An Old War of 1812 Hero
Carte de visite by Rehn and Hurn of Philadelphia, Pa. In late August 1862, with the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Maryland Campaign on the near horizon, an old sailor died in Philadelphia. And with his passing the nation lost a War of 1812 hero—George Campbell Read.
Born in Ireland in 1787 or 1788, Read came to America as a boy and joined the Navy as a midshipman in 1804. By 1809 he had advanced to lieutenant and joined Capt. Isaac Hull and the crew of the Constitution, the first of three tours of duty on the famed frigate. During his second tour in 1812, he played a key role in the victory over the 38-gun frigate HMS Guerriere. Fought in the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Nova Scotia on Aug. 19, 1812, the battle of broadsides and raking shot eventually brought the frigates within boarding range. Acclaimed American writer James Fenimore Cooper described what happened next in his "History of the Navy of the United States" (1847):
"As the vessels touched both parties prepared to board. The English turned all hands up from below, and mustered forward with that object, while Mr. Morris, the first lieutenant, Mr. Alwyn, the master, and Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines, sprang upon the taffrail of the Constitution, with a similar intention. Both sides now suffered by the closeness of the musketry; the English much the most, however. Mr. Morris was shot through the body, but maintained his post, the bullet fortunately missing the vitals. Mr. Alwyn was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr. Bush fell dead, by a bullet through the head. It being found impossible for either party to board, in the face of such a fire, and with the heavy sea that was on, the sails were filled, and just as the Constitution shot ahead, the fore-mast of the enemy fell, carrying down with it his main-mast, and leaving him wallowing in the trough of the sea, a helpless wreck."
Cooper continued: "The Constitution now hauled aboard her tacks, ran off a short distance, secured her masts, and rove new rigging. At seven, she wore round, and taking a favourable position for raking, a jack that had been kept flying on the stump of the mizen-mast of the enemy, was lowered. Mr. George Campbell Read, the third lieutenant, was sent on board the prize, and the boat soon returned with the report that the captured vessel was the Guerriere, 38, Capt. Dacres, one of the ships that had so lately chased the Constitution off New York."
Read left the Constitution soon after with order to join Capt. Stephen Decatur and the crew of the frigate United States. On Oct. 25, 1812, 500 miles south of the Azores, the United States attacked the HMS Macedonian and compelled it to surrender after intense combat. The American vessel's superior firepower left the British ship dismasted and its crew with heavy casualties.
In the space of three months, Read had participated in two major naval victories. A grateful government awarded him Congressional silver medals.
Read went on to travel the globe on numerous adventures as a naval officer. One of his cruises is documented in "Around the World: a narrative of a voyage in the East India Squadron, under Commodore George C. Read" (1840). Notable stateside duties include his position as presiding officer of the midshipman's examining board in the mid-1840s, which approved the establishment and organization of the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
In 1855, Read joined the reserve list after more than four decades of service. He is pictured here in full dress uniform, gloves in hand, his chapeau and sword resting on the photographer's column, about 1861. At this time he served as head of the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia. He retired as rear admiral on July 31, 1862, and passed away less than a month later at about age 74.
I encourage you to use this image for educational purposes only. However, please ask for permission.
Carte de visite, civil war, Rehn and Hurn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, George, Campbell, Read, navy, naval, asylum, war of 1812, constitution, United States, hull, Decatur, British, frigate, Guerriere, Macedonian, congress, silver, medal, James, Fenimore, Cooper, 1862
An Old War of 1812 Hero
Carte de visite by Rehn and Hurn of Philadelphia, Pa. In late August 1862, with the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Maryland Campaign on the near horizon, an old sailor died in Philadelphia. And with his passing the nation lost a War of 1812 hero—George Campbell Read.
Born in Ireland in 1787 or 1788, Read came to America as a boy and joined the Navy as a midshipman in 1804. By 1809 he had advanced to lieutenant and joined Capt. Isaac Hull and the crew of the Constitution, the first of three tours of duty on the famed frigate. During his second tour in 1812, he played a key role in the victory over the 38-gun frigate HMS Guerriere. Fought in the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles southeast of Nova Scotia on Aug. 19, 1812, the battle of broadsides and raking shot eventually brought the frigates within boarding range. Acclaimed American writer James Fenimore Cooper described what happened next in his "History of the Navy of the United States" (1847):
"As the vessels touched both parties prepared to board. The English turned all hands up from below, and mustered forward with that object, while Mr. Morris, the first lieutenant, Mr. Alwyn, the master, and Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines, sprang upon the taffrail of the Constitution, with a similar intention. Both sides now suffered by the closeness of the musketry; the English much the most, however. Mr. Morris was shot through the body, but maintained his post, the bullet fortunately missing the vitals. Mr. Alwyn was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr. Bush fell dead, by a bullet through the head. It being found impossible for either party to board, in the face of such a fire, and with the heavy sea that was on, the sails were filled, and just as the Constitution shot ahead, the fore-mast of the enemy fell, carrying down with it his main-mast, and leaving him wallowing in the trough of the sea, a helpless wreck."
Cooper continued: "The Constitution now hauled aboard her tacks, ran off a short distance, secured her masts, and rove new rigging. At seven, she wore round, and taking a favourable position for raking, a jack that had been kept flying on the stump of the mizen-mast of the enemy, was lowered. Mr. George Campbell Read, the third lieutenant, was sent on board the prize, and the boat soon returned with the report that the captured vessel was the Guerriere, 38, Capt. Dacres, one of the ships that had so lately chased the Constitution off New York."
Read left the Constitution soon after with order to join Capt. Stephen Decatur and the crew of the frigate United States. On Oct. 25, 1812, 500 miles south of the Azores, the United States attacked the HMS Macedonian and compelled it to surrender after intense combat. The American vessel's superior firepower left the British ship dismasted and its crew with heavy casualties.
In the space of three months, Read had participated in two major naval victories. A grateful government awarded him Congressional silver medals.
Read went on to travel the globe on numerous adventures as a naval officer. One of his cruises is documented in "Around the World: a narrative of a voyage in the East India Squadron, under Commodore George C. Read" (1840). Notable stateside duties include his position as presiding officer of the midshipman's examining board in the mid-1840s, which approved the establishment and organization of the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
In 1855, Read joined the reserve list after more than four decades of service. He is pictured here in full dress uniform, gloves in hand, his chapeau and sword resting on the photographer's column, about 1861. At this time he served as head of the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia. He retired as rear admiral on July 31, 1862, and passed away less than a month later at about age 74.
I encourage you to use this image for educational purposes only. However, please ask for permission.
Carte de visite, civil war, Rehn and Hurn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, George, Campbell, Read, navy, naval, asylum, war of 1812, constitution, United States, hull, Decatur, British, frigate, Guerriere, Macedonian, congress, silver, medal, James, Fenimore, Cooper, 1862