James Robert Madison Mullany
Encyclopedia
James Robert Madison Mullany (26 October 1818 – 17 September 1887) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy
, who served during the American Civil War
.
, had served in the War of 1812
, and was Quartermaster General of the United States Army from 1816 until 1818.
His son, James Robert Madison Mullany, was born in New York City
, and entered the navy as a midshipman
on 7 January 1832. He was promoted to passed midshipman
on 23 June 1838, and to lieutenant
on 29 February 1844. During the Mexican–American War
he took part in the capture of the city of Tabasco
, Mexico
, in June 1847.
From January till March 1861, he served on the sailing frigate in the protection of Fort Pickens
on Santa Rosa Island, Florida
, and in April and May of that year, in command of the steam gunboat
defended the fort from attacks from the Confederate Army, assisting in reinforcing the fort on 12 April 1861.
Mullany was promoted to commander
on 18 October 1861, and assigned to the side-wheel steamer in the North Atlantic
and West Gulf Blockading Squadrons in April 1862. From April till September 1863, he commanded a division of the West Gulf Squadron, and during the war captured eleven blockade-runners, and cut out
two schooners laden with cotton in the harbor of Galveston, Texas
.
In August 1864 Mullany commanded the screw sloop
during the Battle of Mobile Bay
, the Bienville being considered unfit to engage the forts by Admiral David Farragut
. The Oneida, lashed to the ironclad screw steamer was in the rear of the line of battle
, and exposed to a very destructive fire from Fort Morgan. Later the Oneida was attacked and raked
by the Confederate ram , and Mullany received several wounds, necessitating the amputation
of his left arm.
From May 1865 until May 1868, Mullany was inspector in charge of ordnance in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
. He was promoted to captain
in 1866, and was one of the Board of Visitors to the Naval Academy
in 1868. He commanded the steam sloop in the European Squadron
from December 1868 until November 1871.
He was commissioned as commodore on 15 August 1870, and was in charge of the Mediterranean Squadron
from October 1870 until November 1871, and of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1872-74. After receiving his rear admiral's commission on 5 June 1874, he commanded the North Atlantic Squadron
until February 1876, protecting American interests on the Isthmus of Panama
.
He served as the Governor of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum
from 1876 until 1879, when he retired from active service.
Mullany died in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on 17 September 1887.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who served during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Mullany was the son of Colonel James R. Mullany and Maria Burger. Colonel Mullany, born in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, had served in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and was Quartermaster General of the United States Army from 1816 until 1818.
His son, James Robert Madison Mullany, was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and entered the navy as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 7 January 1832. He was promoted to passed midshipman
Passed midshipman
A Passed Midshipman, sometimes called as Midshipman, Passed, is an unused and historic term which describes a Midshipman who had passed the Lieutenant exam and was eligible for promotion to Lieutenant as soon as there was a vacancy in that grade....
on 23 June 1838, and to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 29 February 1844. During the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
he took part in the capture of the city of Tabasco
Tabasco
Tabasco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, in June 1847.
From January till March 1861, he served on the sailing frigate in the protection of Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and remained in use until 1947...
on Santa Rosa Island, Florida
Santa Rosa Island, Florida
Santa Rosa Island[p] is a 40-mile barrier island located in the U.S. state of Florida, thirty miles east of the Alabama state border...
, and in April and May of that year, in command of the steam gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
defended the fort from attacks from the Confederate Army, assisting in reinforcing the fort on 12 April 1861.
Mullany was promoted to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on 18 October 1861, and assigned to the side-wheel steamer in the North Atlantic
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic Squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. On Jan...
and West Gulf Blockading Squadrons in April 1862. From April till September 1863, he commanded a division of the West Gulf Squadron, and during the war captured eleven blockade-runners, and cut out
Boarding (attack)
Boarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion on to a ship's deck of individuals. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the forcible insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party without the consent of the captain or crew...
two schooners laden with cotton in the harbor of Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
.
In August 1864 Mullany commanded the screw sloop
Screw sloop
A screw sloop is a propeller-driven sloop-of-war. In the 19th century, during the introduction of the steam engine, ships driven by propellers were differentiated from those driven by paddle-wheels by referring to the ship's screws...
during the Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
, the Bienville being considered unfit to engage the forts by Admiral David Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
. The Oneida, lashed to the ironclad screw steamer was in the rear of the line of battle
Line of battle
In naval warfare, the line of battle is a tactic in which the ships of the fleet form a line end to end. A primitive form had been used by the Portuguese under Vasco Da Gama in 1502 near Malabar against a Muslim fleet.,Maarten Tromp used it in the Action of 18 September 1639 while its first use in...
, and exposed to a very destructive fire from Fort Morgan. Later the Oneida was attacked and raked
Raking fire
In naval warfare, raking fire is fire directed parallel to the long axis of an enemy ship. Although each shot is directed against a smaller target profile than by shooting broadside and thus more likely to miss the target ship to one side or the other, an individual cannon shot that hits will pass...
by the Confederate ram , and Mullany received several wounds, necessitating the amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
of his left arm.
From May 1865 until May 1868, Mullany was inspector in charge of ordnance in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
. He was promoted to captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1866, and was one of the Board of Visitors to the Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1868. He commanded the steam sloop in the European Squadron
European Squadron
The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil War...
from December 1868 until November 1871.
He was commissioned as commodore on 15 August 1870, and was in charge of the Mediterranean Squadron
Mediterranean Squadron
The Mediterranean Squadron, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was part of the United States Navy in the 19th century that operated in the Mediterranean Sea. It was formed in response to the Barbary Wars. Between 1801 and 1818, the squadron was composed of a series of rotating squadrons...
from October 1870 until November 1871, and of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1872-74. After receiving his rear admiral's commission on 5 June 1874, he commanded the North Atlantic Squadron
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic Squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. On Jan...
until February 1876, protecting American interests on the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
.
He served as the Governor of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum
Philadelphia Naval Asylum
The Philadelphia Naval Asylum, later the Naval Home, was a hospital, the Philadelphia Naval School, and a home for retired sailors for the United States Navy from 1834 to 1976, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
from 1876 until 1879, when he retired from active service.
Mullany died in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on 17 September 1887.