Mcneill had formed his guerrilla force two years earlierin september 1862. In 1974 harold howard determined to publish a history of every virginia regiment that served in the civil war. Mcneills rangers were a partisan unit of confederate cavalry raiders whose exploits would become legendary in west virginia. The mcneills rangers were a group of partisan confederate soldiers who. The civil war soldiers and strategies book series by multiple authors includes books my greatest quarrel with fortune. Captain mcneill and his rangers by steve french 2017, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. He left the msg early in the war to return to virginia his home state and organized his rangers. In 1862, a general had to run all the guerilla recruiters in his camp out. In early 1863, imboden took most of his men into the regular army, but mcneill and his son jesse offered their men an opportunity to continue in independent service. Jackson located north of harrisonburg in the shenandoah valley. We have no record of any important ranger action in 1862, but 1863 was only. Captain mcneills company of 1st virginia partisan rangers was accepted into confederate service on september 24, 1862. One of those cavalry units was an independent partisan command organized by captain john hanson mcneill in moorefield western virginia.
The name of captain john hanson mcneill and the mcneill rangers is always. Milikan distinguished service professor emeritus of history at the university of. Expired image removed mcneill s rangers, a confederate guerrilla force consisting of company e of the 18th virginia cavalry and the first virginia partisan rangers, began operations in september 1862 under the leadership of capt. Each man is listed in the command in which he last served and of the rank he held at the expiration of his service. Mcneill and jessie escaped and returned to western virginia, where the mcneill rangers were formed in 1862. Along with john mosby, john mcneill was one of the most effective confederate guerillas on the civil wars eastern front. Mcneills rangers was an independent confederate military force commissioned under the partisan ranger act 1862 by the confederate congress during the american civil war. Mcneill s rangers is really a classic tale of a wolf in sheeps clothing as they snuck into cumberland, md. Sep 11, 2017 one of the better known units was led by captain john hanson hanse mcneill and came to be known as mcneills rangers. The command was known as mcneills partisan rangers, commissioned by the confederate authorities, and organized by aptain mcneill, in the summer of 1862. Roster of men in the confederate service genealogy village. Jan 02, 2018 initially recruited in september 1862 as a company of the 1st virginia partisan rangers, captain mcneill took advantage of the partisan ranger act passed by the confederate congress earlier in the year, and in early 1863 he and his men embarked on an independent career that would last for the balance of the conflict. The rangers operated behind enemy lines attacking federal wagon trains, outposts, railroad yards, and generally raising hell anywhere they had the chance.
They became independent partisans from imboden in winter 1863. The rangers rode quickly through the dark snowy countryside on new creek road, when suddenly they encountered a federal sentry post. February 16, 1863 mcneill rangers with only twentythree men attacked a supply. William hardy mcneill october 31, 1917 july 8, 2016 was a historian and author, noted for his argument that contact and exchange among civilizations is what drives human history forward, first postulated in the rise of the west 1963. Books and publications noting hampsire county in the civil war. Civil war project for sesquicentennial hampshire county. Formally designated as company e of the 18th virginia cavalry, they were led by captain john hanson mcneill. Civil war project for sesquicentennial historic hampshire county. Phantoms of the south fork the kent state university press.
Kent state university press, kent, ohio, 2017, 312 pages. Captain mcneill and his rangers and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Jun 27, 2018 french proves his argument that due to their successes, mcneills rangers deserve to share attention with more famous irregulars, especially john mosbys rangers. Mcneills rangers in moorefield king james galleries. From september 1862 until the end of the civil war, mcneills rangers conducted military operations, targeting not only. The rangers operated behind enemy lines attacking federal wagon trains, outposts. Mcneills rangers has an extra dash of the grassroots intensity which enabled the csa to continue their fight for so long. The other section remained under mcneills personal command. The result was the confederate congress creating the partisan ranger act, which was passed on april 21, 1862. Civil war miscellaneous collection, 18602005 bulk 18621928. He was under command of john imboden, but when imboden got his regular army command, mcneill and his men declined to join. The only way i can equal this is to go into washington and bring out lincoln.
Captain mcneill and his rangers, is a wellwritten, thoroughly researched book about the littleknown mcneill rangers, a confederate. Mcneills rangers, a confederate guerrilla force consisting of company e of the 18th virginia cavalry and the first virginia partisan rangers, began operations in september 1862 under the leadership of capt. Captain jesse mcneills recruiting activity attained such proportions that it prompted general early to ask for revocation of the charter of the mcneill partisan ranger organization. Nov 09, 2018 in richmond, under the partisan ranger act of 1862, mcneill received permission from confederate secretary of war george w. When the act was rescinded in 1864 only mosby and mcneill remained as the offical partisan ranger formations in cs service. Mcneills rangers the virginia regimental history series. A native of modernday west virginia, he was the leader of mcneills rangers, a small force of roughly 200 men that used guerilla tactics to wreak havoc on union operations in western virginia. The virginia regimental series has done so much to document units which were the passion and valor of the confederacy. The legend of mcneill s rangers still lives on today. During the civil war, that area remained with the union, rather than joining the confederacy with the majority of virginia. Sterling prices army of the west marches into iuka, mississippi, on september 14.
Explore historical records and family tree profiles about sarah mcneill on myheritage, the worlds family history network. Mcneill s rangers scv camp 582, moorefield, west virginia. The confederate leadership, like the union leadership, later opposed the use of irregular warfare, fearing that the lack of discipline among rival guerrilla groups could spiral out of control. Sarah mcneill was born circa 1862, at birth place, to jamas kelly and surcy kelly. He makes clear that from 1862 on, mcneill s partisan unit developed a reputation for constantly defeating union forces in lopsided fashion. The historic art of john paul strain mcneill s rangers the courthouse romney, west virginia february 21, 1865 c.
Mcneill s rangers was an independent confederate military force commissioned under the partisan ranger act 1862 by the confederate congress during the american civil war. Initially recruited in september 1862 as a company of the 1st virginia partisan rangers, captain mcneill took advantage of the partisan ranger. The angel of the battlefield clara barton with walt. The tragedy is that he was unable to enjoy the remarkable rise of. The history of hardy county 1786 1986 by richard k. During a blinding snow storm on the night of february 21, 1865, mcneill s rangers headed for cumberland maryland. Oct 20, 2010 mcneills rangers, a confederate guerrilla force consisting of company e of the 18th virginia cavalry and the first virginia partisan rangers, began operations in september 1862 under the leadership of capt. Sarah mcneill 1862 1922 north carolina sarah mcneill, circa 1862 1922. The 210 man unit equivalent to a small or understrength battalion was formed from company e of the 18th virginia cavalry and the first virginia partisan rangers 62nd. While it is entirely appropriate that moses mcneil is heralded as the driving force behind the birth of rangers there is conclusive evidence that his older brother peter was massively important to the growth of the fledgling club.
Jan 18, 2016 he left the msg early in the war to return to virginia his home state and organized his rangers. The 210 man unit equivalent to a small or understrength battalion was formed from company e of the 18th virginia cavalry and the first virginia partisan rangers 62nd virginia mounted infantry. By 1862, most of these units captains had been killed. Rebel strike force supreme posted on july 15, 2015 by ecw guest post today, we are pleased to welcome guest author richard chapman when discussing great confederate independent cavalry raiders in the civil war, it seems that they have three parts to their name. Unfortunately after, there were still not enough soldiers left in the army and irregular warfare was still going on. Confederate books, southern literature, southern generals, southern view, crossroads country store. Unlike mosbys men, there was no going home to family after a. Mcneill and his rangers attacked federal camps, raided railroads and seized union supplies.
M cneill s rangers were a partisan unit of confederate cavalry raiders whose exploits would become legendary in west virginia. The law was intended as a stimulus for recruitment of irregulars for service into the confederate states army during the american civil war. Mcneills rangers in the public memory of hardy county, west. The first book was published in 1982, the last in 2004. Mcneills rangers the historic art of john paul strain.
Peter mcneil rangers football club, official website. Captain mcneill and his rangers civil war soldiers and strategies french, steve on. The book begins with the confederate congress,s passage of the partisan. Ranger act of 1862, which coincided with mcneill,s service in the missouri state. Operating out of the moorefield area, mcneill s rangers launched raids on union troops and camps. Lane continued to play a vital role in the war effort and later made history when he independently organized the 1st. Mcneills confederate rangers november 16, 2017 by bob oconnor award winning author steve french discusses a guerilla band of confederates known as mcneill s rangers. Ritchie hallar, major general george crook, major general benjamin kelly, john b. It was merged into the 18th virginia cavalry, and then part of mcneill s command was reassigned in february of 1863. Mcneill s rangers was a guerilla band of confederate which operated out of what is now moorefield, west virginia and which was commanded by capt. In kentucky and tennessee, perhaps the confederacys two greatest cavalry raiders briggens john hunt morgan and nathan bedford forrest began major operations at the start of the war morgan commanded a militia in lexington, kentucky, and when that state declared neutrality he moved them south to join the confederate army. Initially recruited in september 1862 as a company of the 1st virginia partisan rangers, captain mcneill took advantage of the partisan ranger act passed by the confederate congress earlier in the year, and in early 1863 he and his men embarked on an independent career that would last for the balance of the conflict.
A book report by perry brake, tacoma, wa richard macmasters the history of hardy county 1786 1986, wadsworth press, inc. Major general lew wallace in the west, 1861 1862, phantoms of the south fork. Buy mcneill s rangers by roger u delauter online at alibris. He makes clear that from 1862 on, mcneills partisan unit developed a reputation for constantly defeating union forces in lopsided fashion. November 9, 2018 steve frenchs historical civil war book, phantoms of the south fork. Civil war project for sesquicentennial of the civil war in historic hampshire county. Phantoms of the south fork captain mcneill and his rangers steve french. The book begins with the confederate congresss passage of the partisan ranger act of 1862, which coincided with mcneill s service in the missouri state guard and his capture and imprisonment while a member of that force. On october 3, 1864, mcneill and his men attacked federal troops at mt.
The unit was commissioned by the confederate congress in september of l862, company e of the 18th virginia cavalry. In september 1862, john hanson mcneill recruited a company of troopers for col. Phantoms of the south fork civil war books and authors. John mcneill was commissioned by proconfederate missouri governor claiborne fox jackson to form a militia. Civil war miscellaneous collection, 18602005 bulk 1862. But, most significantly, they destroyed property belonging to the baltimore and ohio railroad. Mcneills rangers north georgia relics and metal detectors.
Cavalry raiders morgan and forrest 1862 partisan rangers. During a blinding snow storm on the night of february 21, 1865, mcneills rangers headed for cumberland maryland. Fay was also tasked to find the best route for the rangers to take through enemy territory. Jun 06, 2017 civil war guerrillas were unofficial soldiers who wanted to fight in the civil war but didnt want to leave their homes or families behind to march off to war these guerrillas instead opted to join guerrilla groups who protected local towns, fought in skirmishes with nearby troops and engaged in other activities related to the war.
French proves his argument that due to their successes, mcneill s rangers deserve to share attention with more famous irregulars, especially john mosbys rangers. Mcneill s rangers has an extra dash of the grassroots intensity which enabled the csa to continue their fight for so long. On april 21, 1862, the congress of the confederate states of america passed the partisan ranger act. At the request of the surviving officers and many of the private members of mcneill s command, the following account is furnished by one who participated in that brief but eventful campaign. This is an assembled collection, and the order of materials has been imposed by the archivist from the original unordered arrangement. The county of hardy, located in the eastern panhandle of west virginia, was formed in 1786 from hampshire county. Randolph to form a partisan company as part of col. Captain john hanson mcneill and the mcneill rangers. In cooperation with the hampshire county convention and visitor bureau and various local civil war historians, is endeavoring to create a resource for those studying the civil war in. On february 17, 1864 the partisan ranger act was repealed after p. The campaign and battle of tupeloharrisburg, mississippi, junejuly 1864, and several more. Roger delauter has done a masterful job of bringing john hanson mcneill and his troops alive.
In cooperation with the hampshire county convention and visitor bureau and various local civil war historians, is endeavoring to create a resource for those studying the civil war in hampshire county. At the request of the surviving officers and many of the private members of mcneills command, the following account is furnished by one who participated in that brief but eventful campaign. Captain john hanson mcneill and his men had the advantage of knowing every possible escape route in heavy mountain terrain and, like mosby, the locals helped aid the rangers. With mcneill as captain, the unit entered confederate service on september 5, 1862, as partisan rangers under gen. This article uses the mcneills rangers of hardy county, west virginia, as a case. Mcniells rangers were mustered under the partisan ranger act of 1862 and like mosbys rangers raided in va and maryland. It was merged into the 18th virginia cavalry, and then part of mcneills command was reassigned in february of 1863.
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