Thomas Mullins

Thomas Mullins (died 1823) was a British Army officer of the 44th Regiment of Foot, best known for his misconduct at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. While he performed well during the Chesapeake campaign, his failure to check on the regiment's engineering supplies at New Orleans played a key role in the disorganization and subsequent defeat of the British there. Birth and early career Mullins was the third son of Thomas Mullins, 1st Baron Ventry and his second wife Christabella. On 27 January 1791, he was promoted from Ensign of the 24th Regiment of Foot to become a lieutenant in the Independent Companies, and on 22 February 1791, he exchanged again from half-pay in the Independent Companies to the 45th Regiment of Foot. He was promoted to captain on 20 July 1794. He was appointed to the second battalion of the 44th when the second battalion was raised in Dublin in 1803. Subsequently, he transferred to the first battalion. In 1810, he married Parnell, the widow of Major-General Archer. Chesapeake campaign When Colonel Arthur Brooke, lieutenant colonel of the 44th Regiment of Foot assumed the command of a brigade during the Chesapeake campaign, Mullins was breveted lieutenant-colonel and assumed command of that regiment. He was mentioned in despatches by General Robert Ross for his leadership at the Battle of Bladensburg, which took place on 24 August 1814. Mullins was also commended for his conduct during the Battle of North Point by Brooke, who succeeded Ross when the latter fell to a skirmisher's bullet.