The flagship of the Pacific Squadron arrived unexpectedly in San Diego in late December 1891. “Our presence is probably a surprise to you,” said the ship’s captain, Rear Admiral George Brown.  “We were ordered to San Diego and here we are.  We shall take on about 250 tons of coal and will then be on waiting orders.”

Within days, Brown’s ship was joined by another cruiser, the USS Charleston. The ships would spend the next six weeks in San Diego.

The story of the White Squadron.

USS San Francisco