McNeill's Rangers

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The McNeill's Rangers was an independent irregular Confederate military company commissioned under the Partisan Ranger Act by the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War. After the repeal of the Partisan Ranger Act on February 17, 1864, the McNeill's Rangers were one of two Paritsan Ranger Companies that were allowed to continue operation. The other Paritsan Company was the Mosby's Raiders. Both of these irregular companies operated in the western counties of Virginia and West Virginia. The Rangers were known to exercise military discipline when conducting raids. However, many Union generals considered McNeill and his men "bushwhackers", and not entitled to protection when captured, as was the case with other prisoners of war.

McNeill's frequent raids on the cities of Piedmont, West Virginia and Cumberland, Maryland were aimed at disrupting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad service. It is estimated that over 25,000 troops were diverted by the Federal commanders to guard the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad against the McNeill menace.

Piedmont, a small town at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains, was a frequent target of McNeill's Raids due to the important railroad machine shops and vast stores of railroad supplies locate in the city. Through the narrow valley at Piedmont the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passed. At the time, Piedmont was the temporary "capital" of Hampshire County, Romney having been given up as the county seat because of the many raids by the Confederates. McNeill conceived of the idea of cutting the railroad, burning the machine shops at Piedmont. One such raid McNeill succeeded with this ambition.

The President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, John W. Garrett, reported to Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, that "the extensive machine and carpenter shops of Piedmont have been burned. The engine and cars of the east-bound main train and two-tonnage trains have also been destroyed. Five other engines damaged. ... The heat of the fire at the wreck of the trains at Bloomington had been too intense to permit much work, but during the night we expect to have the entire road again clear and train running regularly."

Captain McNeill's official report to James A. Seddon, Confederate Secretary of War, on the capture of Piedmont and the burning of the railroad equipment follows:" ...We burned some seven large buildings filled with the finest machinery, engines, and railroad cars; burned nine railroad engines, some seventy-five or eighty burthern cars, two trains of cars heavily laden with commissary stores, and sent six engines with full head of steam toward New Creek. Captured the mail and mail train and 104 prisoners on the train. ..."

The blows of the McNeill Partisan Rangers grew heavier as the Civil War progressed. Brigadier General Kelley, Federal commander in the area, was especially irritated at the tempo of their raids and the havoc created by each one. On May 22, 1864, in a special communique to Colonel Higgins at Green Spring, General Kelley ordered: "As soon as practicable send Captain Hart with 125 or 150 men on a scout up the east side of the river, to Moorefield and vicinity, after McNeill." With but 150 men the shortsighted General Kelley thought that he could capture or kill his elusive enemy. General Kelley continued: "It is not necessary for me to give Captain Hart any minute instructions. He is well acquainted in that vicinity. I will simply say I want McNeill killed, captured, or driven out of this valley."