Coxswain Charles A. Read was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 19, 1864 off Cherbourg, France during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kearsarge. Read was about 27 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Read was born in 1837. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ohio. Read died on May 7, 1865, at the age of about 28. He is buried at Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Read is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served as coxswain on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as the first sponger of the pivot gun during this bitter engagement, Read exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by his divisional officer.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: coxswain
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Timeline
- 1837Born
- June 19, 1864Act of valor — off Cherbourg, FranceAge about 27. U.S.S. Kearsarge
- May 7, 1865DiedAge about 28.
- Resting placeEvergreens CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
Charles A. Read (born Johan A. Linderoth, October 23, 1837 – May 7, 1865) was a Union Navy sailor in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War.
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