The ship was launched on 29 May 1845 by Betts, Harlan, and Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware as merchant steamer Bangor.

[1] She was powered by twin screws and was the first iron-hulled, sea-going merchant vessel in the United States.

[2] She was rebuilt and continued the Bangor-Boston route and she was bought by the U.S. Government on 30 December 1846 for the Mexican War.

USS Scourge joined the forces of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in the Gulf of Mexico on March 29, 1847.

USS Scourge also participated in the captures of La Peña, Palma Sola, and Hospital Hill.