USS Congress ( 1841 ) USS " Congress " ( 1841 ) — the fourth United States Navy ship to carry that name — was a sailing frigate , like her predecessor , . " Congress " served with distinction in the Mediterranean , South Atlantic Ocean , and in the Pacific Ocean . She continued to operate as an American warship until the American Civil War , where she was sunk by the ironclad CSS " Virginia " in battle off Newport News , Virginia . Mediterranean and South Atlantic Ocean operations . " Congress " was launched at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 16 August 1841 and placed in commission under Captain Philip Voorhees on 7 May 1842 . Her first cruise — starting on 15 July — took her to the Mediterranean for service with the Squadron of Commodore s Charles W . Morgan and Charles Morris . In December 1843 , Voorhees joined Commodore Daniel Turner ' s Brazil Squadron blockading Montevideo in safeguarding U . S . trade during Uruguayan Civil War . Generally , the U . S . Navy stayed aloof from lower - South American troubles . However , on 29 September 1844 , Voorhees captured an armed Argentine schooner that delivered a mail to the Argentine commanding officer . This overreaction damaged the US - Argentina relation and resulted in a court martial for Vorhees . His impetuosity resulted in a few months suspension , for Voorheees , but did little damage to his career . " Congress " remained active in the theatre , In December 1843 , Voorhees joined Commodore Daniel Turner ' s Brazil Squadron blockading Montevideo in safeguarding U . S . trade during Uruguayan Civil War . The U . S . Navy stayed aloof from lower - South American troubles . On 29 September 1844 , however , Voorhees showed himself to be quick - tempered and impulsive . He captured an armed Argentine schooner that delivered a mail to the Argentine commanding officer . This overreaction damaged the US - Argentina relation . ' Congress " remained active in the theatre until January 1845 . She was then placed in ordinary at Norfolk , Virginia in March . Mexican - American War operations . " Congress " was recommissioned on 15 September 1845 , as flagship of Commodore Robert F . Stockton and sailed for the Pacific Ocean in late October . After landing the U . S . Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands at Honolulu , Hawaii 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 and employed 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 that aided in the occupation of Mazatlán . On 23 August 1848 , she departed La Paz , Baja California Sur for Norfolk , Virginia , arriving the following January to be placed in ordinary . Suppressing the slave trade . In May 1850 , she was assigned a threefold mission ; protect U . S . interests between the mouth of the Amazon and Cape Horn , prevent the use of the American flag to cover the African slave trade , and maintain neutral rights during hostilities among the South American countries . Departing Hampton Roads , Virginia on 12 June , she arrived at Rio de Janeiro , Brazil on 1 September and assumed duty as flagship of the Brazil Squadron under Cmdre . Issac McKeever until June 1853 . She returned to New York City on 20 July for decommissioning . Mediterranean operations . On 19 June 1855 , " Congress " sailed for the Mediterranean and there followed two years as flagship of Cmdre . Samuel Livingston Breese . Sailing from Spezia , Italy on 26 November 1857 , she arrived at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania on 13 January 1858 , and was placed out of commission . In 1859 , " Congress " was reassigned as flagship of Cmdre . Joshua R . Sands and the Brazil Squadron , remaining in that area until the Civil War precipitated her return to Boston , Massachusetts on 22 August 1861 . American Civil War service . On 9 September 1861 , she was ordered to duty under command of Capt . Louis M . Goldsborough in the Atlantic Blockading Squadron , later to serve under commanding officer W . Smith , and executive officer Lieutenant Joseph B . Smith . " Congress " was anchored off Newport News , Virginia , as part of the Union blockade of that port on 8 March 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 . Hulk raised and sold . In September 1865 , " Congress " was raised and taken to the Norfolk Navy Yard where she was later sold . She later was stripped for the valuable wood and metal near her mast . The sails later were used to make a flag in memory of the ship .