United States vs. John Lanigan, Landsman, USS Galena

Proceedings of a Naval General Court Martial convened on board the US Steamer Brooklyn off Pensacola Navy Yard by virtue of the accompanying order marked "A".

US Steamer Brooklyn
10 o'clock AM
September 2, 1864

The Court met pursuant to the accompanying order "A"

Present
Captain James Alden, Presiding Officer
Commander Alexander Gibson
Commander James H. Strong
Lt. Comdr W. A. Kirkland
Lieutenant Thos. L. Swan
Paymaster G. E. Thorton, Judge Advocate

John Lanigan, Landsman, the accused also present.

The Judge Advocate having read the order convening the court asked the accused if he had any objection to any member named therein to which he replied no.

The Judge Advocate was then duly sworn by the Presiding Officer of the Court and the Court was duly sworn by the Judge Advocate in the presence of the accused. The specification and the charge were read aloud by the Judge Advocate.

Judge Advocate: John Lanigan, Landsman, you have heard the charge preferred against you. How say you, guilty or not guilty?

To which the accused John Lanigan pleaded guilty.

The accused asked to be allowed to present witnesses to prove his previous good character which was granted by the Court and John Martin, Captain of the Forecastle on board the USS Galena, was called in. The witness having been duly sworn, testified as follows:

Question by the Accused: Will the witness state to the Court what he knew of my previous character, whether it has been good or bad since I have been on board the Galena.

Answer: As far as I know his conduct has been pretty good.

The Court took a recess for the purpose of giving the accused time to make his defense.

The Court convened again and the Judge Advocate read the accused defense hereto appended marked B.

The statements of the parties being thus in possession of the Court, the Court was cleared for deliberation and having maturely considered the evidence adduced, find the accused John Lanigan, Landsman of the US Steamer Galena, of the specification proven by plea guilty and of the charge guilty. And the Court do therefor sentence the said John Lanigan Landsman of the US Steamer Galena to be confined at the Pensacola Navy YArd for the period of two months and to forfeit his pay during that time.

Captain James Alden
Commander Alexander Gibson
Commander James H. Strong
Lt. Comdr W. A. Kirkland
Lieutenant Thos. L. Swan
Paymaster G. E. Thorton, Judge Advocate

Approved
D. G. Farragut
Rear Admiral, Commanding

Accused's Defense

I was standing on the Forecastle and McFarland comes up there and spills some water on the deck which I being one of the Forecastlemen had to swab up. I got into a discussion with him about it and he called me a son of a bitch when I struck him, he then struck me and we contained fighting until some of the men separated us. I called him no names, I told him that he spilt the water on deck and he said that he didn't and that I was a lying son of a bitch.

Flag Ship Hartford
West Gulf Blockading Squadron
Mobile Bay, August 30th, 1864

By virtue of authority in me vested a Naval General Court Martial is hereby ordered to convene on board the USS Brooklyn off the Pensacola Navy Yard, Florida, on the 2d day of September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty four or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trial of Thomas Jarrad, Boatswain's Mate serving on board the USS Ossipee and such others as may be brought before it.

The Court will be composed of the following named officers, any five of whom are empowered to act, viz:

Captain James Alden
Commander Alexander Gibson
Commander James H. Strong
Lieut. Comdr W. A. Kirkland
Lieut. Thomas L. Swann
Paymaster G. E. Thorton, Judge Advocate

D. G. Farragut
Rear Admiral, Commanding
West Gulf Squadron

Charge and Specification of Charge preferred by Rear Admiral D. G. Farragut commanding West Gulf Blockading Squadron, against John Lanigan, Landsman, serving on board the United States Steamer Galena

Charge: Striking another person in the Navy

Specification: In this that the said John Lanigan, Landsman serving on board the US Steamer Galena, did on or about the twenty sixth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty four, the said steamer then lying in Mobile Bay, strike Patrick McFarland, landsman, injuring him severely.

D. G. Farragut
Rear Admiral
Commanding W.G.B. Squadron

Witnesses
Patrick McFarland, Landsman
John Martin, Captain of Forecastle
Charles Stanley, Fireman
Andrew J. Fikes, Landsman

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