On February 22, 1909, in the last few days of President Theodore Roosevelt's term of office, the Fleet under Rear-Admiral Sperry, returned to Hampton Roads, Virginia. Over the preceeding week they had been joined at sea by Rear-Admiral Arnold's squadron, consisting of the Battleships Maine (flagship), New Hampshire, Mississippi, Idaho, and the cruiser Salem. The scout cruiser Chester, and the armored cruisers North Carolina and Montana joined next and were finally joined by the scout cruiser Birmingham on the 21st, thus making 25 warships under the command of Rear-Admiral Sperry.
This concludes what I believe to have been one of the great naval adventures of all time.
- Cheryl Morris