The history books have yet to produce any information about the earlier years for Saint John New Brunswick born Stephen O'Neil other than a birth date of 12 December 1837. The next I can find on Stephen is that he is living in Jacksonville NY, about 50 miles south of Syracuse, and has enlisted for three years with the 7th United States Volunteer Infantry in September 1862. It is possible he had already served in another unit, possibly 4th US Infantry as he signed up in September as a Corporal.
Stephen would do his three years in the infantry and be released as his time was up. But then he immediately signed up again with the same regiment, but this time for five years. And he did this again and again... 4 more times until finally retiring in October of 1891. A pension file shows that at some point, though when was not indicated, he used the alias Robert Neely.
Serving with his unit throughout the rest of the Civil War, he probably participated in many of the famous battles including at Gettysburg, the Wilderness., Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Richmond and it would be at Chancellorsville that he would be awarded the Medal Honor for his bravery.
Stephen would do his three years in the infantry and be released as his time was up. But then he immediately signed up again with the same regiment, but this time for five years. And he did this again and again... 4 more times until finally retiring in October of 1891. A pension file shows that at some point, though when was not indicated, he used the alias Robert Neely.
Serving with his unit throughout the rest of the Civil War, he probably participated in many of the famous battles including at Gettysburg, the Wilderness., Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Richmond and it would be at Chancellorsville that he would be awarded the Medal Honor for his bravery.
The 7th were part of General Sykes' Brigade as indicated at bottom centre of the above map and in blue. Late at night on April 30th, the unit arrived here, about a few miles east of Chancellorsville and dug in. The men were sent forward to chop down many tress and build an obstruction in their front to prevent any attack in the earlier hours and then most went off to sleep while the sentries did their patrols. The next morning, it still being quiet, Stephen decided than was as good a time as any to get a hair cut so he sat down on a stump and a fellow soldier went to work on his hair.
Then the call to arms came as the sentries spotted activity that was the beginning of a Southern attack. The Union men went out and over several hours drove the enemy away. They were then ordered to re occupy the land they just abandoned and thus gaining no ground whatsoever. But it was during the battle that Stephen was close by a Union colour bearer who was shot and down he went. Stephen then picked up the colours and carrying them till the battle was over. On return to their old position, Stephen took up his old position as well. On the stump and more hair got chopped away.
But then the Southerners attacked a second time and gained more ground on the Union side. Ultimately they were again repulsed and the battle came to a final end when the southerners left to regroup and fight another day.
Stephen took a third try and finally got his haircut done.
Then the call to arms came as the sentries spotted activity that was the beginning of a Southern attack. The Union men went out and over several hours drove the enemy away. They were then ordered to re occupy the land they just abandoned and thus gaining no ground whatsoever. But it was during the battle that Stephen was close by a Union colour bearer who was shot and down he went. Stephen then picked up the colours and carrying them till the battle was over. On return to their old position, Stephen took up his old position as well. On the stump and more hair got chopped away.
But then the Southerners attacked a second time and gained more ground on the Union side. Ultimately they were again repulsed and the battle came to a final end when the southerners left to regroup and fight another day.
Stephen took a third try and finally got his haircut done.
Stephen O'Neill received his medal of Honor order on 28 September 1891 and would have received it in the mails probably about two weeks later.
This is a poor quality picture of him but it appears he is wearing his MOH on the left of a group of three medals. The middle one looks like a membership badge for the Grand Army of the Republic and the third may be a corps badge.
An 1870 census has Stephen living in the Montana area and in 1909 He was living in the Sault Saint Marie area of Michigan.
When Stephen retired from the military in 1891 he held the rank of Quarter Master Sergeant.
Stephen died in October of 1909 and is buried in his then home town of Sault Saint Marie Michigan.
His Medal of Honor deed was performed exactly 150 years ago today.
Bart
This is a poor quality picture of him but it appears he is wearing his MOH on the left of a group of three medals. The middle one looks like a membership badge for the Grand Army of the Republic and the third may be a corps badge.
An 1870 census has Stephen living in the Montana area and in 1909 He was living in the Sault Saint Marie area of Michigan.
When Stephen retired from the military in 1891 he held the rank of Quarter Master Sergeant.
Stephen died in October of 1909 and is buried in his then home town of Sault Saint Marie Michigan.
His Medal of Honor deed was performed exactly 150 years ago today.
Bart
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