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 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. 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.
Read more about this topic: USS Congress (1841)
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