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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Congress (1842-1862)
USS Congress, a 1,867-ton sailing frigate, was built
between 1839 and 1842 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.
Commissioned in May 1842, she made a Mediterranean cruise in that
year and into 1843, then served off the South American east coast
until early 1845. After a refit, she was sent to become flagship
of the Pacific Squadron, remaining there until mid-1848. During
that cruise, Congress took an active role in the war with
Mexico.
From June 1850 until June 1853, the frigate served as flagship
of the Brazil Squadron. Congress next deployed to the Mediterranean
Sea for two years' duty as flagship, beginning in June 1855 and
concluding in November 1857. On her next assignment, from 1859
until mid-1861, she was again the Brazil Squadron flagship.
The outbreak of the Civil War brought Congress back
to U.S. waters, where she spent her remaining days. She joined
the blockade of the Confederacy's Atlantic coast in September
1861. On 8 March 1862, while anchored off Newport News, Virginia,
USS Congress was attacked by the ironclad CSS Virginia.
After suffering heavy casualties in a one-sided action with a
opponent that was virtually invulnerable to her guns, the veteran
frigate was forced to surrender. She was subsequently destroyed
by fire and the explosion of her powder magazine.
This page features, or provides links to, all our views of
USS Congress (1842-1862).
For views of an embroidered sea bag apparently made by one
of Congress's crew, see:
USS Congress -- Embroidered
Seabag.
For views of USS Congress' battle with CSS Virginia,
see:
CSS
Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress,
8 March 1862.
For views of Joseph B. Smith, who was Congress'
acting commanding officer when she was lost, see:
Lieutenant
Joseph B. Smith, USN (1826-1862).
USS Congress is also depicted, though inaccurately,
in some views included in our coverage of the Action
between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, 9 March 1862.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 590
USS Congress (1842-1862)
Nineteenth Century photograph of a painting by Vandenburg, depicting
the frigate under sail in heavy seas.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 480 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 55326
USS Congress (1842-1862)
Nineteenth or early Twentieth Century photograph of an artwork
titled "U.S. Frigate Congress 1842".
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 116KB; 700 x 675 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 74536
USS Congress (1842-1862)
Sketch by Fred S. Cozzens, copied from his book "Our Navy
-- Its Growth and Achievements", 1897.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 445 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 55325
Warships in Rio de Janeiro Harbor, Brazil
Lithograph by Martinet, depicting the Brazilian ships Armacao
and Nitherohy at left, HMS Alfred in the right
center foreground and USS Congress (1842-1862) in the
right distance. Date is during the 1840s or 1850s, when Congress
was serving in the South Atlantic or passing through on her way
to or from the Pacific.
Collection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 1936.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 495 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 93579
USS Congress (1842-1862)
Artwork by J. Glen Wilson, Royal Navy, 1852, depicting the frigate
at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October (presumably 1852). The work
is inscribed: "Presented by Captain Henry N. Denham, R.N.,
Commdg. H.M. Frigate Arnold ... Commodore I. McKeever, Commdg.
U.S. Brazil Squadron".
Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 540 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 1310-KN (Color)
USS Congress (1842-1862) (right)
and
USS Susquehanna (1850-1883) (left distance)
Oil painting by DeSimone, depicting the ships at Naples in 1857.
Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 1430
USS Congress (1842-1862) (right)
and
USS Susquehanna (1850-1883) (left distance)
Oil painting by DeSimone, depicting the ships at Naples, about
1857.
Collection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 55327
USS Susquehanna (1850-1883) (left)
and
USS Congress (1842-1862)
Oil painting, probably by DeSimone, depicting the ships at Naples
in 1857.
Note local rowing craft in the foreground.
Courtesy of Mr. K. Scofield, July 1939.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
 |
For views of an embroidered sea bag apparently made by one
of Congress's crew, see:
USS Congress -- Embroidered
Seabag.
For views of USS Congress' battle with CSS Virginia,
see:
CSS
Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress,
8 March 1862.
For views of \Joseph B. Smith, who was Congress'
acting commanding officer when she was lost, see:
Lieutenant
Joseph B. Smith, USN (1826-1862).
USS Congress is also depicted, though inaccurately,
in some views included in our coverage of the Action
between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, 9 March 1862.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 17 May 2001
Links added 29 June 2001