▁Charles ▁Read ▁( born ▁ 1 8 4 0 , ▁date ▁of ▁death ▁unknown ) ▁was ▁a ▁Union ▁Navy ▁sail or ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁and ▁a ▁recip ient ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military ' s ▁highest ▁decor ation , ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor , ▁for ▁his ▁actions ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Natural ▁Bridge . ▁ ▁Born ▁in ▁ 1 8 4 0 ▁in ▁Cambridge , ▁New ▁York , ▁Read ▁joined ▁the ▁Navy ▁from ▁that ▁state . ▁By ▁March ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 , ▁he ▁was ▁serving ▁as ▁an ▁ordinary ▁se aman ▁on ▁the ▁. ▁On ▁that ▁day ▁and ▁the ▁next , ▁he ▁accompanied ▁a ▁Union ▁Army ▁force ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Natural ▁Bridge ▁near ▁St . ▁Mark s , ▁Florida . ▁He ▁helped ▁transport ▁and ▁fire ▁a ▁naval ▁how itzer ▁throughout ▁the ▁eng agement ▁despite ▁heavy ▁Confeder ate ▁fire . ▁For ▁this ▁action , ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁three ▁months ▁later , ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 . ▁He ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁six ▁sail ors ▁to ▁receive ▁the ▁medal ▁for ▁man ning ▁art illery ▁pieces ▁during ▁the ▁battle , ▁the ▁others ▁being ▁Land s man ▁John ▁S . ▁L ann , ▁Se aman ▁John ▁Mack , ▁Se aman ▁George ▁Py ne , ▁C ox sw ain ▁George ▁Sch utt , ▁and ▁Se aman ▁Thomas ▁Smith . ▁ ▁Read ' s ▁official ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁c itation ▁is ▁as ▁follows : ▁As ▁se aman ▁on ▁board ▁the