The fifth USS ''Congress'' was a

screw sloop A screw sloop is a propeller-driven sloop-of-war. They were popularized in the mid-19th century, during the introduction of the steam engine and the transition of fleets to this new technology. The sailing sloop The British sloop in the Age o ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

Service history

''Congress'' was launched by the

Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy shipyard and was historically important for nearly two centuries. Construction of the original Philadelphia Naval Shipyard began during the American Revolution in 1776 at Front ...

on 17 July 1868, sponsored by the daughter of Senator Charles D. Drake of

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

; and commissioned on 4 March 1870, Captain N. Harrison in command. The ship was variously known as ''Pushmataha'', and ''Cambridge'' prior to 10 August 1869, when she was renamed ''Congress'', the name under which she performed all her service. Her initial cruise, undertaken in 1870, was as flagship for Commodore Joseph F. Green of the

South Atlantic Squadron The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina. When t ...

. Returning to

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, on 29 May 1871, she was placed under Commander Henry Kallock Davenport. In the summer of that year she transported supplies from

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

to the , which was anchored at

Godhavn Qeqertarsuaq (, historically known as Godhavn) is a port and town in Qeqertalik municipality, located on the south coast of Disko Island on the west coast of Greenland. Founded in 1773, the town is now home to a campus of the University of Cope ...

Disko Island Disko Island (, ) is a large island in Baffin Bay, off the west coast of Greenland. It has an area of ,Arctic expedition This list of Arctic expeditions is a timeline of historic Arctic exploration and explorers of the Arctic. 15th century * 1472: Didrik Pining and Hans Pothorst mark the first of the cartographic expeditions to Greenland * 1496: , venturing out ...

. Late in 1871, ''Congress'' served also as flagship for Vice Admiral

Stephen Clegg Rowan Stephen Clegg Rowan (December 25. 1808 – March 31, 1890) was a Vice admiral (United States), vice admiral in the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Early life and career Born in Du ...

who had been designated to accord suitable reception to a visiting Russian squadron. After a cruise to

Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...

in early 1872, ''Congress'' sailed from

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

, on 14 February, to join the Mediterranean Squadron. This lengthy tour included visits to many ports of Europe and ended at

Key West, Florida Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida, at the southern end of the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Islan ...

, where she arrived on 5 January 1874. She was back in the Mediterranean by 9 April, and visited ports on the coasts of Africa and Europe before returning to

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

to visit the

Centennial Exposition The Centennial International Exhibition, officially the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876. It was the first official wo ...

of 1876. ''Congress'' was decommissioned on 26 July 1876, at

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on ...

, and laid up

in ordinary ''In ordinary'' is an English phrase with multiple meanings. In relation to the Royal Household and public officials more generally, it indicates that a position is a permanent one (in contrast to positions that are extraordinary). In naval matt ...

until 20 September 1883, when she was sold.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Congress (1868) Sloops of the United States Navy Ships built in Philadelphia 1868 ships Polaris expedition