In February, 1862, the ladies of Charles City, a county bordering on James river, desired to present to the _Patrick Henry_ a flag which they had made for her as an evidence of their appreciation of her services in keeping boat expeditions and the enemy's small steamers from ascending the river. But the presentation of this flag did not take place; the C.S. steamers _Jamestown_, 2, and _Teaser_, v, had reinforced the _Patrick Henry_, and such incessant preparations were going on that no time could be spared for the ceremony. The occasion of these preparations was the expectation of being soon engaged in the attack which it was understood that the Confederate iron-clad _Virginia_ was about to make on the Federal batteries and men-of-war at Newport News. No care or preparation could make the _Patrick Henry_ as well fitted for war as a vessel of the same size built especially for the military marine service; but the best that could be done to make her efficient was done, and not without success, as the part the vessel took in the closely following battle of Hampton Roads conclusively demonstrates. On the 7th of March, 1862, the James river squadron, consisting of the _Patrick Henry_, 12, Commander J.R. Tucker; _Jamestown_, 2, Lieutenant Commanding J.N. Barney, and _Teaser_, 1, Lieutenant Commanding W.A. Webb, proceeded down the river, and anchored at nightfall off Day's Neck Point, some six miles distant from Newport News. This movement was effected in order to be near at hand when the _Virginia_ made her expected attack on the Federal forces.