Monday, October 1, 2012

Landsman Naylor Wins Medal of Honor at Battle of Mobile Bay

From the June 2, 2012, Westerly (RI) Sun "Not an ordinary seaman: Naylor showed bravery at Mobile Bay" by Sam Simons.

David Naylor was carrying black powder charges from the ship's magazine to the 30-pdr Parrott gun as "Red hot pieces of metal, wooden splinters and sparks flew around the young Navy recruit, while steam screamed from a direct hit on one of the boilers.  Ahead, the ironclad CSS Tennessee was bearing down."  This was the August 5, 1864, Battle of Mobile Bay and the Union fleet was passing by Confederate Fort Morgan in an extremely hot fight. 

Naylor's ship, the USS Oneida was at the back of the 14 wooden ship Union line and lashed to the USS Galena (formerly an ironclad, but now stripped of its ineffective armor).  As it passed the fort, it became a particular target and the shells flew.  The one that hit the ship's boiler had scalded seven men to death.

The ship's commander, J.R.M. Mullaney was mortally wounded.

Naylor was using a passing box when it was knocked out of his hands and overboard by an explosion.  The passing box is designed to protect the black powder charges from sparks as it is being moved.  Definitely something you want in this situation.  He saw that it had landed on one of the Galena's boats.

Lt. Charles Huntington had taken command of the Oneida and reported that Naylor "jumped overboard, recovered his boz and returned to his station."

Fir this action, Naylor was awarded the Medal of Honor.  He survived the war and was eventually buried in Westerly's Riverbend Cemetery.

A Brave Lad.  --Old B-R'er

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