CSS City of Vicksburg-- Part 1

Another ship involved with the saga of the USS Queen of the West was the Confederate ship named the CSS City of Vicksburg and also referred to as the CSS Vicksburg.

From Wikipedia.

It was built in 1857 at New Albany, Indiana, and was home ported at New Orleans.  With the coming of the war, she was seized and converted for military operations of the Mississippi River. By 19 February, she was reported to have carried cannons upriver to forts above Memphis.

In May 1862, she was carrying troops to defend Natchez, Mississippi, only to find five Union ships before the city, but was warned just in time and managed to escape.  One shop, the USS Oneida, pursued her upriver, but the Vicksburg got away.

Later in 1862, she was spotted on the Black River probably carrying Confederate troops and supplies.

--Old B-R'er

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 at Battle of Mobile Bay-- Part 4: The End of the Battle

The fight for Mobile Bay was soon over at this point.  With the USS Oneida and USS Galena out of action,  the rest of Farragut's fleet took the CSS Gaines and CSS Salma out of action and then concentrated on the Confederate ironclad CSS Tennessee.  

Ramming the ship failed to stop it, but the concentrated fore of the heavy guns of the three remaining monitors eventually put  the Tennessee out of action and a gravely wounded Buchanan was forced to surrender.

The USS Galena finished out her days quietly.  After three months of duty with the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and four months of repairs,  it returned to  river duty in the Eastern Theater, where its career had begun as an ironclad.

In 1872, a decade after her launch in Mystic, Connecticut, the ironclad-turned-gunboat  was broken up at Norfolk Navy Yard.

--Old B-Runner

J.R.M. Mullany at Battle of Mobile Bay-- Part 3: A Regular Pounding

Weighing the risk of remaining where they were under fire of Fort Morgan or proceeding and taking chances with the Confederate torpedoes (Mines), Farragut too the lead, supposedly uttered his famous quote, "Damn the torpedoes!  Full speed ahead.'  The USS Hartford surged ahead and the other ships in his line followed.

At the rear of the column, Commander J.R.M. Mullany's USS Oneida was the ship on the Fort Morgan side of the USS Galena.  As it was now the closest ship, the fort turned its fire on it.  It suffered severe damage to its steering gear and several fires broke out below decks.

The two ships were almost out of range of the fort, when a 7-inch rifle shell passed through the  chain armor on the ship's side and exploded in the starboard boiler at the water line.  Nearly all of the  below decks were scalded to death by escaping steam.

Within an hour the Oneida had lost  the use of at least two of its guns and a shot from the CSS Tennessee knocked out a third and severely wounded  Mullany.

Fortunately at this stage of the battle, Farragut's ironclads had driven the Tennessee back and saved both the Oneida and Galena from further mauling.

Commander Clark Wells of the Galena used his powerful  800-hp engine to move the much heavier Oneida to deeper and safer waters.

--Old B-Runner

August 5, This Date in Civil War Naval History: Farragut and the USS Monitor

From the August 5, 2021, Chicago Tribune.

These two things were of significant importance to the Civil War Navis.

**  1864:  

Admiral David Farragut is said to have given his famous order, "Damn the torpedoes!  Full speed ahead!" as he led the Union fleet against Confederate forces in Alabama's Mobile Bay.

Of course, I have been writing about two other naval officers who were at this battle:  Charles V. Gridley and J.R.M. Mullany, although neither would have heard the admiral's utterance as they were at the end of the line on the USS Oneida.

**  2002:  

The coral-encrusted gun turret of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor was raised form the floor of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

Mrs. Mullany Applies for Pension Increase-- Part 2: Those Horrible Wounds at the Battle of Mobile Bay

Of those forty-seven years of active service, over twenty-three years were spent on sea duty, and during twenty  years more, he was detailed on other important service.

At the Battle of Mobile, August 5, 1864,  he was placed in command of the Oneida by Admiral Farragut, and during the encounter his vessel, being in the rear of the line, was exposed to an exceptionally sever fire from Fort Morgan and the vessels of the enemy.

While in the gallant discharge of his duty, Commander Mullany was wounded severely  in several places; one of the wounds necessitated  the immediate amputation of his left arm; another fragment of shell struck him in the back, remaining embedded there until his death; while still another shattered  his shoulder blade, causing him serious  permanent  trouble.

Your committee, in consideration of  the long term of service of Rear Admiral Mullany and his exceptionally  active duties during this time, recommend the passage of the bill which is herewith submitted.

Hope Mrs. Mullany Got the Increase.  

--Old B-Runner

J.R.M. Mullany-- Part 3: Arm Amputation and War Service

During the Battle of Mobile, the USS Oneida was one of the hardest-hit Union ships.  One shot inflicted a severe loss of the ship and wounded  Mullany in several places.  One of those wounds resulted in the amputation of his left arm.

From April to September 1863, Mullany had commanded a division of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and during the course of the war, he captured eleven blockade runners of a great aggregate value, and, in addition, cut out, with boats, two schooners laden with cotton in the harbor of Galveston, Texas..  

From May 1865 to May 1868, he was  inspector in charge of ordnance  in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Commissioned captain in 1866, and was one of the  board of visitors to the U.S. Navy Academy at Annapolis in 1868.  Then, from December 1868 to November 1871, he commanded he USS Richmond on the European Station

--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

J.R.M. Mullany, USN-- Part 1: Gridley's Commander at the Battle of Mobile Bay

The commander of the USS Oneida, on which eight men received Medals of Honor and Charles Gridley received highest accolades at the Battle of Mobile Bay was this man.

I had never heard of him before so did some research.

From the USS Mullany site.

The USS Mullany (DD-528)was a Fletcher-class destroyer that served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1971 when it was sold to Taiwan.  It was the second ship named  for  Rear Admiral  James Robert Madison Mullany.

********************************

James Robert Madison Mullany was a U.S. Navy officer born in New York City on 26 October  1818 and died  in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on 17 September 1887.

He was the son of  Colonel James R. Mullany, Quarter Master general of the U.S. Army and entered the Navy as a midshipman from New Jersey, 7 January 1832.

He was promoted passed midshipman on 23 June 1838, and lieutenant 29 February 1844.

Mullany was actively engaged in the Mexican War and took part in the capture of  Tobasco in June 1847.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on Charles V. Gridley-- Part 2: Service at the Battle of Mobile Bay

During the Battle of Mobile Bay, Gridley was placed  all of the way forward on the USS Oneida, where he could watch the channel for  mines and gave steering directions to   the ship's commander,  Cmdr.  J.R.M. Mullany.  During the action,  the Oneida had eight men killed and thirty wounded, including its commander.

Though a shell hit close to Gridley, he was unscathed.

The Oneida was lashed to the USS Galena and in the rear of the line of battle and came under fire of both Fort Morgan and the Confederate ram CSS Tennessee.  One shot in particular did heavy damage to the Oneida and wounded its commander in several places, causing the amputation of his left arm.

His commanding officer was highly pleased with his actions and wrote:  "The conduct of Acting Ensign  C.V. Gridley is beyond all praise.  He had charge of the  master's division and assisted  in conning the ship from the topgallant forecastle."

Following the war, Gridley was detailed to transport a group of Confederate  prisoners to Texas who had accepted the option of going into exile in Mexico.  On arriving, it was found that the former Confederates would have no way of continuing south, as the bridges across the Rio Grande had been destroyed.  In spite of their being former enemies, Gridley did not abandon his passengers.  he took it upon himself to transport them  across to Mexico.

I am writing about him in my Cooter's History Thing blog right now and continuing with his service in the U.S. Navy after the Civil War.

--Old B-R'er

Some More on Charles V. Gridley-- Part 1

Back in June, I was writing about Charles V. Gridley and his service in the United States Navy, including the Civil War.  He was probably most famous as being the recipient of George Dewey's command, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." at the Battle of Manila Bay which was a huge American victory during the Spanish-American War.

I have come across some more information on his Civil War service and will include it here.

From "The Spanish-American War Centennial Website, Capt. Charles V. "Steve" Gridley.

He was just 16 when appointed to the USNA and graduated in 1864 in the bottom half of his class, which also included future notables Robley Evans and  Charles Sigsbee (who was in command of the USS Maine when it blew up in Havana Harbor).  Both of these men were at the Battles of Fort Fisher.

His first assignment was on the USS Oneida in Farragut's fleet where he got his baptism of fire at the Battle of Mobile Bay.  He would not  experience such a large action again for thirty-four years, at Manila Bay.

--Old B-Runner

Civil War Service of Charles V. Gridley

From the Nation Cyclopaedia.

In 1860, he was appointed from Hillsdale, Michigan, to the United States Naval Academy  by Representative  Henry Waldron.  The opening of the civil War advanced the graduation of the Class of 1864, to which he belonged by one year; and on October 1, 1863, he was appointed ensign and assigned to the steam sloop-of-war USS Oneida, attached to the West Coast Blockading Squadron.

He was in a number of engagements, and while on the Oneida specially distinguished himself at the Battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864.  He was  favorably mentioned in the Oneida's official report of the ship's executive officer:  "The conduct of  acting ensign Charles V. Gridley is beyond all praise.  He had charge of the master's division and assisted in the conning the ship from the gallant forecastle."

At the end of the war,  he was ordered to the steam sloop  USS Brooklyn, flagship of the Brazilian Station.

--Old B-Runner

Find-A-Grave: Charles Vernon Gridley From Mobile Bay to Manila Bay

CAPTAIN CHARLESVERNON GRIDLEY

BIRTH:  24 November 1844,  Logansport, Indiana

DEATH:  5 June 1898, Kobe, Japan

BURIAL:  Lakeside Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania

United States Naval Officer.  Am 1864 graduate of the USNA. (which had temporarily moved to Newport, Rhode Island during the Civil War for safety), he served as acting ensign on board the USS Oneida at the August 5, 1864, Battle of Mobile Bay.

By the time of the Spanish-American War in 1898, he had risen to the rank of captain, and was in command of the USS Olympia during the May 1, 1898, Battle of Manila Bay.  The Olympia served as the American Asiatic Squadron's commander  George Dewey's flagship.

At the start of the battle, he  commanded Captain Gridley to commence his bombardment on the Spanish ships with the words: You may fire when ready, Gridley."  The phrase, widely reported in American newspapers, became a popular catch-phrase of the time.

Captain Gridley would die a month later after an illness on board a different ship while it was anchored off Kobe, Japan.

--Old B-Runner

Charles V. Gridley-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

CHARLES VERNON GRIDLEY

(24 November  1844 - 5 June 1898) 

Officer in the U.S. Navy in the Civil War and Spanish-American War.

He was born to  Frank and Ann Eliza (Stokes)  Gridley in Logansport, Indiana, and his parents moved to Hillside, Michigan, when he was three months old.

After attending  Hillside College, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1860.  He reported for duty with his class in 1863, joining the crew of the sloop-of-war USS Oneida with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.  

He distinguished himself at the Battle of Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864.

After the war, he stayed in the Navy and was promoted to lieutenant in 1867 and then to lieutenant commander on March 12, 1868.

--Old B-Runner

Charles Vernon Gridley of the USS Oneida: Was He Dewey's 'When Ready' Guy?

In the last post, I wrote that C.V. Gridley was an officer on the USS Oneida when it fought at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864.  As a result of this engagement, eight members of the ship's crew received Medals of Honor.

Now, the man's last name struck a memory with me.  A memory of the Spanish-American War in which a famous order was given.  One that went, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."

The man whom uttered that was the famous Commodore Dewey.  Hero of the Battle of Manila Bay.

Was the Gridley ordered to do so, the same Gridley from the USS Oneida?

The answer is, yes he was.

--Old B-Runner

Some Confusion As to USS Oneida's Commander at Battle of Mobile Bay

Wikipedia has the commander of the USS Oneida at the Battle of Mobile Bay as Captain  C.V. Gridley.  The C.V. Gridley article in Wikipedia had him as a member of the Class of 1860 at the Naval Academy.  I don't think he could have made captain in that short of time.  The article also said that Gridley was on the USS Oneida.  Also, that article said he was appointed captain in 1897.

Someone on the Oneida, however, sure recommended a lot of people for the Medal of Honor.  Was it C.V. Gridley?

I looked up the Wikipedia Battle of Mobile  Order of Battle and that said the Oneida's commander was Commander J.R. Madison Mullaney.

Most likely, it was Mullaney in command of the Oneida at the battle with Gridley as one of his officers.

Old B-Runner

Eight Medals of Honor Given on USS Oneida for Action at the Battle of Mobile Bay

John E. Jones received a Medal of Honor aboard the USS Oneida during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864.  I came across another sailor from that ship who also received one.

I went to the Wikipedia site on the USS Oneida and found that they weren't the only ones receiving that high honor.  

A total of eight sailors were recipients for that engagement.  Somebody must have been quite busy with the nominations.

--Old B-Runner

Medal of Honor Recipient John E. Jones-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Born in  New York City and entered the Navy from New York.  He served as the quartermaster on the USS Oneida.  While stationed at the wheel of that ship at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864,  the wheel was rendered useless when the ropes that connected it to the tiller were destroyed by hostile fire.

Although wounded, Jones helped send and receive signals before new ropes were installed.

For this action, he received the Medal of Honor four months later, on December  31, 1864.

His official Medal of Honor citation reads:

"Served as quartermaster on the U.S.S. Oneida in the engagement at Mobile Bay 5 August 1864.  Stationed at the wheel during the fierce action, Jones, though wounded, carried out his duties gallantly by going to the poop to assist at the signals after the wheel ropes were shot away and remained there  until ordered to reeve new wheel ropes."

Not To be Confused With Recipient John Jones.  --Old B-Runner

Two Other Navy Medals of Honor: John E. Jones and Lewis Horton

It is not surprising to find that many Navy Medals of Honor buried in cemeteries around Portsmouth, New Hampshire because, of course, it is a major port on the U.S. Atlantic Coast, so naturally sailors would tend to concentrate there.

While looking up more information on John Jones and his Medal of Honor, I came across two other Navy personnel who received Medals of Honor, but were not buried in cemeteries around Portsmouth.

They were John E. Jones of the USS Oneida and Lewis Horton of the USS Rhode Island.  

At first I thought John E. Jones was John Jones with his middle name, but he wasn't.  A totally different man.

Then, I found that Lewis Horton was one of the men in the USS Rhode Island rescue boat with John Jones.  Obviously, if John Jones received a Medal of Honor, anyone else in that boat would receive one as well.

--Old B-Runner

George Henry Preble-- Part 6: The CSS Florida Makes Its Escape

Preble fired a 4th shot at the fleeing unknown vessel, but missed.  At that time the Florida lowered the English ensign it had been flying and made for the protection of Fort Morgan.  It was not until then that Preble was sure that the vessel he was after was Confederate.  It turned out to be the Confederate raider CSS Florida under command of John N. Maffitt.

A major reason the Florida escaped was that one of the Oneida's boilers was down.

During the chase, Preble had fired at the Florida for 29 minutes.

There were also reports of visibility issues as well.

After he was reinstated to naval service, Preble commanded the sailing sloop USS St. Louis.  Sad for him, though, while off Madeira, the CSS Florida again escaped from him.

That Doggone Florida.  --Old B-Runner