USS CONGRESS (1841)

The fourth 'USS ''Congress''' of the United States Navy was a sailing frigate like her predecessor, surviving into the American Civil War, where she was destroyed by the ironclad CSS ''Virginia''.
The frigate was launched at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, 16 August 1841, and placed in commission under Captain Philip Voorhees on 7 May 1842. Her first cruise, starting 15 July, took her to the Mediterranean for service with the Squadron of Commodores Charles W. Morgan and Charles Morris. In Dec 1843, she proceeded to the east coast of South America seizing the Buenos Aires naval squadron blockading Montevideo(?) on 29 September 1844, where she was active until January 1845 in safeguarding U.S. trade. She was placed in ordinary at Norfolk, Virginia in March.
''Congress'' was recommissioned, on 15 September 1845, as flagship of Commodore Robert F. Stockton and sailed for the Pacific in late October. After landing the United States Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands at Honolulu, on 10 June, she proceeded to Monterey Bay where she joined the Pacific Squadron. Captain Elie A. F. La Vallette assumed command on 20 July employing her along the west coast during the Mexican-American War. Large detachments of her crew participated in battles on Rio San Gabriel and the plains of La Mesa, and in the occupation of Los Angeles. She assisted in the bombardment and capture of Guaymas in October 1847, and in November furnished a detachment which aided in the occupation of Mazatlán. On 23 August 1848, she departed La Paz, Baja California Sur for Norfolk, arriving the following January to be placed in ordinary.
In May 1850, she was assigned a threefold mission, protection of United States interests between the mouth of the Amazon and Cape Horn, prevention of the use of the American flag to cover the African slave trade, and maintenance of neutral rights during hostilities among the South American countries. Departing Hampton Roads on 12 June, she arrived at Rio de Janeiro 1 September and assumed duty as flagship of the Brazil Squadron under Commodore Issac McKeever until June 1853. She returned to New York City on 20 July for decommissioning.
On 19 June 1855, ''Congress'' sailed for the Mediterranean and there followed 2 years as flagship of Commodore Samuel L. Breese. Sailing from Spezia, Italy, on 26 November 1857, she arrived at Philadelphia, on 13 January 1858, and was placed out of commission.
In 1859, ''Congress'' was reassigned as flagship of Commodore Joshua R. Sands and the Brazil Squadron, remaining in that area until the Civil War precipitated her return to Boston, on 22 August 1861.
On 9 September 1861, she was ordered to duty under command of Captain Louis M. Goldsborough in the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, later to serve under Commander W. Smith, and Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith. ''Congress'' was anchored off Newport News, Virginia, on 8 March 1862, when she fell under attack by the Confederate ironclad, CSS ''Virginia'' (ex-USS ''Merrimack'') and five other small ships. After exchanging broadsides with ''Virginia'', ''Congress'' slipped her moorings and ran aground in shallow water. The ironclad and her consorts attacked from a distance and inflicted great damage on the ship, killing 120, including the commanding officer. Ablaze in several places and unable to bring guns to bear on the enemy, ''Congress'' was forced to strike her colors. Heavy shore batteries prevented ''Virginia'' from taking possession, instead she fired several rounds of hot shot and incendiary causing ''Congress'' to burn to the water's edge, and her magazine to explode. Lt Smith, having been in command at the time, died in the action.
In September 1865, ''Congress'' was raised and taken to the Norfolk Navy Yard where she was later sold.

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See USS ''Congress'' for other Navy ships of the same name.