CIVIL WAR INDEX
Primary Source Material
on the Soldiers and the Battles
Home The Armies The Soldiers The Battles Civilians Articles
 
If this website has been useful to you, please consider making a Donation.

Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do more research. Thank you for your support!

Civil War Soldiers - Neill

Neill, Thomas H., brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 9, 1826. He attended the University of Pennsylvania two years, was then appointed cadet at the United States military academy, and was graduated there and appointed brevet 2nd lieutenant in the 4th infantry, July 1, 1847. He served in the Mexican war, 1847-48, and served then on garrison and frontier duty until the Civil war, with the exception of the years 1853 to 1857, when he taught drawing at West Point, was later promoted 1st lieutenant, and in 1857 captain. He was during the first part of the war assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Gen. Cadwalader, was promoted colonel of the 23d Penn. volunteers, Feb. 17, 1862, and brigadier-general of volunteers on Nov. 29 of that year. He served first with the Army of the Potomac, engaging in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savage Station and Malvern hill, was also in the Maryland campaign and at the battle of Fredericksburg commanded a brigade. He was brevetted major for gallantry at Malvern hill, won the brevet of lieutenant-colonel for his action at Chancellorsville, was engaged at Gettysburg after a forced march of over 35 miles, and took part in the succeeding operations of the Army of the Potomac until the autumn of 1864, winning the brevet of colonel for gallant and meritorious services at Spottsylvania. He commanded the 2nd division, 6th army corps, at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, was acting inspector- general in Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign, taking part in the battle of Cedar creek and in several skirmishes, and on March 13, 1865, was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular army and major-general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services in the war. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, Aug. 24, 1865. He had been promoted major of the 11th infantry, Aug. 26, 1863, and after the war served with his regiment at various posts, was a member of the examining board and subsequently commandant of cadets at the military academy, besides serving as inspector-general, as commandant of the recruiting station at Governor's island, N. Y., and on the frontier against Indians. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel and transferred to the 1st infantry, Feb. 22, 1869 ; was promoted colonel and transferred to the 8th cavalry, April 2, 1879, and was retired from the active service, April 2, 1883, for "dis- ability in the line of duty." He died in Philadelphia, Pa., March 10, 1885.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


Whats New
Bibliography
About Us

Copyright 2010 by CivilWarIndex.com
A Division of Pier-Pleasure.com