Confederate Corsair: The Life of Lt. Charles W. "Savez" Read

By Robert A. Jones

Book Overview

Lieutenant Charles W 'Savez' Read's life was one of swashbuckling adventure and dazzling escapes. Yet very little has been known about him until recently. Robert A. Jones has tracked down all available sources on this Confederate privateer-including unpublished material from Read's grandchildren -- and written an exciting biography that reveals the impact of naval power on the Civil War. For example, while the North's navy projected its force at will, the South chose hit-and-run tactics that slowly bled the North's resources, as many of Read's exploits will show.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811715329
• ISBN13: 9780811715324
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books (2000)
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.1" x 1.0" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Sea Power

This book is an excellent source of information for anyone with an interest either in the American Civil War or in warfare in general. For the casual reader, one can find interest in the stories of Read's early career and of his swashbuckling adventures. To the historian, one can find interesting insight into the importance of sea power, during the Civil War. This concept has a sort of Alfred Thayer Mahan ring to it, who wrote about sea power as important to nations during the nineteenth century.

Confederate Naval Hero - at Last!

Admiral Dewey said "America never produced a navy officer more worthy of a place in history" and thanks to Jones he has it and we've got a great book to read! Read captured over 20 union ships and burned most of them - he was captured once, made several nearly successful escape attempts, and at one point had over 30 Union ships at sea just to try to stop him. The main part of the book reads like an action novel, but it's all real - as he moves from river warfare to commerce raiding and back, but it has a detailed, 23 page section of notes and an 11 page bibliography. So you'll learn a lot about the naval side of the war, and lots of information is there for those doing research - but read it first for the story - you'll love it!

THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE !

======**Hey, SOMEBODY [Ted Turner maybe?] ought to make a MOVIE out of this! ** ======Lt. Read's true story, captured in this well-documented & very readable biography, has All the earmarks of a great, action-packed adventure! -- This Civil War "sea story" has everything: Lt. Read graduated last in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy; he fought on the Mississippi River in various ships, including an ironclad; he raided as far north as Portland, Maine; he was a prisoner of war & made multiple escape attempts... What a fantastic story line for a movie! But this is all true! This is a very well-written account of a heroic figure, and it's one that will hold you in suspense! (...other than the fact that you already know how the war turned out.)Bravo, Robert A. Jones!... I like your book! ======