O’Neals who fought in the War of 1812

 

 

Hugh O’Neil

I have personally inspected the original file referenced by this entry in the various War of 1812 Microfilms on file in the National Archives.   This folder is mis-filed in the National Archive records, as this Hugh O’Neil did serve in the U.S. Army, but did not serve during the War of 1812.    Apparently, the military department that forwarded thier paper files to the National Archives had a collection of “Old War” files that they kept with their pre-civil war pension application records that covered pension correspondence and other details of soldiers who served prior to the Civil War.  A number of these have been labeled “War of 1812” or “Old War”, but appear to be for service in the timeframe between 1820 and 1861.  This is definitely the case with this Hugh O’Neil.   The file does reveal some interesting informaiton about this Hugh O’Neil, however.

 

Details of the “Old War” File for Hugh O’Neil

According to his file, this Hugh O’Neil signed  on for a 5 year service stint on 18 May 1858, enlisting at Newport, Kentucky.    At the time, he was 33 years of age, about 5’5” tall with Hazel eyes.  He was assigned to Capt. Delozier Davidson’s Company in the 2^nd Regiment of the U.S. Infrantry.    It is also indicated that the soldier’s place of birth was Tyrone County, Ireland.

 

Hugh was listed on a muster roll for his unit on 26 July 1860.  This was apparently his last day in the military as his record shows that he was discharged from duty based for medical reasons (discharged on surgeon’s certificate) at Fort Randall, Nebraska on July 25, 1860.    A notation indicates that Hugh was “entirely unfit for duty”, and that he had suffered from a “rupture”  (possibly a burst appendix?)

 

Hugh began receiving a pension of $2 / month starting 17 Aug 1860.    He apparently resided at (or the unit was based at) Pittsburgh, PA in Alleghany County at the time.

 

This Hugh O’Neil does not appear on the Compiled Index of Soldiers for the War of 1812, since he did not serve until 1858.   I have included him here simply because the National Archives has a file in their War of 1812 files for him which contains genealogically significant information. 

 

Summary of Facts from “Old War” Pension File

 

Hugh O’Neil (O’Neal)

            born:                 About 1825, Tyrone County, Ireland

            married:            Unknown

            died:                 Unknown

 

War 1812 Military Service Record:

                        Note:  This Hugh O’Neil did not serve in the war of 1812.

 

Pension File Information

                        File Number       5862

 

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