War while attacking Fort Fisher in 1965.  He was the last active duty officer that had served in the Civil War.

RADM Evans had suffered from his wounds his entire career and during the first portion of the cruise around South America, the pain became to much and, on March 14, 1908 he announced he would retire when the fleet reached San Francisco.  On May 7th, 1908 the fleet was transferred to the command of RADM Charles M. Thompson.  RADM Thompson entered the Naval Academy in 1861 and after graduation in 1865, served four years on Asiatic Station on the USS Shenandoah.  As was the policy at the time, the maximum age to be on active duty was 62, and RADM Thompson would turn 62 on October 1, 1908, before the fleet was scheduled to return.  And so, a week later, command was turned over to RADM Charles Sperry who had entered the Naval Academy in 1862 and would be able to serve in command until the end of the cruise.  The forth Rear-Admiral at the start of the cruise was RADM William Emory, a classmate of RADM Sperry at the Naval Academy.  Four Civil War era commanders at the beginning of 1908!  When RADM Sperry took Command, Captain's Schroeder and Wainwright were promoted to Rear-Admiral, taking Division Command of Third Squadron and Second Squadron.

The photograph as right is part of the collection retained by the Naval Historical Center.


 

First Squadron - From Hampton Roads to San Francisco

First Division
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans Commanding
Second Division
Rear Admiral William H. Emory, Commanding
USS Connecticut, Captain Hugo OsterhausUSS Georgia, Flagship
Captain Henry McCrea
USS Kansas
Captain Charles E. Vreeland
USS New Jersey
Captain William H. H. Southerland
USS Vermont
Captain William P. Potter
USS Rhode Island
Captain Joseph B. Murdock
USS Louisiana
Captain Richard Wainwright
USS Virginia
Captain Seaton Schroeder

Second Squadron - From Hampton Roads to San Francisco

Third Division
Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas, Commanding
Fourth Division
Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry, Commanding
USS Minnesota, Captain John HubbardUSS Alabama, Flagship
Captain Ted Veeder
USS Maine
Captain Giles B. Harber
USS Illinois
Captain John M. Bowyer
USS Missouri
Captain G. A. Merriam
USS Kearsarge
Captain Hamilton Hutchins
USS Ohio
Captain Charles W. Barlett
USS Kentucky
Captain Walter C. Cowles

 

First Squadron - From San Francisco to Puget Sound and Return

First Division
Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry Commanding
Second Division
Rear Admiral R. Wainwright, Commanding
USS Connecticut, Fleet's Flagship Captain Hugo OsterhausUSS Georgia, Flagship
Captain Qualtrough
USS Kansas
Captain Charles E. Vreeland
USS New Jersey
Captain William H. H. Southerland
USS Vermont
Captain William P. Potter
USS Rhode Island
Captain Joseph B. Murdock
USS Minnesota
Captain J. Hubbard
USS Nebraska
Captain R. F. Nicholson

Second Squadron - From San Francisco to Puget Sound and Return

Third Division
Rear Admiral W. H. Emory, Commanding
Fourth Division
Rear Seaton Schroeder, Commanding
USS Louisiana, Flagship
Captain K. Niles
USS Wisconsin, Flagship
Captain F. E. Beatty
USS Virginia
Captain A. Sharp
USS Illinois
Captain John M. Bowyer
USS Missouri
Captain R. M. Doyle
USS Kearsarge
Captain Hamilton Hutchins
USS Ohio
Captain T. B. Howard
USS Kentucky
Captain Walter C. Cowles
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