★ McNeil, John

John McNeil​

Born: February 14, 1813

Birthplace: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Education:

Learned the Hatters trade in Boston, Massachusetts​

Occupation before War:

Unsuccessful Hatter in New York City, New York​

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Hatter for twenty years in St. Louis, Missouri​

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1844 – 1845: Missouri State Representative​

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1855 – 1861: President of Pacific Insurance Company​

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1860: Supporter of the Democratic Political Party​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain in the Union Army​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of United States 3rd​ Reserve Corps Infantry​

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1861: Commander of troops at Camp Jackson Affair​

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1861: Defeated Missouri State Forces at Fulton, Missouri​

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1861: Commander of the City of St. Louis, Missouri​

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1861: Colonel of 19th​ Missouri Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Colonel of Missouri State Troops on the Kansas State Line​

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1861: Spent the winter organizing troops and protecting union people​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 2nd​ Missouri Volunteers Cavalry Regiment​

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Commander of District of Northeast Missouri​

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1862: Slightly wounded by Staff at the Battle of Kirksville, Missouri

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1862: Ordered the Execution of Confederates Captured at Kirksville​

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1862: Ordered the execution of Frisby McCullough​

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1862: Executed 10 Confederate Prisoners at Palmyra, Missouri​

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1862 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1863: Held Cape Girardeau Missouri against Confederates​

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1864: Commander of the District of Rolla, Missouri​

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1864: Saved the Missouri Capitol from Price's Confederates​

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1864: Served in the Second Battle of Independence, Missouri​

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1864: Served in the Second Battle of Newtonia, Missouri​

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1864: Relieved of command at Battle of Westport, Missouri​

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1864: Court martialed by the charges were dismissed​

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1864 – 1865: Commander of District of Central Missouri​

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1865: Resigned from the Union Army on April 12th​​

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1865: Brevetted Major General for his service in the War​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1867: Clerk of Criminal Court in St. Louis County, Missouri​

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1866 – 1870: Sheriff of St. Louis County, Missouri​

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1875 – 1876: Clerk of Criminal Court in St. Louis County, Missouri​

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1876: Commissioner to Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania​

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1878: United States Inspector in United States Indian Service​

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1882: United States Inspector in United States Indian Service​

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1891: Superintendent of United States Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri​

Died: June 8, 1891

Place of Death: U.S. Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri

Cause of Death: Heart Failure

Age at time of Death: 78 years old

Burial Place: Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri

 

[gentlemanrob]

 

[Pollaco]

10 Confederate men were executed at Palmyra, Missouri. For this McNeil earned the nickname "the Butcher of Palmyra".

The local paper, the Palmyra Courier,supported McNeil and said this of the matter "The madness of rebellion has become so deep that ordinary methods of cure are inadequate." McNeil later said in Century Magazine that it was "performance of a public duty" which led to his executing these men.

Relieved of command during the battle of Westport by Gen.Alfred Pleasonton. Charged with "cowardice and failure to attack the enemy". He was court-martialed but the charges were dismissed.

He did die of heart failure while sitting in his chair in the office of Superintendent of the United States Post Office .

 

[ErnieMac]

Clipping from the 28 Oct 1862 edition of the Hartford (CT) Courant and the 25 Nv 1862 edition of the Alexandria (VA) Gazette.

 

[nc native]

The Alsman who disappeared after being taken prisoner by Porter during his raid on Palmyra was reported to be a Union informant and spy whose actions had led to the arrest of several Confederates in the area. This could explain his dislike among the Confederates and his disappearance. He was actually released by Porter but Confederates bent on revenge for his Unionist activities probably killed him.
This led to the execution of the ten prisoners ordered by McNeil and these executions were carried out by firing squad.

McNeil also ordered the execution of a small number of prisoners after the battle of Kirksville, Missouri. His reason for this act was that these men were paroled and had promised not to take up arms against the Union as a condition of their parole. This raised the ire of Confederate authorities and Jefferson Davis may have even issued an order that McNeil was to be executed if he was ever captured.