Confederate Corsair [Hardcover]

Robert Alun Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

16-page b/w photo section 5 maps 6 x 9 "Confederate Corsair: The Life of Lt. Charles W. "Savez" Read is must reading for anyone savoring naval warfare and tales of derring-do. Read has long merited a biography, and Robert A. Jones has met and mastered the challenge in an exemplary manner that readers will applaud." -Edwin C. Bearss Historian Emeritus, National Park Service 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 Robert A. Jones has tracked down all available sources on this Confederate privateer-including unpublished material from Read's grandchildren-and written an exciting biography that reveals the impact of naval power on the Civil War.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. Robert A. Jones holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and has been employed by the Department of the Navy for 33 years. He provided historical background research for a 1970 proposal to the Smithsonian Institution for the salvage of the USS Tecumseh and recently published an article on the salvage of the CSS Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811715329
• ISBN-13: 978-0811715324
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,286,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sea Power, August 17, 2000

By 

Gordon Hartogensis (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confederate Corsair (Hardcover)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confederate Naval Hero - at Last!, July 29, 2000

By 

Jim Claffey (Annapolis, Md) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confederate Corsair (Hardcover)

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE !, July 19, 2000

By 

Clarence (Sterling, Virginia -- USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confederate Corsair (Hardcover)

======

**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!

======