VERY FINE CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL BATTLEFLAG OF THE MCNEILL PARTISAN RANGERS

VERY FINE CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL BATTLEFLAG OF THE MCNEILL PARTISAN RANGERS

02-24449

This early flag was made by the “Confederate ladies of Mooreville” Virginia according to an associated tag. This flag had been on loan and displayed at the Hardy County Historical Society, Mooreville, West Virginia for many years till the museum was closed and returned to the family. Flag is all hand sewn and sheer silk field and light lightweight bunting, 21.5″ canton, 15 3″ stars are in unique arrangement of central star, 4 stars in square surrounded by 10 stars in circle, which forms a “Southern Cross”. 15 star Confederate flags are rare and represent all states including ones Union occupied that could not secede but produced Confederate troops. Flag is company sized 63″ on fly and 32.5″ on hoist, still retains all 5 original string ties. The McNeill Rangers started out as Company E, 18th VA Cavalry and then the 1st VA Partisan Rangers led by Captain John McNeill. There were only two authorized partisan Ranger units in Confederate service which did not answer directly to central Confederate command. Union generals classified McNeill and other partisan Ranger leader John Mosby as “bushwhackers” and not to be treated as military prisoners of war. Rangers were often executed by Union captors. Few partisan Rangers who operated in the Union controlled portions of Virginia, now West Virginia were captured. McNeill’s Rangers caused much consternation in the area capturing great quantities of arms, Union prisoners, and several hundred head of cattle and sheep during the Gettysburg campaign. McNeill so irritated Union General Benjamin Franklin Kelly that in May 1864 he ordered a large attachment of men to capture or kill John McNeill. McNeill continued to plunder Union forces with his guerrilla tactics.

In a predawn raid on Oct 3, 1864, Captain McNeill led approximately 50 Confederate rangers against roughly 100 Union troopers guarding a bridge at Meems Bottom, a strategic crossing of the Valley Turnpike over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The attack lasted just fifteen minutes with most of the Union cavalry captured but McNeill was mortally wounded. Command of the Rangers passed to his son, Jesse Cunningham McNeill, who had served as Lieutenant. Jesse was promoted Captain of McNeill Rangers and would avenge the order to kill his father; in early 1865 Jesse would lead about 50 Rangers 65 miles behind the lines to Cumberland MD, where he would capture General Kelly along with General George Crook, this daring raid made newspapers worldwide. General Kelly & Crook would remain prisoners in Richmond till exchanged March 30, 1865, 10 days before Lee’s surrender.

UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Several letters from Dr. Frederick Lotspeich and Hardy County historical society, the original typed tag telling history. Research report written by Confederate flag authority Greg Biggs.

NON-GUN