William McNalley - 1st Class Boy
William McNalley was born circa 1846 in England, and enlisted on 19 April 1864 at the New York Naval Rendezvous as an 1st Class Boy for a three year enlistment contract [1]. He was the brother of Ordinary Seaman Peter McNalley.
McNalley served aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina, U.S.S. Potomac and the U.S.S. Owasco [6]. Since the Owasco was at the Pensacola Navy Yard undergoing repairs that would last until October 1864, McNalley went with a number of his shipmates to augment the Tecumseh's complement for the impending Battle of Mobile Bay after a number of her crew were sent ashore sick. He was officially attached to the Tecumseh on 3 August 1864.[3]
McNalley was aboard the Tecumseh during the Battle of Mobile Bay and was reported lost with her. [4], [5]. He was about 18 years old and had been in the Navy for just under five months.
Dependents
None. Mother and younger brother claimed his pensionAwards & Memorials
Alternate Spellings of Name
References and Sources
[1] Return of the United States Naval Rendezvous, New York, New York, for the week ending April 23, 1864[2] NARA T1099. An index to rendezvous reports during the Civil War, 1861-1865.
[3] "Various Naval Matters" Army and Navy Journal, August 27, 1864 p13
[4] "Navy Gazette: List of Deaths in the Navy of the United States, reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, during the week ending December 3d, 1864." Army and Navy Journal, 10 Dec. 1864, p. 253.
[5] Officers and Enlisted Men who Died in the Active Service of the U.S. Navy 1776-1885
[6] Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans ("Navy Widows' Certificates"), 1861-1910
