Read's military career began in 1835 when he joined Governor Richard Keith Call's volunteers to fight the Seminole Indians. He was wounded in the Battle of Withlacoochee on December 31, 1835, but recovered and was given command of a batallion of Florida militia that fought the Seminoles again in 1836. He became a a military hero when his battalion rescued 58 volunteers stranded at an outpost on the Withlacoochee River. Read, 27, was appointed by President Andrew Jackson to the rank of brigadier general of the Florida militia in 1836, a post he held until his death in 1841.
Read was shot by Willis Alston in downtown Tallahassee on April 26, 1841 and died the next morning from his wounds. Alston was avenging the death of his brother, Colonel Augustus Alston, who was killed by Read in a duel on December 12, 1839.
Death Report from The Floridian, 01 May 1841:
"It is with deep regret that we announce the death of General Leigh Read. He was murdered in the streets of our city, on Monday morning last, by Willis Alston, who had secreted himself in the dwelling house of Michael Ledwith, a citizen of the town, and as General Read passed by a few yards beyond the door of the house, he stepped out and deliberately shot him twice with a double barrelled gun, loaded with slugs and small pistol bullets. The General lived by a few hours. The jury of the inquest brought in a verdict of willful murder. None doubt that there were accomplices in the act, whom it is to be hoped justice and the law will overtake."
Read was shot by Willis Alston in downtown Tallahassee on April 26, 1841 and died the next morning from his wounds. Alston was avenging the death of his brother, Colonel Augustus Alston, who was killed by Read in a duel on December 12, 1839.
Death Report from The Floridian, 01 May 1841:
"It is with deep regret that we announce the death of General Leigh Read. He was murdered in the streets of our city, on Monday morning last, by Willis Alston, who had secreted himself in the dwelling house of Michael Ledwith, a citizen of the town, and as General Read passed by a few yards beyond the door of the house, he stepped out and deliberately shot him twice with a double barrelled gun, loaded with slugs and small pistol bullets. The General lived by a few hours. The jury of the inquest brought in a verdict of willful murder. None doubt that there were accomplices in the act, whom it is to be hoped justice and the law will overtake."
Read's military career began in 1835 when he joined Governor Richard Keith Call's volunteers to fight the Seminole Indians. He was wounded in the Battle of Withlacoochee on December 31, 1835, but recovered and was given command of a batallion of Florida militia that fought the Seminoles again in 1836. He became a a military hero when his battalion rescued 58 volunteers stranded at an outpost on the Withlacoochee River. Read, 27, was appointed by President Andrew Jackson to the rank of brigadier general of the Florida militia in 1836, a post he held until his death in 1841.
Read was shot by Willis Alston in downtown Tallahassee on April 26, 1841 and died the next morning from his wounds. Alston was avenging the death of his brother, Colonel Augustus Alston, who was killed by Read in a duel on December 12, 1839.
Death Report from The Floridian, 01 May 1841:
"It is with deep regret that we announce the death of General Leigh Read. He was murdered in the streets of our city, on Monday morning last, by Willis Alston, who had secreted himself in the dwelling house of Michael Ledwith, a citizen of the town, and as General Read passed by a few yards beyond the door of the house, he stepped out and deliberately shot him twice with a double barrelled gun, loaded with slugs and small pistol bullets. The General lived by a few hours. The jury of the inquest brought in a verdict of willful murder. None doubt that there were accomplices in the act, whom it is to be hoped justice and the law will overtake."
Read was shot by Willis Alston in downtown Tallahassee on April 26, 1841 and died the next morning from his wounds. Alston was avenging the death of his brother, Colonel Augustus Alston, who was killed by Read in a duel on December 12, 1839.
Death Report from The Floridian, 01 May 1841:
"It is with deep regret that we announce the death of General Leigh Read. He was murdered in the streets of our city, on Monday morning last, by Willis Alston, who had secreted himself in the dwelling house of Michael Ledwith, a citizen of the town, and as General Read passed by a few yards beyond the door of the house, he stepped out and deliberately shot him twice with a double barrelled gun, loaded with slugs and small pistol bullets. The General lived by a few hours. The jury of the inquest brought in a verdict of willful murder. None doubt that there were accomplices in the act, whom it is to be hoped justice and the law will overtake."
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