The National tribune., 1888-04-05

"Abner Read was born in salem Township,
Champaign Co. O.. near EcnHard. in 1870 His
father WAS the late Ezra Read, who is we'll
remembered by our older citizens.
"Abner, together with other members of the
large family, received his early education in
the old log sebool-hou Of the ueighborho0d
working on the farm i'm the Summer aud at
tending school in the Winter lie afterward
entered the State University at Athens, and
remained until the a1c of 10, when he received
a warrant as M!dshipmlu in 1870.
His first cruise was i'm the schooner Enter
prise, 10 the coast Of South America, and after
wari to the Mediterranean. During this cruise
lie invented a gun-slide, for which he was
highly praised.
after this cruise he was ordered to the
Naval School &c Philadelphia to prepare for his
examination for promotion. After year thus
spent he passed number five in a class Of Is.
He never served as Passed AIjdshirman,
bat was detailed as Sailing Master, in which
capacity he sailed on several voyages with
among the most cautious and skulful navi-
gators IN the service.
About the time Of the breaking out Of the
civil war be was ordered to the Wyaud0ttc the
command Of which soon derolved upon him.
1t was this vessel which performed such inn
pOrtant service ia preserving Fort Pickeus from
the rebels. In private letter written ct this
we find his views on the war briefly expressed ::
| s. say go on with the war; Ted0ub!e our present
energies carry the war into Africa; don't
daily on the borders for fear we may hurt
somebody's feelings; don't say q word about
the wool until we've eaten the mutton crush
out this infamous rebellion before they take q
second breath, and / guarantee peace, pros
perty and plenty, Niger or niger
Lieut. Read at this time had seen as much
sea service as any officer Of his years in the
service He was Of large and commanding
/ figure, capable Of extreme endurance, cautious
to commit no bluudcTs and fond Of hardy ad-
ventures and enterprise
"IIe was afIerwagd assigned to the command
Of the guuboat Eew London, and proceeded in
her at once to Ship Island, at the mouth of the
Mississippi, and in eight days from her arrival
there had captured four valuable prizes She
effectually broke up the brisk trade between
Mobile and New Orleans and earned for herself
the name of the Black Devil Tie New Lon
don took some 80 prizes, also a battery at BIZ
loxi and assisted IN capturing several others,
as we'll rs Forts Wood and Pike.
4 member of au Eastern regiment, writing
about the operations ut this time which letter
was published in the Urbana Citizen, says
/ Since the New London has been stationed in
the Gulf with a rowing commission she has
taken more than 80 prizes, being more than the
/ combined prizes Of all the rest of the blOckad-
| ing squadron
"A correspondent in writing Of the boat at
tack on Sabine Pass, in which Lieut. Read was
badly wounded by musket-shot in the head,
SAYS: The enemy then directed their FIRE on
the New Loud0us boat, but by almost super
human efforts she succeeded in getting of the
bar under q terrible fire, but not until tie boat
was made q complete sieve she was completely
riddled, and all were killed or wounded but one
man. We however sent our Chief Engineer
I ..fIr rsr.F - lrf-Hv~ -F.r
were doing their utmost to keep their boat
from sinking the Captain himself pulling an
| oar and ut times using his cap TO bail with He
is a nobleand brave man, and when called on
( to surrender, notwithstanding the increasing
/ storm Of bullets around him, replied: No,
/ d you" lie was in great danger of losing
/ his eyesi ght from this wound, but he refused 70
come North for treatment He asked to be
! given another vessel at once, and was assigned
/ to the command OF the AIUuOngahela.'
about this time in 1862 the Ohio Legisla-
ture passed a series of resolutions, reciting his
! acts and rendering him the thanks OF the State
for his patriotism, his gallantry, and his dis
/ tinguished services against the enemies Of his
/ couutryl'
Shortly after taking command of the Mon
| ongaheIa, on July T. 1853, while attempting 70
| pass the rebel batteries at DOnaldsonville he
received his death wound. 4 she'll struck the
/ deck of the ship and exploded, mortally wound
| ing the Captain and several others.
He was at once taken to Baton Rouge
where he fingered till July II, when death re-
| lievcd him of his terrible sufferings.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette
wrote as follows of his death His wound.
! We're terrible but he never complained. AboUt
! half aa hour before he died he remarked to the
Doctor that he thought his time was short
"Yes, you cannot recover, Capt. Read you
have but little time to live After this Wa
said he seemed to be free from pain for about
half an hour, when he remarked: " Well Doc
there is no use holding on any longer: / guess
will shove off, and he died at once His las
words were, in all respects, Characteristic O.
/ the man.
THUS died one of Americas most daring
sailors and one of Ohios most noble sons. IL,
was buried at Baton Rouge, but afterward his
body was removed to Philadelphia and inferred
with all the honors due his rank.
" He was a cheyalier without fear and with
out reproach; an honest man, q gallant gen
tleman.' "