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USS Congress
USS Congress was a 38-gun frigate, one of the six
original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of
1794. She was distinguished as the first US Navy vessel to put to
sea and the first US Navy vessel to engage and defeat an enemy
vessel.
Joshua Humphreys' design was long on keel and narrow of beam
(width) to allow for the mounting of very heavy guns. The design
incorporated a diagonal scantling (rib) scheme to limit hogging and
included extremely heavy planking. This gave the hull greater
strength than those of more lightly built frigates. Humphreys
developed his design after realizing that the fledgling United
States could not match for size the navies of the European states.
He therefore designed his frigates to be able to overpower other
frigates, but with the speed to escape from a ship of the line.
The Naval Act of 1794 had specified 36-gun frigates. However,
Congress and her sister-ship Constellation were
re-rated to 38s because of their large dimensions, being 164 feet
in length and 41 feet in width. The "ratings" by number of guns
were meant only as an approximation, as Congress could carry
up to 48 guns. Ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns
such as modern Navy ships carry. The guns and cannons were designed
to be completely portable and often were exchanged between ships as
situations warranted. Each commanding officer outfitted armaments
to their liking, taking into consideration factors such as the
overall tonnage of cargo, complement of personnel aboard, and
planned routes to be sailed. Consequently, the armaments on ships
changed often during their careers, and records of the changes were
not generally kept.
She was launched on 15 August 1799 and was broken up in
1834.
First Barbary War
During the United States' preoccupation with France during the
Quasi-War, troubles with the Barbary States were suppressed by the
payment of tribute to ensure that American merchant ships were not
harassed and seized. In 1801, Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli,
dissatisfied with the amount of tribute he was receiving in
comparison to Algiers, demanded an immediate payment of $250,000.
In response, Thomas Jefferson sent a squadron of frigates to
protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean and pursue
peace with the Barbary States.
The first squadron, under the command of Richard Dale in
President, was instructed to escort merchant ships through
the Mediterranean and negotiate with leaders of the Barbary States.
A second squadron was assembled under the command of Richard
Valentine Morris in Chesapeake. However, the performance of
Morris's squadron was so poor that he was recalled and subsequently
dismissed from the Navy in 1803. A third squadron was assembled
under the command of Edward Preble in Constitution and by
mid-1804 they had successfully fought the Battle of
Tripoli Harbor.
President Jefferson reinforced Preble's squadron in April and
ordered four frigates to sail as soon as possible. President,
Congress, Constellation and Essex were placed under the
direction of Commodore Samuel Barron. Congress was captained
by John Rodgers and two months were spent preparing the squadron
for the voyage. They departed in late June and arrived at Gibraltar
on 12 August. Congress and Essex were immediately
sent to patrol off the coast of Tangier and when they returned to
Gibraltar two weeks later, Congress continued on to
Tripoli.
Congress, accompanied by Constellation, assumed
blockade duties of Tripoli and captured one xebec before sailing for
Malta on 25 October for repairs. On 6 November Rodgers assumed
command of Constitution and in his place, Stephen Decatur
assumed command of Congress. The next recorded activity of
Congress is in early July 1805 when she was sent in company
with Vixen to blockade Tunisia. They were joined on the 23rd
by additional U.S. Navy vessels. In early September,
Congress carried the Tunisian ambassador back to Washington
DC. Afterward, placed in ordinary at the Washington Navy Yard, she
served as a classroom for midshipman training through 1807.