Description

Front description: June 12, 1815, November 10, 1864, Captain, Confederate States of America, McNeill’s Rangers, “Good bye, my boys, leave me to my fate, I can to no more for my country.” – October 3, 1864

Back description: “Hanse” McNeill was born in Hardy County, Va. and early on displayed his natural talent for farming and stock breeding. These skills enabled him to marry, raise five children, and secure increasingly larger farms in Va., Ky., and Mo. On June 14, 1861 he mustered as Captain, Co. B, 1st Regt. Cav., Mo. State Guard and saw action within three days. Subsequently wounded, he and his son Jesse were taken prisoner during recuperation. They escaped and made their way back to Hardy County, Virginia where Hanse requested permission to form an independent Partisan Command. Never more than 260 troopers, McNeills Rangers operated from Cumberland to Harrisonburg and Keyser to Winchester with their base being Moorefield. Always outnumbered, never defeated, his quick and illusive command never ceased to confound the invading army.