Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/115

Rh der Capt. John Wilkinson, C. S. N. She made a short cruise, during which she captured 7 vessels.

The brig Clarence was captured by the Florida and commissioned under Lieut. C. W. Read, C. S. N., on May 6, 1863. Read proceeded to the coast of the United States, and made his first prize off Cape Hatteras, the bark Whistling Wind. He next took and burned the Kate Stewart, Mary Alvina and Mary Schindler, and bonded the Alfred H. Partridge. He then took the Tacony and transferred his flag to her, burning the Clarence. In the Tacony he sailed along the coast of New England, capturing and burning 15 vessels. On June 25, 1863, he transferred to the prize schooner Archer, burning the Tacony. On the 27th he entered the harbor of Portland, Me., and cut out the revenue cutter Caleb Gushing. He got out with his prize, but the enemy sent out an overwhelming force and recaptured her, making prisoners of Read and his companions, who were sent to Fort Warren. Read, whose name occurs so frequently in these pages, was soon after exchanged. He was unquestionably one of the greatest naval officers the country has ever produced.

The Olustee was the steamer Chickamauga. She sailed from Wilmington, October 29, 1864, under the command of Lieut. William H. Ward, C. S. N. Ward made a short cruise on the coast, capturing some seven prizes, and returned to Wilmington about November 7th.

The Stonewall was the ironclad ram Sphynx. She was built in France, sold to Denmark, and transferred by that country to Capt. Thomas Jefferson Page, C. S. N. Page took her to the appointed rendezvous off Quiberon, where she was met by the steamer City of Richmond with stores. She was commissioned January 24, 1865, with the following list of officers: Capt. T. J. Page; Lieuts. Robert R. Carter, George S. Shryock, George A. Borchert, E. G. Read, and Samuel Barren, Jr. ; Surg. B. W. Green; Asst. Surg. J. W. Herty; Paymaster