John McNeil Jr.
| John McNeil Jr. | |
|---|---|
Portrait on display at the New Hampshire State House. Painted by Henry Willard, and donated by McNeil's daughters
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| Born |
March 25, 1784 Hillsborough, New Hampshire |
| Died | February 23, 1850 (aged 65) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Congressional Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1807-1830 |
| Rank | Brevet Brigadier General |
| Unit | 1st U.S. Infantry |
| Commands held | 1st U.S. Infantry |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations |
Benjamin Pierce (father in law) Franklin Pierce (brother in law) Benjamin Kendrick Pierce (brother in law) |
| Other work | Surveyor of the Port of Boston |
John McNeil Jr. (March 25, 1784 – February 23, 1850) was an officer in the United States Army. He distinguished himself in leading the bayonet charge which secured victory in the Battle of Chippewa. For his conduct in this battle, and in that of the Battle of Bridgewater, where he was severely wounded, he was successively brevetted as lieutenant colonel and colonel. In 1824 he received the brevet rank of brigadier general in recognition of his superior service as a brevet colonel for 10 years. He later received appointment as Surveyor of the Port of Boston, a post he held from 1830 to 1841. The husband of Elizabeth Andrews Pierce, son in law of Governor Benjamin Pierce, and brother in law of President Franklin Pierce, after retiring McNeil lived at the Pierce family home in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He died in Washington, D.C. on February 23, 1850 and was buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington.
He was born Hillsborough, New Hampshire. McNeil was educated in Hillsborough, served in the New Hampshire militia from 1801 to 1812, and attained the rank of captain. He entered the United States Army as a captain in the 11th U.S. Infantry regiment on March 12, 1812. He was appointed major on August 15, 1813.
General Winfield Scott having given the necessary orders, cried out to the battalion of Major McNeil—the 11th infantry, which had not a recruit in it—on the left,— " The enemy say we are good at long shot, but cannot stand the cold iron! I call upon the Eleventh instantly to give the lie to that slander !"—" Charge!" he added, as the shot from Towson's guns ploughed through and through the British ranks. " Charge !—Charge!" he repeated in thundering tones, rising up in his stirrups, and waving his men on with his sword.
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