 At launch , Yorktown joined the Squadron of Evolution of " New Navy " steel @-@ hulled ships . Detached from that squadron , Yorktown , under the command of Robley D. Evans , sailed to Valparaíso , Chile , during the 1891 Baltimore Crisis and relieved USS Baltimore at that port . After that situation was resolved , Yorktown took part in the joint British – American sealing patrol in Alaskan waters and duty on the Asiatic Station before returning to the United States in 1898 . Yorktown was out of commission during the Spanish – American War , but took part in actions in the Philippine – American War and the Boxer Rebellion in 1899 and 1900 , respectively , after she had been recommissioned . 
