After trials Davis was placed out of commission 5 June 1899 and laid up at Mare Island Navy Yard in reserve.

She was recommissioned 23 March 1908 and assigned to Pacific Torpedo Fleet.

She participated in the review for the Secretary of the Navy 8 May 1908, then cruised along the west coast as far north as the Columbia River and south as far as Magdalena Bay, Mexico, until placed in reserve at Mare Island 28 October 1909.

Davis was recommissioned 1 November 1910 for service in the San Diego area until 10 May 1911 when she again went into reserve at Mare Island.

In May 1912 she was towed to Puget Sound for assignment to the Pacific Reserve Fleet.