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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the CONFEDERATE STATES --
CSS Patrick Henry (1861-1865).
Also called Patrick and, incorrectly, Yorktown
CSS Patrick Henry, a 1300-ton side-wheel gunboat, was
built in New York City in 1853 as the civilian steamer Yorktown.
In mid-April 1861, she was seized by the State of Virginia and
was later turned over to the Confederate Government. Renamed Patrick
Henry (though still commonly referred to as Yorktown),
she was converted to a warship and attached to the James River
Squadron under Commander John
Randolph Tucker. In September and December 1861, she took
part in skirmishes with U.S. Navy ships off Newport News.
During the battle of 8
March 1862, in which CSS Virginia
destroyed the Federal warships Cumberland
and Congress,
Patrick Henry attempted to take the latter's surrender
but was fired upon by shore batteries, suffered four crewmen killed
and had to be towed out of action. She was quickly repaired and
participated in a minor way in the historic 9
March 1862 action between Virginia and USS Monitor.
Patrick Henry was also present during some of Virginia's
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.
Following the fall of Norfolk, Patrick Henry remained
in the James River. She was modified for use as a school ship,
and from October 1863 housed the Confederate States' Naval Academy,
under the command of First Lieutenant William
H. Parker. When Richmond was evacuated on 3 April 1865, Patrick
Henry was burned to prevent capture.
This page features, or provides links to, all our views of
CSS Patrick Henry.
For a view of this ship as a civilian steamer prior to the
Civil War, see:
Yorktown
(Steamship, 1853-1865).
For views of CSS Patrick Henry in action during March-April
1862, see::
CSS
Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress,
8 March 1862;
Action
between CSS Virginia and USS Monitor, 9 March 1862;
and
CSS Virginia --
Miscellaneous Actions.
Note: Patrick Henry is not specifically identified
in most of the views of these actions, but is one of the two large
Confederate side-wheel steamers present in some images. In those
cases where she is identified, it is often by her pre-war name
Yorktown.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 57517
CSS Patrick Henry (1861-1865)
Wash drawing by Clary Ray, circa 1898.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 42807
CSS Patrick Henry (1861-1865)
Photographically reproduced sketch of the ship as the Confederate
States Navy's school ship, with the James River Squadron, 1863-65.
The original is inscribed with the name of Midshipman John Thomas
Scharf, CSN, who served in Patrick Henry in 1863 and again
in 1864-65.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 42234
"Steamer Yorktown as she appeared in the Skirmish off Newport
News, September 13, 1861."
Engraving published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper",
1861.
Taken over by the Confederacy earlier in the year, Yorktown
had been renamed Patrick Henry by September 1861. This
depiction is rather inaccurate.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 59210
"Naval Skirmish between the Rebel Iron-plated War Steamer
Yorktown, and a portion of the Federal Fleet anchored in James
River, Va., off Newport News."
Line engraving published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated",
1861. It probably depicts the action of 13 September 1861.
Ships shown are (from left to right): USS Louisiana, CSS
Patrick Henry (ex-Yorktown), USS Savannah
and USS Cumberland.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 430 pixels |
 |
For a view of this ship as a civilian steamer prior to the
Civil War, see:
Yorktown
(Steamship, 1853-1865).
For views of CSS Patrick Henry in action during March-April
1862, see::
CSS
Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress,
8 March 1862;
Action
between CSS Virginia and USS Monitor, 9 March 1862;
and
CSS Virginia --
Miscellaneous Actions.
Note: CSSPatrick Henry is not specifically identified
in most of the views of these actions, but is one of the two large
Confederate side-wheel steamers present in some images. In those
cases where she is identified, it is often by her pre-war name
Yorktown.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 23 June 2001
New image added 11 July 2001