Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/135

 The Confederate Steamship ^^ Patrick Henry." 129

the Patrick He7iry could not have returned unseen, Commander Tucker opened fire. The Federals were evidently taken by surprise, and it was some minutes before they replied to the fire. They soon got to their guns however, and the sun as it rose was greeted with a roar of artillery that shook the windows in Norfolk and roused the people of that then gay city from their slumbers at a most inconve- nient hour.

The Federal fire was well directed, and one officer and several men were wounded on board the Patrick Heriry. One gunboat in par- ticular, commanded by Lieutenant H. K. Davenport, was noted for the precision with which she used her rifled guns. The old sailing master of the Patrick Henry, a seaman of sixty winters and many gales, was much pleased with the manner in which Davenport used his guns. He said to some one standing near him, " look at that black, ugly little craft yonder, well, whenever you see a puff^ of smoke go up from her, look out, for, as sure as you are born, there will be a blue pigeon about." The skirmish having continued for an hour or more, and nothing to be gained by prolonging it, the Patrick Henry returned to her usual anchorage.

In February, 1862, the ladies of Charles City, a county border- ing on James river, desired to present to the Patrick Henry a flag which they had made for her, as an evidence of their confidence in the vessel, and their appreciation of the services she had done them by keeping marauding expeditions from ascending the river to pillage, plunder, and perhaps destroy the famous old country seats that are to be found on its banks. But the flag was destined never to be presented, such stirring times were at hand that the few hours necessary for the ceremony could not be spared. The iron-clad, Virginia, was about to make an attack upon the Federal batteries and vessels at Newport News, and the Patrick Henry was ordered to participate in the battle.

The day before the attack was to be made, the Patrick Henry was moved down to Day's Neck, and an anchorage taken, from which any vessel coming out from Norfolk could be seen.

The 8th of March, 1862, was a bright, placid, beautiful day, more like a May than a March day. All eyes on board the Patrick Henry were watching for the Virginia. About one o'clock in the afternoon she came steaming out from behind Craney Island, attended by her satellites — the gunboats Beaufort and Raleigh. Grand, and strong , and confident, a Hercules of the waters, she moved straight upon the enemy.