August 18, 1838: six United States Navy ships expedition to South Pacific; 424 crew, 9 scientists and 2 artists

On August 18, 1838, six United States Navy ships left Norfolk on an expedition to the South Pacific.

The six ships of the expedition: Wilkes’ flagship;
• the sloop-of-war U.S.S. Vincennes;
• the sloop-of-war U.S.S. Peacock, the brig U.S.S. Porpoise;
• the storeship U.S.S. Relief, and the
•  two tenders, U.S.S. Flying Fish and Sea Gull. [...]