As he sailed north, Read had his men build wooden ‘quaker’ guns to complement the single howitzer he had aboard. In the next several days, Read’s ship captured the schooner Alfred H. Partridge and the brig Mary Alvina. He also learned, from captured prisoners and papers, that Hampton Roads was too heavily guarded to make any attempt to capture Union ships stationed near Fort Monroe. Read then determined to cruise along the coast and try to capture a Union transport and with her to carry out his original mission. Along the Virginia Capes at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, he captured the bark Tacony and the schooner M.A. Shindler. Realizing that the Tacony was a much better sailing ship than the Clarence, Read switched vessels. While in the process of transferring his men and equipment, the schooner Kate Stewart appeared. Read aimed one of the ‘quaker’ guns at the Union vessel and captured her as well. After capturing and bonding the brig Arabella, Read’s presence became known to the U.S. Navy, and orders were quickly sent to Admiral S. Phillips Lee, commanding the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and to the commandants of the Boston, New York, and Philadelphia navy-yards, to capture the Confederate "pirate."
Within three days of receiving the news, thirty-two armed U.S. naval vessels were out on the high seas in search of the Tacony. Meanwhile, Read continued along the Atlantic coast and captured and burned the brig Umpire, the packet-ship Isaac Webb (with 750 European immigrants), the fishing-schooner Micawber, the clipper ship Byzantium, the bark Goodspeed, and the fishing-schooners Marengo, Florence, Elizabeth Ann, Rufus Choate, and Ripple. By the end of June, there were forty-seven armed Union warships scouring the seas for the makeshift C.S. raider. After capturing and bonding several additional vessels, Read changed ships again–this time to the large fishing schooner Archer.
Unfortunately for Lieutenant Read, his luck soon began to change. After cutting out the cutter Caleb Cushing from the harbor at Portland, Maine, several U.S. warships gave chase and quickly tracked down Read and his men. With little usable ammunition, Read was forced to set fire to his ship and surrender.
Lieutenant Charles W. Read’s report:
Secretary Mallory at Richmond, Va.
SIR: June 10th, when off Cape Hatteras, learned that it was impossible to carry out my intentions, as Hampton Roads was doubly guarded and no vessel allowed to enter until thoroughly examined. June 21st captured the bark Tacony, and as she was a better vessel, burned the Clarence, after transferring guns and crew to the Tacony. Between the 12th and 24th of June burned and bonded nineteen sail. On June 25th burned the Tacony and transferred guns and crew to schooner Archer. On the 26th I anchored in the harbor of Portland, Me., and at 1:30 a. m. the following morning boarded and captured the United States revenue cutter Caleb Cushing. Day dawned before the cutter could be got out of the range of the forts, and I was in consequence hindered from firing the shipping in the harbor. At 11 o'clock a.m. when about twenty miles east of Portland light, we were attacked by two large steamers and three tugs. After expending all of our ammunition, I blew up the cutter and surrendered in small boats. I will report to you more fully when I return to the Confederacy.
C.W. READ, 2d Lieut, C.S.N.3
At the age of 16, Read entered the U.S. Naval Academy, and in 1860 he graduated last in his class after earning demerits for “fighting, swearing, failure to pass inspection, and other infractions.” One classmate described him as someone who “would attempt anything but study.”4 During his time in Annapolis, Maryland, Read was given the nickname ‘Savez,” for his inability to learn French. At the start of the war he resigned from the U.S. Navy and joined the fledgling C.S. Navy as a midshipman aboard the C.S.S. McRae.
Within three days of receiving the news, thirty-two armed U.S. naval vessels were out on the high seas in search of the Tacony. Meanwhile, Read continued along the Atlantic coast and captured and burned the brig Umpire, the packet-ship Isaac Webb (with 750 European immigrants), the fishing-schooner Micawber, the clipper ship Byzantium, the bark Goodspeed, and the fishing-schooners Marengo, Florence, Elizabeth Ann, Rufus Choate, and Ripple. By the end of June, there were forty-seven armed Union warships scouring the seas for the makeshift C.S. raider. After capturing and bonding several additional vessels, Read changed ships again–this time to the large fishing schooner Archer.
Unfortunately for Lieutenant Read, his luck soon began to change. After cutting out the cutter Caleb Cushing from the harbor at Portland, Maine, several U.S. warships gave chase and quickly tracked down Read and his men. With little usable ammunition, Read was forced to set fire to his ship and surrender.
Lieutenant Charles W. Read’s report:
Secretary Mallory at Richmond, Va.
SIR: June 10th, when off Cape Hatteras, learned that it was impossible to carry out my intentions, as Hampton Roads was doubly guarded and no vessel allowed to enter until thoroughly examined. June 21st captured the bark Tacony, and as she was a better vessel, burned the Clarence, after transferring guns and crew to the Tacony. Between the 12th and 24th of June burned and bonded nineteen sail. On June 25th burned the Tacony and transferred guns and crew to schooner Archer. On the 26th I anchored in the harbor of Portland, Me., and at 1:30 a. m. the following morning boarded and captured the United States revenue cutter Caleb Cushing. Day dawned before the cutter could be got out of the range of the forts, and I was in consequence hindered from firing the shipping in the harbor. At 11 o'clock a.m. when about twenty miles east of Portland light, we were attacked by two large steamers and three tugs. After expending all of our ammunition, I blew up the cutter and surrendered in small boats. I will report to you more fully when I return to the Confederacy.
C.W. READ, 2d Lieut, C.S.N.3
At the age of 16, Read entered the U.S. Naval Academy, and in 1860 he graduated last in his class after earning demerits for “fighting, swearing, failure to pass inspection, and other infractions.” One classmate described him as someone who “would attempt anything but study.”4 During his time in Annapolis, Maryland, Read was given the nickname ‘Savez,” for his inability to learn French. At the start of the war he resigned from the U.S. Navy and joined the fledgling C.S. Navy as a midshipman aboard the C.S.S. McRae.