The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-30

ate Navy.)
Copyright. 1897. s. S. Mcclure Coz
Charles w. Read was undoubtedly
the most interesting personality
brought forth by the naval operations
Of the civil war; Even the gallant
Cushing's career was NOT more thrill
ing. nor was there as much exciting
adventure IN Il.
Read was born in the state of Missis-
sippi. His people were not endowed
with any more Of this worlds goods
than they could safely carry around
with them, and the pretepsions of peO-
pie who claimed to belong TO the oldest
families afforded young Read constant
amusement.
At the age of 16 he was appointed an
acting midshiDman in the navy of the
United States. He went TO ANNAPOLIS,
where, after a most interesting com
petition with a large class OF young
gentlemen. gifted with average intel
lects, he succeeded without much exer-
ton in easily graduating at the foot of
his class. Ii was during this period of
probation that ne earned his sobriquet
of '-Savez" Read-'SaveZ' being the
only French word he thoroughly mas
tered in a four-y years struggle with
that language. He used the word on
all occasions as a substitute for the
more fashionable, but less classic 'D5n-
cherno.'
At the outbreak of the civil war Read
was a midshipman in the frigate Pow
hatan, then lying at the port of Vera
Cruz, Mexico. He resigned, and at
once enlisted under the confederate
flag, at the same time consecrating his
whole being to the cause IT represented.
The man was dramatically in earnest.
At this time there was lying at New
Orleans two small steamers, The Gen.
Miramon and the Marcus de Habana;
they both had histories prior TO the
commencement of the war.
The United States sloop of war Sara
toga had captured the pair of them in
1860 in the waters of the Gulf of Mex
leo after a sharp fight in which some
20 men were killed and wounded. She
attacked them because they would not
show their coloTs. They allowed them
selves 10 be attacked because they had
no eolors to show. They belonged TO
the revolutionary general. Miramon-
Both vessels were seized by the
confederacy, the Miramon being called
the McRae. Ii was on board of her
that ''Tacony" Read performed his first
services in the southern navy. l served
as midshipman in this vessel, and
here it was that my intimacy with this
gallant officer began.
While the ship was fitted out as
commerce destroyer at Algiers, oppo-
site New Orleans the energy of Read
seemed almost suDerhuman. He was
intensely earnest in his desire to
commence the work of devastation, for
which the shia was intended.
Physically he was very small and
weak. and almost emaciated in appear
ance, but he possessed a kind of nerN-
Gus strength when aroused by his am
bition or patriotism. whichever it was,
that would have justified a lion in TAX
ing time for consideration before at
lacking him. He was absolutely fear
less His voice was soft and low. al
most effeminate in its tones. but when
clear and above the very broads1des OF
Farragut's famous frigates.
When the McRae was finally made
ready TO run the blockade, Read seemed
10 be continually dancing on not Goals;
every. night, according to his idea was
a good night 10 make the attempt If
the moon shone brightly he expressed
the opinion that opportunities should !
be made.
one day the federal feet took posses
sion of the head of the passes OF the ]
Mississipri. We were now safely bot
tied up.
Commodore HoIlins seized a small |
ram called the Manassas, which had /
been built by private parties on specu-
lation. Lieutenant Marley. executive !
officer of the McRae. was put in COM I
mand of the ram. which by the way
hardly had sufficient power TO stem the /
current of the river.
With this ram. the McRae, eight /
guns: the tow boat Ivy, two guns, and /
the tug Tuscarora, two guns, accom- /
panied by two fireships. in the dark !
ness of the night of the 18th of Octo- [
her. 1861, we attacked the federal feet, (
consisting Of the Richmond, % guns, 4
the Vincennes, Is guns the Preble, 16 (
guns. and the Water Witch, five guns.
Although the Richmond was then one
OF the most formidable war vessels .
afloat, and despite the discrepancy be-
tween our u guns and the 81 of the
enemy. the demonstration vas in every
way as successful as could have been
hoped for The federal fleet was chased