On 1 May, "Amphitrite" and her sister ship departed Key West, and shortly thereafter joined Rear Admiral William T. Sampson's fleet on the way east from its cruise off the coast of Cuba in search of Admiral Pascual Cervera's squadron. Because the monitors could not carry large amounts of coal, Sampson directed that the monitors be towed by the heavier ships. drew "Amphitrite", a task recalled with little affection by the former's commanding officer, Capt. Robley D. Evans, in his autobiography: