Her final action took place on January 23–24, 1865 when the Confederate squadron in the James River, including ironclads CSS "Richmond", and CSS "Fredericksburg", with five smaller vessels, made a second unsuccessful attempt to circumvent obstructions in Trent's Reach. A reliable report indicated there was a passage through, as a result of a freshet of melting ice. To avoid the risk of collision, the gunboats and tenders were lashed to the starboard sides of the ironclads; "Virginia II" accreted to her bulk the gunboats "Nansemond" and "Torpedo", with the torpedo boat "Scorpion" in tow. After passing the Union batteries at Fort Brady sometime after 8 p.m., the "Virginia II" accidentally beached "Torpedo" by cutting too close to the shore. The captain of "Nansemond" untied his ship from "Virginia II" in an attempt to free "Torpedo". The fleet continued on and reached the obstructions at Trent's Reach.