Relieved of Command

My last post looked at the family of Samuel B. Read. I'm now turning to Samuel's Civil War service record. This document shows he entered as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, 8th Kentucky Cavalry on 13 August 1862. He was 40 at the time. According to the service record, he resigned on 28 November 1862 "because of ill health." The service record includes a letter of resignation that provides a bit more background to this request. A commanding general accepted the resignation, stating Read "is by no means an honor to the service and his presence with his company is demoralizing to the men."

Source: Fold3. Civil War Service Record of Samuel B. Read.

Samuel's letter of resignation indicates he had been sick for two months, but he had also served the whole time without pay. The file also shows Samuel's letter was tendered at the request of his commanding officer, who said "it is impossible to have an efficient regiment without effective line officers and this officer is duly insufficient."

It looks like there is a Widow's Pension application on file at the US National Archives. I have not yet had a chance to view this, and may not anytime soon. Descendants of Samuel B. Read and Mariah Utterback Read will certainly want to view this file.

Source: Fold3. Civil War Pension Applications.

Samuel had two other brothers who appear to have served in the Union Army, Isaac Franklin Read and James William Read.