The Pathfinders of the Great White Fleet

In the summer of 1907, when plans were made for the Atlantic Fleet to transit to the westcoast, the decision was made to send two ships ahead of the fleet as "pathfinders." These ships would add to the Pacific Fleet and bring the combined force to 24 battleships and cruisers. The USS Tennessee and Washington, both armored cruisers ranking in fighting force with the battleships, were formed into a Special Service Squadron under Rear Admiral Uriel Sebree.

USS TENNESSEE
The Tennessee was the first of four armored cruisers built between 1903 and 1906. The ships were developed in response to a need to provide an armore belt and guns to meet the challenges of the current world environment. In 1906 the Tennessee escorted President Roosevelt, aboard the Louisiana to Panama to inspect the construction of the Canal. She attended the Jamestown Exposition naval review before her selection as a Pathfinder.

USS WASHINGTON
The Washington was launched in March of 1905 in Camden, New Jersey and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in August 1906 with Captain James D. Adams in command. She also escorted the President to inspect the progress on the Canal and supported the festivities at the Jamestown Exposition and joined Tennessee for a visit to French ports before her trip as a Pathfinder.

THE CRUISE OF THE 'PATHFINDERS'
On the afternoon of October 11, 1907, Rear Admiral Uriel Sebree assumed command of the Special Service Squadron, Hoisting his flag on the Tennessee. The next day, Saturday the pathfinding squadron steamed from Hampton Roads to traverse the course of the coming Fleet. On October 28th they crossed the equatorial line.

There port visits included Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Punta Arenas, Chili, Callao, Peru, Acapulco, Mexico, Pichilinque Bay, Mexico, and Magdalena Bay, December 28th. Here, on January 1st, 1908, they met the California and the South Dakota and waited for the Battleship Fleet to join them.

The subsequently operated both in company and with the battleship fleet for target practices in Magdalena Bay until March.

As the fleet moved north the Washington and Tennessee visted Redondo Beach, Benie, Monterey, and Angel island in California. They also visited Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Seattle, Tacoma, and Bremerton in Washington. They were also among the units of the Fleet reviewed by the Secretary of the Navy in San Francisco from May 6th to the 17th, 1908. The card above shows the Washington in Puget Sound and is canceled on May 8, 1908 after the ship had departed for San Francisco. The photograph was taken by Ashael Curtis and is #345.

The tasks of the Tennessee and Washington in conjunction with the Battleships that cruised around the world, did not end when the 16 battleshps departed California. In addition, President Roosevelt decided to bring the Navy's four new cruisers of the First Division in the South China Sea back home. These ships, the USS Colorado, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, and USS West Virginia, sailed to join the Fleet when it arrived in San Francisco. Some of these cruisers joined the Fleet when it visited the Northwest.

At right is a card showing the Washington and Tennessee playing baseball in Magdalena Bay on November 4th, 1908 and was canceled on November 14th in San Francisco. The card was mailed to Miss Dorthy Hogue of Meadville, Pennsylvania, brother of Seaman C. V. Hogue of the USS Washington.

On August 17th the First Squadron departed from Mare Island, California to steam first to Honolulu and then a direct transit to Pago Pago, Samoa. This placed an additional force of ships in the Pacific that could potentially support the Fleet during a hostile conflict. This group included the USS West Virginia, USS California, USS South Dakota, and the USS Tennessee.

The First Squadron arrived at Pago Pago in October 1908 to coincide with the battleships arriving in the South China Sea. President Roosevelt was not "showing all of his cards." At this time negotiations with the Japanese government had been successfully concluded to resolve immigration issues to the American westcoast, however, President Roosevelt still felt the need to forward project his latest armored cruisers in support of fleet movements.