Shrouded Veterans: A Colonel’s Battle Against Disease and Disillusionment
“I wish to God that every d—d Republican was in Hell — yes, in the deepest lavy of Hell,” Brig. Gen. Andrew J. Smith angrily declared to Col. George W. Neely, one of his division’s regimental commanders, upon Neely’s arrival at Young’s Point. Shortly afterward, Neely’s corps commander, Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand — a former Democratic congressman from Illinois — ordered Neely’s arrest after one of his soldiers violated McClernand’s order prohibiting the discharge of weapons without explicit orders. Neely viewed his arrest as political persecution and took his complaint directly to President Abraham Lincoln.
“I say from all that I have seen and learned this part of the army is fighting for Political glory and some of the Gens like W H Green would save the Democratic party if it sunk the Government in that lavy spoken of by Gen Smith,” Neely fumed to President Lincoln in a letter in early February 1863. “And if you can save me from this Political Hell by putting me any where else commanding a Post fight Guerillas or Judge Advocate and if nothing else a Discharge, I am in for the war under the Administration but not under a Democratic political Tyrant.”
A court-martial ultimately found Neely not guilty, acquitting him. Neely likely gained some satisfaction when Grant relieved McClernand of command in June. However, by September, Neely himself was out of the service, ending a short, but tumultuous military career.
Before the war, George Washington Neely had established a law practice in Metropolis, Illinois. His reputation in the local area led Gov. Richard Yates to appoint him as colonel of the 131st Illinois Infantry in August 1862. Initially, the 131st’s soldiers were stationed at Fort Massac on the Ohio River while awaiting orders to head south and join U.S. forces. Believing Fort Massac to be a healthy site for a camp, Neely made it their temporary base. However, an outbreak of measles swept through the camp, leaving 100 soldiers ill. Most either succumbed to the disease or were discharged for disability — an ominous foreshadowing of the trials that would later face the 131st and Neely himself.
The 131st participated in the expedition to capture Fort Hindman (also known as Arkansas Post) in early January 1863. However, the regiment was excluded from combat and instead assigned to manual labor, much to the frustration of its men. A significant portion of the regiment was detached to haul heavy artillery through the swamps. After the hard-fought battle to capture the fort, the 131st was tasked with burying the dead, filling abandoned rifle pits, and demolishing the enemy fortifications.
Things only worsened for the 131st when it arrived January 23 at Young’s Point, Louisiana, a crucial supply depot for Gen. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee. Torrential rains fell incessantly, and every man fit for duty was put to work with picks, shovels, or axes, digging a canal to allow U.S. boats to bypass the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg or performing duty on the picket lines. Those assigned to picket duty were forced to wade through water up to their waists to reach their posts. Unsurprisingly, many soldiers from the 131st fell ill with measles, smallpox, and pneumonia, with a significant number succumbing to these conditions.
By March 1863, the 131st had been reduced to around 300 men and officers fit for duty, less than half its strength when it was first mustered into service. In mid-May, the regiment arrived at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana, where it was tasked with guarding army supplies from guerrilla bands. Later, at Sherman’s Landing, the regiment was divided between picket duty and manning mortar boats until the surrender of Vicksburg.
On September 16, 1863, the 131st was consolidated into a single battalion of four companies. As a result, Neely and several of the regiment’s junior officers were left without commands and were mustered out of service. During its service, one man was killed in action, while 11 officers and 282 enlisted men — roughly 35 percent of the regiment — succumbed to disease.
Neely returned to Metropolis, Illinois and in November 1864 was elected prosecuting attorney for the 19th District of Illinois. By the end of 1866, however, his health began to decline, possibly due to lingering effects of his military service in Louisiana and Mississippi. In addition to his failing health, Neely faced marital issues and eventually ran off with a mistress. On May 15, 1867, he unexpectedly died in Newburgh, Indiana, at just 37 years old.
“Col. Neely was well known to our readers that few words of comment are necessary,” reported The Promulgator, a local Metropolis newspaper, on May 23, 1867. “He had filled important places in the army, was a leading spirit in this community, and at the time of his death filled the office of prosecuting attorney for the 19th District.” However, the paper also noted that “the closing months of his life were unfortunate for several grave mistakes were made to cloud his memory,” adding “his conduct is now in charge of an infallible judge and mortals have nothing to do but to cast a covering of charge over his foibles.”
Neely was laid to rest at the Lewis-Neely Cemetery, located deep in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. The family burial ground is maintained by James Lewis of New Liberty, a descendant. Thanks to the efforts of James Lewis, his sons, and their friends, a veteran headstone was placed at Col. George W. Neely’s grave to honor his brief but meaningful service during the war.
Shrouded Veterans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing the neglected graves of 19th-century veterans, primarily Mexican War (1846-48) and Civil War (1861-65) soldiers, by identifying, marking, and restoring them. You can view more completed grave projects at facebook/shroudedvetgraves.com.
