CSS Patrick Henry

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Career

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Launched:1853

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Commissioned:17 April 1861

Related Topics:
17 April - 1861

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Fate:burned 3 April 1865

Related Topics:
3 April - 1865

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General Characteristics

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Displacement:1300 tons

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Length:250 ft (76 m)

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Beam:34 ft (10 m)

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Draft:13 ft (4 m)

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Depth of Hold:17 ft (5 m)

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Complement:150 officers and men

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Armament:1 x 10 inch (254 mm) smooth-bore, 1 x 64 pounder (29 kg), 6 x 8 inch (203 mm) guns, 2 x 32 pounder (15 kg) rifles

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CSS Patrick Henry was built in New York City in 1853 by the renowned William H. Webb for the Old Dominion Steam Ship Line as the civilian steamer Yorktown, a brigantine-rigged side-wheel steamer. She carried passengers and freight between between Richmond, Virginia and New York City. Yorktown had anchored in the James River when Virginia seceded from the Union on 17 April 1861 and was seized and turned over to the Confederate Navy. Commander John Randolph Tucker, who commanded the newly organized James River Squadron, directed that Yorktown be converted into a gunboat and renamed Patrick Henry in honor of that revolutionary patriot.

Related Topics:
New York City - 1853 - William H. Webb - Old Dominion Steam Ship Line - Richmond - Virginia - James River - 17 April - 1861 - Confederate Navy - Commander - John Randolph Tucker - That revolutionary patriot

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Still commonly referred to as Yorktown, she was assigned to a position near Mulberry Island in the James to protect the right flank of the Confederate Peninsula Army.

Related Topics:
Mulberry Island - Confederate Peninsula Army

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On 13 September 1861 and again on 2 December, Commander Tucker took Patrick Henry down the river to a point about a mile and a half above Newport News, Virginia, and opened fire on the Federal squadron at long range hoping to draw out some of the gunboats. The gambit was refused, but Tucker inflicted some minor damage.

Related Topics:
13 September - 1861 - 2 December - Newport News, Virginia

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During the Battle of Hampton Roads on 8 March 1862 in which Virginia destroyed the Federal warships USS Cumberland and USS Congress,

Related Topics:
Battle of Hampton Roads - 8 March - 1862 - ''Virginia'' - USS ''Cumberland'' - USS ''Congress''

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Patrick Henry attempted to take the latter's surrender but was fired upon by shore batteries, and took a shell in her steam chest which killed four men. Towed out of action long enough to make repairs, she soon resumed her former position.

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During the historic 9 March 1862 action between Virginia and USS Monitor, Patrick Henry fired long range at Monitor. The Confederate Congress later accorded special thanks to all officers and men for their gallant conduct during the two-day battle.

Related Topics:
9 March - 1862 - USS ''Monitor''

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Patrick Henry was also present during some of Virginias other actions and, in a daring night operation on 5 May 1862, helped remove Confederate property from the Norfolk Navy Yard before it was abandoned to the Federals.

Related Topics:
5 May - 1862 - Norfolk Navy Yard

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After the surrender of Norfolk, Virginia on 10 May 1862, the James River Squadron, including Patrick Henry, retired up the river to Drewry's Bluff where pursuing Federal ships were repulsed on 15 May.

Related Topics:
Norfolk, Virginia - 10 May - 1862 - Drewry's Bluff - 15 May

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Patrick Henry was designated an academy ship in May 1862 and underwent appropriate alterations to this end. In October 1863, Patrick Henry housed the floating Confederate States Naval Academy at Drewry's Bluff, where instruction for 52 midshipmen began under the superintendency of Lieutenant William Harwar Parker. Numbers later increased to sixty, with thirteen teachers in attendance. Sometimes she took part in action with the midshipmen on board.

Related Topics:
1862 - 1863 - Confederate States Naval Academy - Midshipmen - Lieutenant - William Harwar Parker

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When Richmond was evacuated on 3 April 1865, Patrick Henry was burned to prevent capture. Her cadets were charged with the delivery of a treasury of some CS$500,000 to the new government seat of Danville, Virginia. Each was rewarded with $40 in gold.

Related Topics:
3 April - 1865 - Danville, Virginia

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