Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/105

Rh to surrender. Upon laying down their arms, the Federal soldiers "cheered them long and vigorously."

The last exploit of the Confederate navy was the attempt of Lieut. C. W. Read to run the gauntlet at New Orleans and proceed to sea, in the ram Webb. Leaving Shreveport, La., April 16, 1865, Read steamed down the Mississippi river, regulating his speed so as to pass the forts at the mouth of the river at night. The Webb dashed through the Federal fleet at New Orleans on the afternoon of the 24th, receiving a few shots which did her no damage, and steamed for the mouth of the river at the rate of twenty knots per hour. Several of the enemy's gunboats were now in pursuit Some twenty miles below the city the heavy sloop-of-war Richmond was encountered, and not being able to pass her broadside, Read ran the Webb on shore and burned her. He then surrendered himself and crew to the officers in command of the United States gunboats Hollyhock and Florida. This brilliant exploit of Lieutenant Read was a fitting climax to his previous career.