USS Perry ( 1843 ) USS " Perry " ( 1843 ) was a brig commissioned by the Union Navy prior to the American Civil War . She was tasked by the Navy for various missions , including those related to diplomatic tensions with Paraguay , the Mexican - American War , the slave trade , and the American Civil War . " Perry " was launched in May 1843 by the Norfolk Navy Yard ; and commissioned 13 October 1843 , Comdr . Samuel F . Du Pont in command . Pre - Civil War round - the - world cruise . The new brig departed Norfolk , Virginia , 3 December 1843 , called at Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , and proceeded via Cape Town , South Africa , and the Straits of Sunda to Macau , arriving 27 August 1844 . There she embarked Caleb Cushing , the first American Commissioner to China , and sailed via Hong Kong for the coast of Mexico , arriving Mazatlán , 4 November . Four days later she debarked Cushing at San Blas , for an overland journey to Vera Cruz , to catch a ship home . " Perry " then sailed via Honolulu for the Society Islands and the Marquesas where she helped win respect and fair dealing for American whalers . She departed Tahiti 16 April 1845 ; visited Valparaíso , Chile ; sailed " round the Horn " , reached Norfolk , Virginia , 17 September ; and decommissioned on the 25th . Recommissioned for the war with Mexico . " Perry " recommissioned 16 May 1846 , three days after war was declared on Mexico , and four days later sailed for the Gulf of Mexico to blockade Mexican ports . However , after leaving Havana bound for Charleston , NC , she endured the hurricane of October 10 , 1846 driven over the reefs at Bahia Honda Key with every person on board surviving . She was kedged off ( From account of ordeal by Naval Lieutenant Richard Schubrick Trapier who was aboard during that time . ) and returned to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , for repairs 4 December 1846 . Capturing ships engaged in the slave trade . " Perry " got under way from Philadelphia 16 May 1847 to join the Brazil Squadron protecting American interests between Rio de Janeiro , Brazil and Buenos Aires , Argentina . Informed that suspected slavers were bound for the coast of Africa under false papers , she seized American bark " Ann D . Richardson " off Rio de Janeiro 16 December . Two days later , she took American brig " Independence " . Investigation proved that both ships had been engaged in the slave trade and were sent to New York City under prize crews . " Perry " returned from the Brazil Squadron to Norfolk 10 July 1849 and decommissioned there four days later . Recommissioned to fight the continuing slave trade . " Perry " recommissioned 17 November 1849 and sailed for the west coast of Africa to help suppress the slave trade . But for a period in ordinary in New York City , 26 December 1851 to 27 April 1852 , the brig continued this duty until returning to Norfolk 14 July 1854 and decommissioning on the 20th . Recommissioned to show a Naval force in Paraguay . With the exception of a month in commission , 20 March to 27 April 1855 , " Perry " remained in ordinary at Norfolk until recommissioning 21 January 1858 . She departed Hampton Roads 15 February to serve in the expedition , commanded by Flag Officer William B . Shubrick , protesting an unprovoked attack on 1 February 1855 . The task force arrived at Asunción , Paraguay 29 January 1859 and quickly won James B . Bowlin , the American Special Commissioner , a respectful hearing . Sea power here achieved what four years of diplomacy had failed to obtain : an apology , an indemnity for the family of an American sailor killed in the fight , and a commercial treaty advantageous to the United States . The brig returned to New York 5 June 1860 and decommissioned ten days later . Recommissioned to serve the Union Navy in the Civil War . " Perry " remained inactive until the outbreak of the Civil War , recommissioning 23 April . She headed south the same day escorting three transports carrying some 3 , 000 troops to Annapolis , Maryland , where they landed on the 25th to reinforce the 7th Infantry Regiment then moving South to reinforce the Nation ' s threatened capital . She then returned to New York City to prepare for duty as a blockader and steamed into Hampton Roads 18 May to join the newly established Atlantic Blockading Squadron . A week later she stood out from Fort Monroe and headed south for Fernandina , Florida . On the last day of May , she captured Confederate blockade runner " Hannah M . Johnson " about 15 miles southeast of Cape Lookout , North Carolina . The brig took Confederate privateer 3 June , and subsequently turned two British ships away from the Southern coast before reaching her blockade station off the mouth of the St . Mary ' s river on the 11th . Protecting Washington , D . C . , by taking position on the Potomac . With water running low and needing repairs , " Perry " sailed north 8 July , reaching Washington the 21st , eve of the Union defeat in the first Battle of Bull Run . When word of the disaster reached the Washington Navy Yard , the brig moved into the Potomac River where her guns could command the approaches to Alexandria , Virginia , against a possible Confederate advance against the Federal capital . A score of sailors from " Perry " landed to help man the batteries at Fort Ellsworth . She continued to serve in the Potomac Flotilla for the rest of the year and captured sloops " Blooming Youth " and " Ellen Jane " . Showing the " colors " in Colombia . Late in December , " Perry " sailed for Aspinwall , Colombia , where she arrived 14 May 1862 . The brig headed home 13 November , and decommissioned at New York 3 January 1863 for repairs . Recommissioned to patrol the North Carolina coast . " Perry " recommissioned 28 February and a month later took station off New Inlet , North Carolina . On 31 March she captured schooner " Sue " , and on 1 May she took schooner " Alma " attempting to slip into Beaufort laden with salt and herring from Bermuda . She sailed North 13 August . Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade . Following repairs at Boston , Massachusetts , the brig joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Port Royal , South Carolina . 15 November . After serving off Murrell ' s Inlet , North Carolina , until 15 December and off Charleston , South Carolina , during the siege , she sailed 28 January 1864 to blockade station off Fernandina , Florida , where she remained until the end of the Civil War . Post - Civil War decommissioning and sale . " Perry " decommissioned at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , 29 April and was sold at public auction there 10 August 1865 .