The Confederate Steamship ^^ Patrick Henry." 135
on all occasions of duty was of proof, though no one was more gentle in the ordinary intercourse of private life. None served with. him without feeling that he was a man fitted for high destinies, for he was of a nature, an experience, and a professional skill, well calculated to command respect and inspire confidence. In the course of my life I have had many opportunities of hearing character discussed among sea officers ; few escape criticism of some sort or other for their pro- fessional acts, and fewer still as men, yet I do not remember a single instance in which I have' ever heard a whisper of complaint against the professional or private conduct of John Randolph Tucker. — ^J. H. R., 1886.
^ The combat between the Virginia and the Mo7iitor was an inde- cisive action so far as those two vessels were concerned ; at least such was my opinion after witnessing the fight from the distance of about a mile. Both vessels were skillfully and gallandy fought, and neither could claim a victory over the other. If the Monitor had been silenced, the Minnesota would have been destroyed, and prob- ably much other damage done to the Federal forces. If the Vir- ginia had been defeated, the city of Norfolk would have been at the mercy of the Monitor.—]. H. R., 1886.
- Some years after the conclusion of the war I showed a copy of
this letter to my friend. Captain Catesby apRoger Jones, who was in command of the Virginia during her fight with the Monitor. Captain Jones informed me that the sig»al officer of the Patrick Henry did not read the Virginia^ s signal correctly; I forget what Captain Jones said the signal was, but it did not indicate that the Vir- ginia was in distress, or that she desired assistance. — J. H. R., 1886.
- One of these small steamers was the tender of the Norfolk navy
yard. She was manned for the occasion by officers and men of the Patrick Henry, under the command of the executive officer of that vessel, and was christened by the men Patrick Henry, Junior. — J. H. R., 1886.
- The conclusion of this letter has been lost. It went on to relate
the services of the Patrick Henry up to the date of the letter. These services may be briefly recounted : When the Confederate anthorities determined upon the evacuation of Norfolk, the Patrick
