Naval Court of Inquiry into letters of James Jones regarding Acting Vol. LT C. A. Boulette, commanding USS Nyanza

Acting Master's Mate George W. Perrigo whose appointment was presumed revoked decided to manufacture some trouble for the CO of the Nyanza, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles A. Boutelle, to which vessel he was temporarily attached to after his monitor, the Milwaukee, sank in Mobile Bay after striking a mine on 27 March 1865.

Why Perrigo wrote that letter to SECNAV Gideon Welles is unknown, however his application for a Naval invalid pension hints at PTSD from the Milwaukee sinking. His pension application shows that he actually resigned from the Navy 16 April 1865 due to a "nervous disorder" rather than having his appointment revoked, the resignation acceptance rescinded by the Navy on 26 September 1865 with a leave of absence backdated and was honorably discharged on 25 October 1865. Boutelle apparently didn't harbor any ill feelings towards Perrigo since he wrote an affidavit about Perrigo's health issues after his rescue from Mobile Bay that included praise for Perrigo as a master's mate for his pension application.

West Gulf Squadron
US Flag Ship Estrella
Off Mobile
July 1st, 1865

By virtue of authority in me vested a Court of Inquiry is hereby ordered to be convened on board the US Steamer Nyanza in the Mississippi Sound on the Fourth day of July one thousand eight hundred and sixty five, or as soon thereafter as practicable to investigate the truth of the statement made in the letter of James Jones dated May fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty five addressed to the Honorable Gideon Welles, enclosed herewith (the said investigation having been ordered by the Navy Department) relative to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle commanding the USS Nyanza. The Court will state the facts and its opinion.

The Court will be composed of the following named officers members
Lieutenant Commander Millon Hasten
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. J. Gibbs
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant H. J. Sleeper
and Acting Assistant Paymaster E. J. Barker is hereby appointed recorder.

H. K. Thatcher
Acting Rear Admiral
Commanding W. G. Squadron

New York
May 14, 1865

Sir:
I take the liberty of acquainting you with the disgraceful actions of Acting Vol. Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle, now in command of the USS Nyanza. He joined the vessel in Brasher City and it being the first time he ever having charge of a craft, he thought that he would make his debut by getting "dead drunk" and when ordered to get underway and proceed up the bayou, could not attend to it, but his Executive Officer Acting Master Julius F. Beyer had to take command and for thrice days remained in this state of perfect stupidfication. The Comd'g officer of the USS Carrabassett being senior officer present and he only a Vol. Lieutenant the matter was hushed up as well as then as other times. The latter part of January we started for New Orleans when there the vessel was repaired and two new boats with everything complete and on Feb'y 15th arrived in Mobile Bay, this young inexperienced and incompetent Lieutenant not thinking an oak painted rudder and backboard good or fancy enough for his facetious taste, cut up two boards of a walnut extension table that was in his cabin (belonging to the Government) to make a rudder and backboard for his gig and in fact did many as foolish things as he thought to make himself appear of more consequence for although he is of a family in the middle class of line without any pretensions his father being the master of a coal vessel (and he being educated at a Public School) still be considers himself as far above his officers although some of them have descended from some of our leading military and several men have been educated at the Universities as not only to disdains speaking to other civilly (for he often damns them before the crew) but he has made a perfect hell for them, depriving them of many privileges as he with safely could, and since the blowing up of the Milwaukee and Osage there have been over thirty officers attached to the Nyanza, some temporarily and others permanently and one and all have begged to be ordered away to any other vessel in the Squadron.

I don't write this with any feeling of revenge, for he never had anything to do with me, but the conduct of such an upstart might get a quarter and those under him might have better treatment as long as they remain in the service, for I am aware that if the Department wishes for all the Vol. officers to send in their resignations instantaneously the cheapest way would be to order all such officers to Acting Vol. Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle.

I am sir,
very respectfully
your obedient servant
James Jones
late of the US Navy

To
Honorable Gideon Welles
Secretary of the Navy

USS Nyanza
Off Mobile, Ala
April 26th, 1865

Sir
I respectfully request that the following men may be brought before a General Court Martial for trial upon the annexed charges and specifications.

William Sullivan, Landman
Thomas Alloway, Seaman

Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
C. A. Boutelle
A. V. Lt. Comd'g

Acting Rear Admiral
H. K. Thatcher
Comd'g W. G. Squadron
Mobile, Ala.

Charges and Specifications of Charges preferred against William Sullivan, Landsman, serving on board the USS Nyanza by Act. Vol. Lieut. C. A. Boutelle, Comd'g USS Nyanza lying off Mobile, Ala, April 26th 1864.

Charge 1st: Drunkenness

Specification: In this that on or about the 12th day of April 1865, said William Sullivan, Landsman, did procure spirituous liquors from some vessel alongside and became intoxicated to a degree that necessitated his confinement.

Charge 2nd: Profane swearing and scandalous conduct.

Specification: In this, that on or about the 12th day of April 1865, said William Sullivan, Landsman, did create a disturbance on board by his profanity and disorderly conduct, cursing the petty officers and calling one of his shipmates a "god damned son of a bitch" or words to that effect.

Charge 3rd: Assaulting another person in the Navy with a dangerous weapon.

Specification: In this that on or about the 12th day of April 1865, said William Sullivan, Landsman, did assault John Johnson, Landsman, without provocation, beating him about the head and face, striking and attempting to stab him with a knife, at the same time when said Johnson was being beaten and bruised by Thomas Alloway, Seaman, and that he persisted in his attempt to injure or disable Johnson until forcibly restrained and confined by the Executive Officer.

Charge 4th: Treating with contempt his superior officer

Specification:

Charges and Specifications of Charges preferred against Thoma Alloway, Seaman, serving on board USS Nyanza by Act. Vol.Lieut. C. A. Boutelle, commanding US Steamer Nyanza lying off Mobile Ala, April 26, 1865.

Charge 1st: Drunkenness

Specification: In this, that on or about the 12th day of April 1865, said Thomas Alloway, Seaman, did procure spirituous liquors from some vessel unknown and came so intoxicated and disorderly as to require his confinement.

Charge 2nd: Profane swearing and scandalous conduct.

Specification: In this, that on or about the 12th day of April 1865, said Thomas Alloway, seaman, came on board swearing and shouting in the most disorderly manner creating a disturbance among the crew saying "god damn the ship" and telling the ship's corporal to "go to hell" or words to that effect.

Charge 3d: Assaulting another person in the Navy

Specification: In this, that on or about the 12th day of April 1865, said Thomas Alloway, seaman, did without provocation assault John Johnson, landsman, in the most brutal manner, beating him about

USS Nyanza
Off Mobile, Ala
April 26th, 1865

Sir
I respectfully request that the following men may be brought before a General Court Martial for trial uoon the annexed charges and specifications.

William Sullivan, Landsman
Thomas Alloway, Seaman

I am sir
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
C. A. Boutelle
Act. Vol. Lieut. Comd'g.

USS Nyanza
Off Pascagoula, Mississippi Sound
July 4th, 1865

In obedience to a precept hereunto annexed marked A, a Court of Inquiry convened on board of this ship at 10.15 AM this day.

Present
Lieut. Comdr. M. Hasten, President
A. V. Lieut. C. J. Gibbs
A. V. Lieut. H. J. Sleeper, members
and A. A. Paymaster Edw. T. Barker, recorder.

The accused made no objection to any member of the Court.

The precept convening the Court was then read.

The oath as then administered by the Recorder to the members and by the senior member of the Court to the Recorder.

Act. Master Julius F. Beyer was then called the paper hereunto annexed marked B read, and being duly sworn, testified as follows:

The first statement is not a fact. I have never seen A. V. Lieut. Boutelle drinking or drunk. I have a good remembrance of everything that has transpired. I have been attached to the vessel seventeen months. I have been executive officer, before and since A. V. Lieut. Boutelle took command. I have never had command of the ship since A. V. Lieut. Boutelle has had command through his inability to have command. The old back board was out of repair and a new one was made. I don't know what stuff it was. I have never heard A. V. Lieut. Boutelle "damn" the officers before the crew. I do not consider that A. V. Lieut. Boutelle made a "perfect hell" for his officers of the ship. He knows how to keep his place as well as any commanding officer I have sailed with for twenty years. He is a very strict officer, some of his officers were displeased with him because he carries out the regulations of the US Navy strictly. I have been aware of but one officer who has been attached to the ship since the blowing up of the Milwaukee and Osage who has applied to be detached and he on account of the crowded quarters.

Question by the Court: Do you know of any officer or man by the name of James Jones, being attached to the ship since you have been on board?

Answer: No.

Question by the Court: Please look at the paper marked B and see if you know the writing?

Answer: In my opinion it is Acting Ensign Lyddon's.

Question by the Accused: Has my intercourse with my officers officially been that of a courteous gentleman?

Answer: Yes, it has been so at all times.

Question by the Accused: Do you know of my ill treating my officers?

Answer: No.

Question by the Accused: Do you think that I have willfully deprived my officers of their privileges?

Answer: I think not.

Acting Asst. Paymaster H. A. Gregory was called and being duly sworn, testified as follows after reading the paper marked B.

I am certain that the first statement, which charges A. V. Lieut. Boutelle as getting dead drunk on taking command of the ship and remaining for three days in "the state of perfect stupification" is untrue. A. V. Lieut. Boutelle did make a rudder and back board for his gig out of two leaves of a table that was in his cabin. I have never heard A. V. Lieut. Boutelle "damn" his officers before his crew. I do not think that he makes a "perfect hell" of his ship for the officers. I think he is very lenient with his officers. Since the blowing up of the USS Milwaukee and Osage, there has been a number of officers temporarily attached for quarters who have applied to be detached on account of the lack of quarters.

Question by the Court: How long have you been attached to the ship and in what capacity?

Answer: Since a year ago last December as Acting Assistant Paymaster.

Question by the Court: Has there ever been an officer or man by the name of James Jones serving on board the Nyanza?

Answer: No.

Question by the Court: Please examine the paper marked B and see if you recognize the writing?

Answer: It resembles that of two officers, Acting Ensign Lyddon and Mate George W. Perrigo, both of whom have had their appointments revoked recently - on further examination I think this is Mr. Perrigo's writing.

Question by the Accused: Do you consider that my conduct as commanding officer of this vessel has been habitually gentlemanly and courteous?

Answer: Yes.

Question by the Accused: Will you examine the two papers herewith annexed and marked C and D and state if you think they were written by the same hands.

Answer: I think they were.

Question by the Accused: Do you recognize the handwriting of the papers marked C and D as being that of Mate Geo. W. Perrigo?

Answer: I am certain that the paper marked D was written by him. I saw him writing it. I think the paper marked C was written by him.

Question by the Accused: Have we had at anytime since the sinking of the Osage so many officers on board for quarters as to render them crowded and uncomfortable?

Answer: Yes very much so.

Question by the Accused: Do you know of any of those officers having applied for detachment for other reasons then the crowded condition of the ship?

Answer: Most of them applied for leave as they had lost their clothing.

The Court took a recess for one hour.

At 12.45 PM the Court met. Present all the members and the Recorder.

Acting Ensign J. M. Chadwick was called and duly sworn - the witness then read the letter of James Jones, marked B, and testified as follows:

Since Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle has been attached to this ship, I have never seen him under the influence of liquor. I know that a new back board was made for the gig but nothing more about it. I have always been treated in a gentlemanly manner and I have never heard him use an oath towards any officer attached to the ship. I have never been deprived of any privileges that I have asked for. There has been a number of officers here since the blowing up of the Milwaukee and Osage for quarters.

Question by the Court: How long and in what capacity have you been attached to the Nyanza?

Answer: Eleven months as an Acting Ensign.

Question by the Court: Have you ever known of any officer or man bearing the name of James JOnes being on the ship since you have been attached to her?

Answer: No.

The accused stated that he did not desire to call any witnesses or to make any statement in his defense. The Court was then cleared for deliberation and having considered the case, present the following statement of the facts:

It appears by the testimony of Acting Master J. F. Beyer and A. A. Paymaster H. S. Gregory and Acting Ensign J. H. Chadwick that Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle was not drunk on taking command of the USS Nyanza and on being ordered to get underway, that Acting Master J. F. Beyer never had to assume command of the Nyanza through the inability of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle to perform his duties; that Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle did make a rudder and back board for his gig out of a leaf of a walnut extension table; that he treated his officers courteously and civilly, that he was never heard by them to use an oath to any officer; that he had not deprived them of any privileges they asked for; that there were many officers temporarily attached to the ship for quarters after the blowing up of the USS Osage and Milwaukee; that some of them applied to be detached on account of insufficient quarters; that during the time Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. A. Boutelle has commanded the USS Nyanza, there has been no officer or man bearing the name of James Jones serving on board the ship. In the opinion of the witnesses who examined the document marked B, it was in the handwriting of Mate George W. Perrigo, whose appointment was recently revoked.

The Court are of the opinion that no further action is necessary in the case.

Lieutenant Commander Millon Hasten, Senior Member
Acting Assistant Paymaster E. J. Barker, Recorder

Approved July 6th, 1865
H. K. Thatcher
A. R. Admiral