b. 1840 Newfoundland. d. ?
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 23/12/1864 Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was born in Newfoundland, Canada and entered the Union Navy at Norwich, Connecticut. He attained the rank of Master-at-Arms and he was awarded the CMOH as a Quarter Gunner. He was presented with his Medal on May 12, 1865 off New Bern, Connecticut on board the USS Agawam.
MOH CITATION:
Neil served on board the U.S.S. Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864. The powder boat, towed in by the Wilderness to prevent detection by the enemy, cast off and slowly steamed to within 300 yards of the beach. After fuses and fires had been lit and a second anchor with short scope let go to assure the boat’s tailing inshore, the crew again boarded the Wilderness and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less then two hours later the explosion took place, and the following day fires were observed still burning at the forts.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.