Hampton Roads Naval Museum

25. USS Congress

Norfolk, VA

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USS Congress (1841) was the fourth United States Navy ship to carry that name. Congress was a sailing frigate, like her predecessor, USS Congress (1799). Congress served with distinction in the Mediterranean, South Atlantic Ocean, and in the Pacific Ocean. On September 9, 1861, she was ordered to duty in the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Congress was anchored off Newport News, Virginia, as part of the Union blockade of that port on March 8, 1862, when she fell under attack by the Confederate ironclad, CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack) and five other small ships. Serving aboard Congress at this time was McKean Buchanan, brother of the commanding officer of the Virginia, Franklin Buchanan. 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, Joseph B. Smith. Ablaze in several places and unable to bring guns to bear on the enemy, Congress was forced to strike her colors and raise a white flag. Heavy shore batteries prevented Virginia from taking possession. Instead she fired several rounds of hot shot (red-hot cannon balls) 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. Eventually, during the battle, the Congress sank by the stern to her watery grave.