"THE NATION'S PRIDE"   

" The sixteen great ships massed under the command of our veteran hero, Rear-Admiral Robley D. Evans, swung with precision into place and, passing the frowning ramparts of Fortress Monroe, began their journey to the Pacific.  The warships moved in single column four-hundred yards apart, from masthead to masthead, and as the last one passed out through the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, they formed such massing of naval forces had ever been seen in American Waters."
"On Board a U.S. Battleship" by Margaret J. Codd

The Fleet's departure from Hampton Roads was a grand celebration.  Marine honor guards snapped to attention, salutes boomed out, and bands crashed into the national anthem as the ships passed in review before the presidential yacht Mayflower.  Roosevelt was heard to say, "Did you ever see such a fleet and such a day?" .  With a wave of his top hat "By George, isn't it magnificent!"  They departed from Hampton Roads on December 17, 1907 on a day when the sun showed through the cloud after three days of rain, with some question as to the intent of the fleet when in arrived in the Pacific.  Where we going to war with Japan?   The sixteen battleships departed that morning not knowing that they would not return to Hampton Roads until 14 months later and 46,000 miles of steaming.

Steamer passing through battleships with flags flying prior to getting underway.

President Roosevelt reviewing the Fleet from the deck of the USS Mayflower

The Presidential Yacht USS Mayflower (PY-1)
Built by J. and G. Thompson, of Clydebank, Scotland as a luxurious steam yacht in 1896, it was purchased by the Navy from the estate of Ogden Goelet and commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 24 March 1896, Commander M. R. McKensie in Command.
Mayflower joined Admiral William T. Sampson's squadron at Key West, Florida and sailed for Havana.  En route, Mayflower captured the Spanish schooner Santiago Apostol.  On the 14th of May, Mayflower engaged two gunboats trying to break the American blockade of the harbor and drove them back to shelter with her guns.
In 1902, Mayflower twice served as Admiral George Dewey's flagship.  She sailed to Europe in the summer of 1904, and in the fall carried Secretary of War William Howard Taft on an Inspection tour of the West Indies.
In 1905 she sailed for Oyster Bay and became the Presidential Yacht for President Roosevelt at the Russo-Japanese conference.  The delegation were first introduced onboard the Mayflower and final negotiations would win Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize.

In the words of Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, their commander, this armada was ready for "a feast, a frolic or a fight."  A national hero, Admiral Evans was known not to shy away from a fight and fleet sailors were honored to serve under him as they departed on the cruise.  

BELOW:  Harpers Weekly "Too a Fight or a Frolic".  A photo exposé of the fleet's departure.  

With Connecticut the fleet heads to sea. Underwood&Underwood Stereoview

Battleship fire salutes to Roosevelt

The ships changed their long lone and the usual formation of the two squadrons into which they were divided into four division of four ships each which were commanded by Evans, Emory, Thomas, and Sperry respectively.  The squadrons were sixteen hundred yards apart and each boat was eight-hundred yards behind the one proceeding.  Thomas of the Minnesota was second in command and assisted Evans in keeping these positions.