U.S.S. Constitution Leaving Honolulu December 2, 1845”
In 1845-46 the USS Constitution was sent on an around the world tour that was intended to both show the flag and chart areas that the Wilkes Expedition had not covered.
The Constitution was placed under the command of Captain “Madjack” Percival who had, it seems, saved “Old Ironsides” from being scraped. The following story that I came across, although not authenticated, tells how this came about. It seems that Navy Surveyors had found the hull of the Constitution badly rotted and her rigging and sails in very poor condition. The estimate to repair her was some $150,000, a vast sum in the 1840’s. With the Navy strapped for funds, the Secretary of the Navy was forced to scrap her. When “Madjack” heard of this his blood pressure rose, and with eyes blazing, he strode into the Secretary of Navy’s office, “Who told you that rot?” he roared. “Madjack” upon reaching “Old Ironsides” climbed all over her, all through her, and it is said he even swam under her, probing for rot in her hull. This was quite a feat considering his age, 66. Percival reported back to the Secretary of the Navy that he could repair the Constitution for $10,000 and put her in shape to sail around the world . In gratitude, the Navy Department placed “Old Ironsides” under “Madjack’s” command for her world cruise.
The Constitution left New York on May 30, 1844 bound for Brazil . She passed the Cape of Good Hope and touched Madagascar before crossing the Indian Ocean and a stop at Singapore. Upon entering the South China Sea, the Constitution stopped at Malaysia before arriving at Hue, Vietnam on May 10, 1845 and then to Hong Kong..
From Hong Kong the Constitution's next stop was the Hawaiian Islands. This was “Madjack” Percival’s second visit to the islands. In 1826, the then Lt. Percival had brought the USS Dolphin, the first US Navy vessel, to visit Hawaii. The entrance to the Port of Honolulu was too shallow to allow the Constitution to enter. She remained at anchor off the reef with the ship’s boats making the long row in to visit or procure water. While at Honolulu word reached the Islands of impending war with Mexico. The Constitution received orders to sail with the least possible delay for Mexico and the war. On December 2, 1845 the Constitution passed the mouth of Honolulu Harbor, backing and filling her sails as the last of her supplies came aboard.
The painting shows the USS Constitution getting under way. On her mizzen mast are the large signal flags of a man of war and a hoist is signaling in the Marryat code, ...hoist-6413.” A declaration of war”
Personal Note: Almost 30 years ago Ray assembled a model of the USS Constitution which gathered dust and whose rigging fell into some major disrepair. He refused to throw out this relic as he swore that “one day” he would paint this American icon in a worthy setting. In 1998 Ray did complete the largest painting he has ever done and it was the USS Constitution departing from Honolulu in 1845, “Called to War.”
Image size: 23.5 “ x 33” ; unf...$4000.00 very low inventory