1860s CIVIL WAR CDV PHOTO OF US NAVY OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION USS NEW LONDON KIA

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Very rare and original, 1860's CDV Photograph of United States Navy Civil War Lieutenant Commander Abner Read who died of wounds received during an engagement with Confederate forces on the Mississippi River near Donaldsonville, Louisiana.This very rare, period, albumen CDV Photograph measures approx. 2 1/8" by 3 3/8" and is mounted on its original, square corner CDV Card Mount (card measures approx 2 3/8" by 3 5/8").This wonderful, vignette bust portrait pictures Read wearing the uniform of a U.S. Navy officer. A period inscription on the recto reads simply "Abner Reed(sic) Killed" and a later notation on the reverse reads "Lt. Comd Abner Read".Abner Read (5 April 1821 - 7 July 1863) was an officer of the United States Navy who distinguished himself in the American Civil War. He died of injuries sustained while patrolling the Mississippi River, in command of the USS New London. At the time of his death, he had attained the rank of lieutenant commander. The destroyers USS Abner Read (DD-526) and USS Abner Read (DD-769) were named for himBorn in Urbana, Ohio, Read was appointed midshipman in 1839. After serving aboard the USS Enterprise and the USS Delaware, in 1844 he attended the naval school at Philadelphia and was promoted to passed midshipman. After serving around the world on various ships, now Lieutenant Abner Read took command of the USS New London when she was commissioned at New York on 29 October 1861. The New London was assigned to the Gulf Squadron. In the ensuing months the USS New London took over 30 prizes. Read was promoted to lieutenant commander on 16 July 1862, and on 18 April 1863, he led a boat expedition which landed near the lighthouse at Sabine Pass. It was attacked by a large force of Confederate troops who had been hiding behind the light keeper's house. All but one member of Read's crew were wounded as they raced back to their boat and rowed to New London. Read himself suffered a serious gunshot wound of the eye. Yet, despite his painful injury, he remained on duty until New London returned to New Orleans, Louisiana, late in May for repairs.While work on New London was still in progress Read was detached from her on 22 June and ordered to relieve Captain Melancton Smith in command of the USS Monongahela. Six days later his new ship headed up the Mississippi River to defend Donaldsonville, Louisiana, which was then being threatened by Southern troops. As its beleaguered riparian fortresses at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Port Hudson were about to slip from its grasp, the Confederacy was struggling desperately to maintain some hold on the river. Read's ship spent the ensuing days patrolling the Mississippi between Donaldsonville and New Orleans. On the morning of 7 July 1863, Southern forces opened fire on the ship with artillery and musketry when she was about ten miles below Donaldsonville. A shell smashed through the bulwarks on her port quarter wounding Read in his abdomen and his right knee. He was taken to a hospital at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he died on the evening of the next day. Admiral Farragut and the other officers of the squadron were lavish in praise of their fallen comrade. The admiral said that Read had "...perhaps done as much fighting as any man in this war.... The very mention of his name", Farragut maintained, "was a source of terror to the rebels." On another occasion, the Admiral said, "I know nothing of him prejudicial as a man, but I do know that no Navy can boast a better officer and I deem him a great loss both to the Navy and to his country."This very rare and original, CDV Portrait of Civil War Union Navy Lieutenant Commander Abner Read is in very good condition. The focus is sharp and the contrast and tonality good although the image is a bit light. Both the Photo and the Card Mount are clean and crisp but the mount has been trimmed on the bottom edge.A very rare and original, 1860's CDV Photograph of United States Navy Civil War Lieutenant Commander Abner Read who died of wounds received during an engagement with Confederate forces on th... read more

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