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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Commodore Read

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Steamer Ferryboat:
  • Built in 1857 as the ferryboat Atlantic, location unknown
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Purchased for the Navy by RADM. H. Paulding, 19 August 1863, at New York, N.Y.
  • Fitted out at New York Navy Yard
  • Commissioned USS Commodore Read, 8 September 1863, Acting Master E. S. Turner in command.
  • Assigned to duty with the Potomac Flotilla, she put to sea on 12 September 1863, arriving at Washington Navy Yard 3 days later
  • Commodore Read was active in the rivers and creeks of Virginia, on picket and patrol duty; transporting troops and prisoners of war; towing vessels; capturing and destroying enemy boats and other property; and engaging in frequent action with Confederate cavalry, shore batteries, and ships
  • Typical of her service was an expedition to Fredericksburg, Va., from 6 to 8 March 1865, when she joined USS Yankee, USS Delaware, and USS Heliotrope to cooperate with the Army in the destruction of Hamilton's Crossing. The expedition, commanded by Colonel Roberts on board Commodore Read, destroyed the railroad depot and bridge, 28 loaded railway cars, an army wagon train, miles of railroad track, and telegraph equipment, as well as capturing 30 prisoners, tobacco, bales of cotton, 28 mules, and mail.
  • Commodore Read returned to the Washington Navy Yard 30 May 1865
  • Decommissioned, date unknown at Washington Navy Yard
  • Sold 20 July 1865
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 650 t.
    Length 179'
    Beam 33'6"
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft 6'3"
    Speed unknown
    Complement 84
    Armament
    two 100-pdr Parrott rifles
    four 24-pdr smoothbores (replaced by four IX-in Dahlgren Parrott rifles, 1 October 1864)
    Propulsion
    one walking beam steam engine, cylinder diameter 45", stroke 11"
    two sidewheels
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    Commodore Read
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 10 June 2022