THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY AND CHARLES CUNNINGHAM

THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY AND CHARLES CUNNINGHAM - AUGUST 5, 1864

One Hundred and Fifty Years Ago

Following some earlier preparations and a landing on Dauphin Island to deal with Fort Gaines, early in the morning of August 5, 1864, Admiral David Farragut's Union fleet steamed into Mobile Bay. The fleet was lead by the Tecumseh and other monitors, and followed by a line of wooden steamers, lashed together in pairs. Of the line of fifteen steamers, the last two were the Oneida and the Galena. The Galena was a 738 ton ten gun ship which was once iron clad. At this time the iron had been removed and it was lashed to the larger 1,032 ton nine gun ship Oneida. The fleet was moving in a narrow channel between a field of mines on its port (west) side and the guns of Fort Morgan on the starboard (east) side.

There was a furious exchange of cannon between the fleet and Fort Morgan, with the forward ironclads and steamers engaging the smaller Confederate fleet of one ironclad and three wooden gunboats.The cannon exchange had not let up as the Oneida and the Galena passed through the channel. The Oneida, lashed to the Galena and exposed to Fort Morgan cannon took heavy damage. Her boilers were hit and exploded, her steering gear damaged, and she was on fire.She was saved by the Galena, which pulled her through the channel. The Galena was also hit, suffering two gaping holes from ten inch guns. Two sailors were wounded and a third died.

Galena, after removal of iron plates.

Charles Cunningham was born in 1846, probably in Tuam, County Galway. Orphaned about age 12, Cunningham arrived in New York City in April, 1864, a raw youth of 18. With no relatives or contacts in America, Cunningham soon enlisted in the Union Navy and served as a messenger boy on the Galena in the Battle of Mobile Bay. As luck would have it, he was wounded on this last ship to run the gauntlet, and spent two months recovering on a hospital ship - a baptism by fire in his new adopted country. What happened afterward, however, made Charles Cunningham a legendary figure in the Doherty (Blackhorse) family in Oregon.

Discharged from the Navy after his hospital stay, Cunningham made his way to Alameda County in California, where he stayed for four years, and in 1869 relocated to Umatilla County, Oregon. In partnership with Jacob Frazer he went into the sheep business, later continuing on his own. In May, 1883, he married Sarah Doherty of Iskaheen, County Donegal. Shortly thereafter, he assisted his wife's two brothers, sister, and mother to immigrate to America. Sarah's brothers were employed by Cunningham until they got on their feet and went into the farming and cattle business. One brother, James G. married Catherine Doherty of Ballylosky, County Donegal and the sister, Mary married Mike Kenny. Between them they started great tribes of Dohertys and Kennys in Oregon. Cunningham went on to be known as the Sheep King of Eastern Oregon. In his later years, he built and operated the Hotel Cunningham in Pasco, Washington.

Charles Cunningham, about age 30.

To the Dohertys and Kennys, Cunningham is a legend. No significant biography has been written about him, but generations of these families remember that they owe this orphan and sheepman their fortune in this country!
                                                                                                                                        Roger Doherty