John W (O'Neill) O'Neal (abt. 1838)

Confederate Pension:

Applicant: John O'Neill Application # 09405 County: Travis

Oneill, John

BATTLE UNIT NAME:36th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Woods') SIDE:Confederacy COMPANY:D SOLDIER'S RANK IN:Private SOLDIER'S RANK OUT:Private ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER:M227 ROLL 27 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: none

OVERVIEW: 36th Cavalry Regiment [also called 32nd Regiment] completed its organization in Boston, Texas, late in 1863. It contained 823 men of which many were from Sulphur Springs and Belton, and Caldwell and Gonzales counties. The regiment was assigned to H. Bee's and Bagby's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and was involved in numerous engagements at Louisiana including Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. Later it moved to Galveston, Texas and there surrendered in June, 1865. The field officers were Colonel Peter C. Woods, Lieutenant Colonels Nat. Benton and W.O. Hutchison, and Major Stokely M. Holmes.

Company A (men from Caldwell County) Company B (men from Guadalupe County) Company C (men from Sulphur Springs - Hopkins County) Company D (men from Gonzales County & Bee County) Company E (men from DeWitt County) Company F (men from Comal County) Company G (men from DeWitt County, Texas) Company H (men from Belton - Bell County) Company I (men from Gonzales County) Company K (men from Caldwell County)

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Campaigns and Battles of the 36th Texas Cavalry

Operations against Banks' Red River Campaign - March 10 - May 22, 1864

Skirmishes, Monett's Ferry and Cloutierville - March 29 - 30, 1864, Louisiana

Action, Natchitoches, Louisiana - March 31, 1864

Skirmish, Crump's Hill, Piney Woods, Louisiana - April 2, 1864

Engagement, Campti, Louisiana - April 4, 1864

Engagement, Wilson's Farm near Pleasant Hill, Louisiana - April 7, 1864

Skirmishes, Bayou De Paul (Carroll's Mills) near Pleasant Hill, Louisiana - April 8, 1864

Battle, Sabine Cross Roads, Mansfield near Pleasant Hill, Louisiana - April 8, 1864

Engagement, Pleasant Hill, Louisiana - April 9, 1864

Action, Pleasant Hill Landing, Blair's Landing, Louisiana - April 12 - 13, 1864

Skirmishes about Cloutierville, Louisiana - April 22 - 24, 1864

Engagement, Monett's Ferry (Cane River Crossing), Louisiana - April 23, 1864

Skirmishes, Bayou Rapides Bridge and McNutt's Hill, Alexandria, Louisiana, - April 26, 1864

Skirmish, Alexandria, Louisiana - April 27, 1864

Skirmishes, Alexandria, Louisiana - April 29, 1864

Skirmish, Ashwood Landing, Louisiana - May 1, 1864

Skirmishes, Governor Moore's Plantation, La. - May 1 - 4, 1864

Skirmish, Governor Moore's Plantation, La. - May 2, 1864

Skirmishes about Alexandria, Louisiana - May 2 - 9, 1864

Action, Governor Moore's Plantation, La. - May 3, 1864

Action, Graham's Plantation, Louisiana - May 5, 1864

Skirmish, Bayou Lamourie, Louisiana - May 7, 1864

Skirmishes, Alexandria, Louisiana - May 12, 1864

Operations against Retreat from Alexandria to Morganza, Louisiana - May 13 - 20, 1864

Skirmish, Avoyelles Prairie (Marksville Prairie), Louisiana - May 13, 1864

Engagement, Mansura, Belle Prairie (Smith's Plantation), Marksville, La. - May 161 1864

Action near Moreauville, Bayou DeGlaize, La. - May 17, 1864

Engagement, Yellow Bayou, Bayou DeGlaize, Norwood's Plantation (Old Oaks), Louisiana - May 18, 1864

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861. The Texas state legislature authorized volunteer military companies on February 15, 1858, but by the time the war started, the Texas Legislature passed an act requiring all “able-bodied men between the ages of 18 to 50, with certain exceptions, to enroll for defense and be subject to call of the Confederate Government”. One of the volunteer companies that organized in Gonzales County was the Sandies Home Guard. The Sandies Home Guard was organized June 22, 1861. Henry, at the age of 32, along with 5 of his brothers, William (28), George Washington Jr. (27), Harrison (25), John (22 or 23), and Miles (16), volunteered for the Sandies Home Guard. Their younger brother, Calvin, was only 11 at the time. The brothers are listed as privates under Captain Michael Erskine. The guard’s name probably came from Sandies Creek or Sandies Hill in Leesville, TX. Then, in 1862, all the brothers, except Harrison and Calvin, enlisted into the Confederate Army and served until the end of the war. George W., John, Miles, and William all served in the 36th Cavalry Company D. However, other sources list them serving in the Texas Mounted Riflemen, which later came to be known as Company D of the 32nd Regiment Texas Volunteer Cavalry. Although Harrison volunteered for the Sandies, he did not volunteer for the Confederate Army. It may be that he stayed behind to take care of the O’Neill families left behind and his parents, George Washington, Sr. and Mary who were in their 50’s with one child, Calvin, still at home. Henry was not on the roll with his brothers and there is no clear reason why this is. His company ended up being Company A, 4th Regiment of the Texas Cavalry C.S.A., and then that group formed a part of the Brigade of General Thomas Green in 1863.

Census: 1850, Gonzales Co., TX Belmont, pg 11 Fam #87

O'Neill, J.W. 38 M VA stock raiser O'Neill, Mary 40 F TN O'Neill, Henry 21 M TN O'Neill, Wm 18 M TN O'Neill, Garge 16 M MO (George) O'Neill, Harrison 14 M MO O'Neill, John 12 M MO O'Neill, Mary Ann 10 M MO O'Neill, Miles 4 M TX

There are several O'Neills listed on the muster rolls for Company D, which was recruited in Gonzales County. All of these men enlisted on March 27, 1862 and are from the area of Belmont, so I expect they are probably all related. Henry is not listed on any of the rolls of the regiment, but I did find Miles. Here is the basic info on all of these soldiers :

Miles O'Neill, Private, Company-D, age 19 George W. O'Neill, Private, Company-D, age 27 John O'Neill, Private, Company-D, age 23 William O'Neill, Private, Company-D, age 30

I have additional info. on each of these from the muster rolls if you are interested, and you can also order copies of their service records from the National Archives at www.nara.gov .