USS Congress

USS Congress was a United States Navy ship that played a significant role in the American Civil War, particularly during the Battle of Hampton Roads against the CSS Virginia. The ship was named after the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature of the United States of America, which consists of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The USS Congress was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and launched on August 16, 1841, with Captain Charles Wilkes and Captain John D. Sloat being among its notable commanders. The ship's construction was overseen by the United States Department of the Navy, which is headed by the Secretary of the Navy, a position held by Gideon Welles during the American Civil War.

● History

The USS Congress had a long and storied history, with its earliest actions taking place during the Mexican-American War, where it participated in the Battle of Veracruz under the command of Commodore Matthew Perry. The ship also played a role in the Perry Expedition to Japan, which was led by Commodore Matthew Perry and resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa. The USS Congress was also involved in the Paraguay Expedition, a naval expedition led by Admiral William B. Shubrick to Paraguay during the Paraguayan War. The ship's history is closely tied to that of other notable ships, including the USS Constitution, the USS United States, and the USS President, all of which were built at the Boston Navy Yard or the New York Navy Yard. The USS Congress also had interactions with notable figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman, who all played important roles in the American Civil War.

● Design and Construction

The USS Congress was designed by Naval Architect John Lenthall and built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard by Shipbuilder Samuel Humphreys. The ship was constructed using live oak and locust wood, with a hull length of 179 feet and a beam of 47 feet. The USS Congress was equipped with 32-pounder guns and 8-inch shell guns, which were manufactured by the Columbiad Iron Works and the West Point Foundry. The ship's design was influenced by the Hull form of the USS Pennsylvania, which was built at the Gosport Shipyard in Virginia. The USS Congress also had a similar design to the USS Ohio, which was built at the New York Navy Yard and launched on May 30, 1820. The ship's construction was overseen by the United States Department of the Navy, which is responsible for the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

● Service History

The USS Congress had a long and varied service history, with actions taking place in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. The ship participated in the Blockade of the Confederate States, which was led by the Union Navy and resulted in the capture of several Confederate States of America ships, including the CSS Sumter and the CSS Alabama. The USS Congress also played a role in the Battle of Fort Donelson, which was fought between the Union Army and the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The ship's service history is closely tied to that of other notable ships, including the USS Monitor, the USS Merrimack, and the USS Kearsarge, all of which played important roles in the American Civil War. The USS Congress also had interactions with notable figures, including Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis, who all played important roles in the Confederate States of America.

● Commanding Officers

The USS Congress had several notable commanding officers, including Captain Charles Wilkes, Captain John D. Sloat, and Captain James L. Lardner. The ship's commanding officers were responsible for the United States Naval Academy, which is located in Annapolis, Maryland, and is responsible for training United States Navy officers. The USS Congress also had interactions with notable figures, including Admiral David Farragut, Admiral Andrew Hull Foote, and Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, who all played important roles in the American Civil War. The ship's commanding officers were also responsible for the United States Navy Bureau of Navigation, which is responsible for the United States Navy's navigation and cartography.

● Legacy

The USS Congress has a lasting legacy in the United States Navy, with its actions during the American Civil War and the Mexican-American War being remembered as significant contributions to the United States of America. The ship's legacy is closely tied to that of other notable ships, including the USS Constitution, the USS United States, and the USS President, all of which played important roles in the American Civil War and the War of 1812. The USS Congress also had interactions with notable figures, including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman, who all played important roles in the United States of America. The ship's legacy is remembered at the United States Naval Academy, the National Museum of the United States Navy, and the United States Navy Memorial, all of which are located in Washington, D.C. and are dedicated to the United States Navy and its history. Category:United States Navy ships