USS Mississippi ( 1841 ) USS " Mississippi " , a paddle frigate , was the first ship of the United States Navy to bear that name . She was named for the Mississippi River . Her sister ship was . Her keel was laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1839 ; built under the personal supervision of Commodore Matthew Perry . She was commissioned on 22 December 1841 , with Captain W . D . Salter in command and launched several weeks later . Service history . Mexican - American War . After several years of service in the Home Squadron , during which she performed experiments crucial to development of the steam Navy , " Mississippi " joined the West Indian Squadron in 1845 as flagship for Commodore Perry . During the Mexican - American War , she took part in expeditions against Alvarado , Tampico , Pánuco , and Laguna de los Términos , all successful in tightening American control of the Mexican coastline and interrupting coastwise commerce and military supply operations . She returned to Norfolk for repairs on 1 January 1847 , then arrived at Veracruz on 21 March 1847 , carrying Perry to take command of the American fleet . At once she and her men plunged into amphibious operations against Veracruz , supplying guns and their crews to be taken ashore for the battery which fought the city to surrender in four days . Through the remainder of the war , " Mississippi " contributed guns , men , and boats to a series of coastal raids on Mexico ’ s east coast , taking part in the capture of Tabasco in June 1847 . Mission to Japan . " Mississippi " cruised the Mediterranean Sea during 1849 – 1851 , picking up Louis Kossuth on his way into exile , before returning to the United States to prepare for service as the flagship of Commodore Perry ' s momentous voyage to Japan . The squadron cleared Hampton Roads on 24 November 1852 , for Madeira , the Cape of Good Hope , Hong Kong , and Shanghai , which was reached 4 May 1853 . The squadron now approached Japan by calls in the Ryukyu Islands and Bonin Islands , and entered Tokyo Bay on 8 July 1853 . Commodore Perry proceeded , in one of the most difficult , skillful , and significant naval / diplomatic missions ever recorded , to negotiate a trade treaty with the Japanese , hitherto absolutely opposed to opening their country to Western trade and influence . After further cruising in the Far East , " Mississippi " and the squadron returned to Japan on 12 February 1854 and on 31 March 1854 the Convention of Kanagawa was signed " Mississippi " returned to New York City on 23 April 1855 , and again sailed for the Far East on 19 August 1857 , to base at Shanghai and patrol in support of America ' s burgeoning trade with the Orient . As the flagship for Commodore Josiah Tattnall , she was present during the British and French attack on the Chinese forts at Taku in June 1859 , and two months later , she landed a force at Shanghai when the American consul requested her aid in restoring order to the city , torn by civil strife . She returned to ordinary at Boston , Massachusetts , in 1860 , but was reactivated when the American Civil War became inevitable . Civil War . She arrived off Key West , Florida , to institute the blockade there on 8 June 1861 , and five days later made her first capture , the schooner " Forest King " bound with coffee from Rio de Janeiro to New Orleans , Louisiana . On 27 November 1861 , off Northeast Pass , Mississippi River , she joined in capturing the British bark " Empress " , again carrying coffee from Rio to New Orleans . The following spring , she joined Farragut ' s squadron for the planned assault on New Orleans . After several attempts , on 7 April 1862 , she and successfully passed over the bar at Southwest Pass , the heaviest ships ever to enter the river to that time . As Farragut brought his fleet up the river , a key engagement was that with Fort Jackson and Fort Saint Philip on 24 April 1862 , during which " Mississippi " ran the Confederate ram " Manassas " ashore , wrecking her with two mighty broadsides . One of her sailors , Seaman Christopher Brennan , was awarded the Medal of Honor for his part in the battle . The city was now doomed , and " Mississippi " , her heavy draft making her less suitable to river operations than lighter ships , remained off New Orleans for much of the next year . Ordered upriver for the operations against Port Hudson , Louisiana , " Mississippi " sailed with six other ships lashed in pairs , while she sailed alone . On 14 March 1863 , she grounded while attempting to pass the forts guarding Port Hudson . Under enemy fire , every effort was made to refloat her by Captain Melancton Smith and his executive officer George Dewey ( later to achieve fame as an admiral ) . At last , her machinery was destroyed , her battery spiked , and she was fired to prevent Confederate capture . When the flames reached her magazines , she blew up and sank . Three of " Mississippi ' s " men , Seaman Andrew Brinn , Boatswain ' s Mate Peter Howard , and U . S . Marine Corps Sergeant Pinkerton R . Vaughn , were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the abandonment . She lost 64 men , with the accompanying ships saving 223 of her crew .