ultra rare view of Colonel McNeal.  ugh Watson McNeil was born on January 10, 1830, in Owasco, New York.Before the war, McNeil was a bank cashier who apparently suffered from lung disease. He also spent some time serving with the U. S. Coast Geodetic Survey and in the Treasury Department in Washington. At some point, McNeil moved to Warren County, Pennsylvania, in the hopes that the fresh air of the Pennsylvania mountains would help his lung ailment.When President Lincoln made his first call for troops after Fort Sumter, McNeil immediately enlisted as a private. On April 28, a company was formed from Warren County men, known as the "Raftsmen Guards," and McNeil was elected 1st Lieutenant. The Raftsmen Guards became Company D of the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves, the famous "Bucktails." On June 12, he became captain of Company D. On January 22, 1862, he was promoted the colonel of the regiment.During the spring campaign of 1862, the Bucktails were divided. Six companies, led by Colonel McNeil, accompanied McClellan's army to the Virginia and fought throughout the campaign. McNeil, however, missed most of the action, sick with typhoid fever. He recovered sufficiently to lead his regiment at Second Bull Run and into Maryland.At South Mountain, McNeil became part of army lore with an amazing shot at the Frosttown Gap portion of the fighting. According to a newspaper account:An Incident of Battle​During the Battle of South Mountain, the rebels held a very strong position. They were posted in the mountain pass, and had infantry on the heights on every side. Our men were compelled to carry the place by storm. The position seemed impregnable; large craggy rocks protected the enemy on every side, while our men were exposed to a galling fire. A band of rebels occupied the ledge on the extreme right, as the colonel approached with a few of his men. The unseen force poured a volley upon them. McNeil, on the instant, gave the command: ‘Pour your fire upon those rocks.’ The Bucktails hesitated; it was not an order that they had been accustomed to receive; they had always picked their men. ‘Fire!’ thundered the colonel; ‘I tell you to fire at those rocks!’ The men obeyed. For some time an irregular fire was kept up; the Bucktails sheltering themselves as best they could behind rocks and trees. On a sudden, McNeil caught sight of two rebels peering through an opening in the works to get an aim. The eyes of the men followed their commander, and a half a dozen rifles were leveled in that direction. ‘Wait a minute,’ said the colonel, ‘I will try my hand. There is nothing like killing two birds with one stone.’The two rebels were not in line, but one stood a little distance back of the other, while just in front of the foremost was a slanting rock. Colonel McNeil seized a rifle, raised it, glanced a moment along the polished barrel; a report followed, and both the rebels disappeared. At that moment a loud cheer a little distance beyond rent the air. ‘All is right now,’ cried the colonel,’ charge the rascals.’ The men sprang up among the rocks in an instant. The affrighted rebels turned to run, but encountered another body of the Bucktails, and were obliged to surrender. Everyone saw the object of the colonel’s order to fire at random among the rocks. He had sent the party around to their rear, and meant this to attract their attention. It was a perfect success.The two rebels, by the opening in the ledge, were found there stiff and cold. Colonel McNeil’s bullet had struck the slanting rock in front of them, glanced, and passed through both their heads. There it lay beside them, flattened.Two days later, Colonel McNeil led his regiment across Antietam Creek. Afternoon was fading into evening as the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry, leading Hooker's advance, made contact with Confederates from Hood's division south of the Williamsport Road. Hooker ordered McNeil to deploy his regiment as skirmishers. McNeil met Captain William Miller of the cavalry. Together they advanced along the Smoketown Road. Suddenly the Confederates unleashed a volley from approximately 75 yards away. "Forward, Bucktails, Forward!" McNeil cried. Almost immediately, a bullet pierced the colonel's heart. Captain Dennis McGee later said, "A braver man than him the army did not hold."