Editing CSS Patrick Henry (section)

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

On 13 September 1861 and again on 2 December, Commander Tucker took ''Patrick Henry'' down the river to a point about {{convert|1.5|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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.

During the [[Battle of Hampton Roads]] on 8 March 1862 in which [[CSS Virginia|CSS ''Virginia'']] destroyed the Federal warships [[USS Cumberland (1842)|USS ''Cumberland'']] and [[USS Congress (1841)|USS ''Congress'']], ''Patrick Henry'' attempted to take the latter's surrender but was fired upon by shore batteries, and took a shell in her steam chest that killed four men. Towed out of action long enough to make repairs, she soon resumed her former position.

During the historic 9 March 1862 action between ''Virginia'' and [[USS Monitor|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.
[[File:CSS Patrick Henry JT Sharf.jpg|thumb|right|A sketch of the CSS ''Patrick Henry'' signed by [[John Thomas Scharf|Midshipman J.Thomas Scharf]].]]
''Patrick Henry'' was also present during some of ''Virginia''{{'}}s other actions. In a daring night operation on 5 May 1862, she helped remove Confederate property from the [[Norfolk Navy Yard]] before it was abandoned to the Federals.

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.

''Patrick Henry'' was designated an academy ship in May 1862 and underwent appropriate alterations. In October 1863, ''Patrick Henry'' housed the floating [[Confederate States Naval Academy]] at Drewry's Bluff, where instruction for 52 [[midshipman|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.

When Richmond was evacuated on 3 April 1865, ''Patrick Henry'' was burned to prevent capture. Her midshipmen were charged with the delivery of a treasury of some CS$500,000 to the new government seat of [[Danville, Virginia]]. When they were disbanded each were given $40 in gold to help them reach their homes.