USS ''Commodore Read'' was a former ferry acquired by the Union Navy for use during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. Because of her shallow draft, she was useful for patrols in rivers and streams. And, because of her

ferryboat A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus. ...

structure, she was useful as a gun platform or for carrying passengers or prisoners.

Service history

''Commodore Read'' – formerly the ferryboat ''Atlantic'' – was built in 1857 and purchased by the Navy at

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on 19 August 1863; fitted out at

New York Navy Yard The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York, U.S. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a semicircular bend ...

; and commissioned on 8 September 1863,

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E. S. Turner in command. The ship was named in honor of Commodore George C. Read. Assigned to duty with the

Potomac Flotilla The Potomac Flotilla, also called the Potomac Squadron, was a unit of the United States Navy created in the early days of the American Civil War to secure Union communications in the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and their tributaries, and to ...

, she put to sea on 12 September 1863, arriving at

Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is a ceremonial and administrative center for the United States Navy, located in the federal national capital city of Washington, D.C. (federal District of Columbia). It is the oldest shore establishment / base of ...

three days later. The ship was constantly employed in the rivers and creeks of

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, on picket and patrol duty; transporting troops and

prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

; towing vessels; capturing and destroying enemy boats and other property; and engaging in frequent action with

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cavalry, shore batteries, and ships. Typical of her service was an expedition to

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from 6–8 March 1865, when she joined , , and to cooperate with the Army in the destruction of Hamilton's Crossing. The expedition, commanded by

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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. Arriving at the Washington Navy Yard on 30 May, ''Commodore Read'' was sold there on 20 July.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Commodore Read Ships of the Union Navy Steamships of the United States Navy Gunboats of the United States Navy American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States