been his prisoner and that he would do all he could to ease his pain. Hanse was even- tually transported to Hills Hotel In Harrisonburg, Virginia and died on October 3, 1864. There has been some claim that McNeill was shot by one of his own men but this has not been substantiated. It was a shame that Captain McNeill passed before the raid on Cumberland, Maryland where Generals Crook and Kelly were kidnapped, for there was a deal of dislike between Kelly and McNeill.
     On hearing of McNeill's death, General Kelly decided it was time to be done with the nuisance of the Rangers and sent a 260 man raiding party on a search and destroy mission to Moorefield. The residents were informed that if they continued to harbor and feed McNeill's men, the whole valley would be laid to waste.
     Three miles north of Moorefield, the Union troops went into camp before continuing their raid. McNeill's men had been following them and launched a surprise attack that scattered the Union Cavalry. In addition to completely routing the force, sixty horses, an ambulance and a 12 pounder cannon were captured.
     During the lull caused by the severe winter, Jesse McNeill, now the leader, made plans for a most daring raid into Cumberland and to affect the capture of General Kelly. Rangers whose homes were near Cumberland provided the necessary information. Only 48 rangers and 6 men from Company F of the 7th Virginia Cavalry took part in the raid. Jesse still suffered from a broken leg and the snow was so deep the men had to dismount and lead their horses. It was learned that Kelly and Crook were staying in separate hotels. As the group proceeded, they were able to discover the countersign from two pickets and they continued, whistling Yankee tunes and talking in loud voices as they passed the courthouse. At the Barnum hotel they disarmed the guard, roused adjutant Major Thayer Melvin and had him awaken General Kelly. The two officers were ordered to dress and were escorted to the street below. In the mean time, a black servant unlocked the door to the Revere House on Baltimore Street and General Crook was also captured and joined Kelly and Melvin in the street. The escape continued to be touch-and-go until they reached Harrisonburg. At one point they were challenged by a Union guard at the C&O canal and told the sentry they were General Crook's body guard with no time to waste as the rebels were coming. The ruse worked.
     This was the last big hurrah of McNeills Rangers. At the end of the war most surrendered at Romney, West Virginia and were paroled, but some merely disappeared and returned to their homes. Generals Kelly and Crook were paroled and took no further part in the war. Jesse McNeill as paroled on May 5, 1865 and died March 4, 1912.Captain John Hanse McNeill and some of his men are buried in Moorefield, West Virginia.
     General Robert Lee praised McNeill and the Rangers for the skill and daring they displayed. General Sheridan called McNeill "the most daring and dangerous of all the "bushwhackers". General Mosby said he would have to capture Abe Lincoln himself to best the McNeill raid.
                                                Material used for this web page.
The McNeill Rangers and the Capture of Generals Crook and Kelly by John W. Bailey.
General Benjamin Kelly vs Captain John Hanson McNeill by Paul Burig.
John Hanse McNeill - McNeill's Raiders by RogerDelaute, Jr.
Each summer at Larenim Park near Burlington, WV (15 miles from Romney, WV)  an outdoor drama McNeill's Rangers is presented. Story by Vana Nespor and music by John Hawkins.This page courtesy of Fred Riley. Email:ffriley@mindspring.com