CSS Patrick Henry
Sidewheel Gunboat · Confederate States of America · Lost 1865 · Chesapeake Bay
A onetime New York passenger steamer turned Confederate flagship, floating naval academy, and finally a pyre in the burning of Richmond.
The Vessel and Her Loss
Built in 1859 as the civilian steamer Yorktown, she was seized by Virginia at the start of the Civil War and commissioned into Confederate service as Patrick Henry. As flagship of the James River Squadron she fought in the Battle of Hampton Roads alongside CSS Virginia. From late 1863 she served as a stationary schoolship housing the Confederate States Naval Academy. When Richmond was evacuated on April 3, 1865, she was burned by Confederate forces to keep her from Union hands.
Vessel
- 1859
- William H. Webb
- New York City, New York
- Wood
- 250 ft
- 34 ft
- 1300
- Steam, side paddle wheels
- Old Dominion Steam Ship Line (civilian); seized by Virginia Navy, later Confederate States Navy
Loss
- April 3, 1865
- Intentional sinking
- James River near Richmond, Virginia
- James River, Chesapeake Bay watershed
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- 37.55° N 77.46° W
- General area only
- Richmond, Virginia
General area only: coordinate of Richmond, Virginia from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, marking the named place of loss (James River near Richmond) recorded for this vessel, not a surveyed wreck position.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Well documented (90/100)
Naval History and Heritage Command, Confederate Ship Histories
Construction, conversion, service history, fate.
USGS Geographic Names Information System — Richmond, VA
coordinate of the named place of loss
