Cmdr. Mullany Turns Temporary Command of USS Bienville Over to Lt. Howison

I wrote about J.R.M. Mullany in connection to commanding the USS Oneida at the battle of Mobile Bay  several months ago.  He had been in command of the USS Bienville, but had requested that Farragut assign him to the command of a ship that was to take part in the battle.

From Digital Alabama.

ORDER OF COMMANDER MULLANY TO LIEUTENANT  HOWISON, U.S. NAVY TO ASSUME TEMPORARY COMMAND OF THE U.S.S. BIENVILLE.

U.S.S.Bienville

Off Mobile Bar, Ala., August 3, 1864,

SIR:

Agreeably to  instructions received by me from the admiral.

commanding, you will assume command of this ship, for the present, in my temporary absence.

I am, respectively, your obedient servant,

J.R.M. Mullany,

Commander

Lieutenant H.L. Howison, Executive Officer, U.S.S. Bienville, off Mobile Bar.

--Old B-Runner

J.R.M. Mullany, USN--Part 2: Commanding the USS Bienville and USS Oneida

Prior to the Civil War, Mullany served at sea in almost every part of the globe.

From January until March, 1861, he served on the frigate USS Sabine in the protection of Fort Pickens in Pensacola, Florida.  In April and May of that year, he was in command of the gunboat USS Wyandotte and occupied a position in Pensacola in the rear of Fort Pickens, which was at the time under serious threat of attack.  He also assisted in re-enforcing the fort on April 12, 1861.

He was commissioned commander, 18 October 1861, and assigned to the USS Bienville in the North Atlantic and  West Gulf Squadrons where he remained until April 1862 until May 1865.  Much of that

When Farragut proposed to attack Mobile Bay, Mullany volunteered his services, but Farragut did not consider the Bienville as fit to engage the forts, he was given the command of the steamer USS Oneida. time, he was under threat of enemy fire.

The Oneida was lashed to the former ironclad USS Galena on the side toward Fort Morgan and at the end of the line of ships passing that fort on 5 August 1864.  As such, it was exposed to a very destructive fire from the fort,

Later, the Oneida engaged the Confederate ram CSS Tennessee which was able to rake the wooden ship with its cannons, causing even more damage.

--Old B-Runner

August 21, 1862: Blockade Runner Captured Off Shallotte Inlet, NC

AUGUST 21ST, 1862:  The USS Bienville, Commander Mullany, captured British blockade runner Eliza, bound from Nassau to Shallotte Inlet, North Carolina.

I can't help but chuckle at the story some friends of my mom who lived in the town if Shallotte, NC,  told her about the time they ordered some furniture from a place in Raleigh, NC, and the truck didn't show y\up.  They waited and waited and finally found out that the truck had gone to Charlotte, NC.

Oh, Well.  --Old B-Runner

June 27, 1862: Blockade Runner Modern Greece Chased Ashore in N.C.

JUNE 27TH, 1862:  The USS Bohio, Acting master W.D. Gregory, captured sloop Wave, bound from Mobile to Mississippi City with cargo of flour.

**  USS Bienville, Commander Mullany, captured schooner Morning Star off Wilmington, North Carolina.

**  USS Cambridge, Commander W.A. Parker, chased blockade runner Modern Greece ashore off Fort Fisher, guarding Wilmington, where she was subsequently destroyed with a cargo of gunpowder, rifled cannons and other arms.

The discovery of the wreck in the 1960s kicked off a new age in Underwater Archaeology.

--Old B-Runner

May 29, 1862: Four Blockade Runners Captured

MAY 29TH, 1862:  The USS Keystone State, Commander LeRoy, captured British blockade runner Elizabeth off Charleston.

**  The USS Bienville, Commander Mullany, captured blockade runners Providence, with cargo of salt and cigars, Rebecca, with cargo of salt and La Criolla, with cargo of provisions, off Charleston.

That made a total of four blockade runners captured off Charleston in one day.

In the case of the Bienville, this made five blockade runners captured since May 24.  Not a bad haul of prize money.

--Old B-Runner

May 27, 1862: USS Bienville Seizes a Blockade Runner in South Carolina

MAY 27, 1862:  The USS Bienville, Commander Mullany, seized blockade running British steamer Patras off Bull's Island, South Carolina with cargo of powder and arms.

--Old B-Runner

May 24, 1862: USS Bienville Captures a Blockade Runner

MAY 24TH, 1862:  The USS Bienville, Commander Mullany, captured British blockade runner Stettin off Charleston, S.C..

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, December 11, 1861: Action in Florida and Louisiana

DECEMBER 11TH, 1861:  The USS Bienville, Commander Steedman, captured schooner Sarah and Caroline off St. John's River, Florida.

**  The USS South Carolina, Commander Alden, captured Confederate sloop Florida off the lighthouse at Timbalier, Louisiana.

--Old B-Runner

Action at Galveston Harbor

FEBRUARY 7TH, 1865:  Boat expedition from USS Bienville, assisted by a cutter from the USS Princess Royal, entered Galveston Harbor, Texas, silently at night intending to board and destroy the blockade runner Wren.  Because of "the strong current and wind...' and the near approach of daylight", the daring men were unable to reach the Wren, but did board and take the schooners Pet and Annie Sophia, both laden with cotton.

--Old B-Runner