Image: The McNeill Raid

Description: The McNeill Raid, from The story of American heroism: Thrilling narratives of personal adventures during the great Civil War as told by the medal winners and roll of honor men. Chicago, New York: The Werner Co., 1896. Accompanying text: "They went down the river, passing on the outskirts of a part of their army then sound asleep, and soon to a camp guard and were challenged with "Who comes there?" To which McNeill replied, "Company B, 3rd Ohio Cavalry with the countersign, and we are in a hurry." Instead of requiring the countersign, the officer on duty inquired "What's up?" McNeill responded: "Oh! old granny Kelley had a nightmare or bad dream that the Rebs are about to come down on him, and he is sending us out this bitter weather to scout the other side of the river. I sometimes wish they would catch him. Don't you think he's a regular old granny in his nervousness, whenever he hears there are a few Johnnies across the river?" "Yes I do! every time I am put on outpost duty such weather as this." "Well, let us pass; we want to get back as soon as possible," and away they went at a gallop. General Kelley told me that during this colloquy, Crook, who was at his side, kept nudging him with his knee, and chucklingat his expense. A similar chat occurred at the last outpost they had to pass, where McNeill, still personating the Ohio captain, said, "I wish that General Grant would remove granny Kelley from Cumberland, and put Crook in command," and in this wish the outpost officer concurred, when Crook laughed audibly and again punched Kelley's leg next to him; and from that time till they got to Richmond, Crook lost no opportunity to poke fun at him. But after they had crossed into Virginia, he said McNeill and all his followers treated them with the utmost courtesy and consideration, but compelled them to ride at breakneck speed to escape apprehended pursuit. When they halted at a farmhouse for an early dinner, McNeill and his men had ridden over sixty miles since supper the night before. And after a hasty meal and horse feed, they remounted and rapidly made for the mountains toward General Early's quarters in the Shenandoah Valley, and eluded all pursuit. The total distance ridden by the Rangers, from starting on the evening of February 20, till camped in the mountains on the night of the 21st, was ninety miles, in about thirty hours."
Title: The McNeill Raid
Credit: https://books.google.com/books?id=F80TAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Lieutenant%20Jesse%20C.%20McNeill%22&pg=PA547#v=onepage&q&f=false
Author: The Werner Co.
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No