O'Neal was born in Madison County, Alabama, to Edward and Rebecca Wheat O'Neal. His father was a native of Ireland, and his mother was a South Carolinian of FrenchHuguenot ancestry.[1] O'Neal's father died when his son was three months old. After receiving an academic education, including English literature and the classics, O'Neal graduated from LaGrange College (the predecessor of the University of North Alabama) in 1836 at the top of his class with a bachelor of arts.[1] In 1838, he married Olivia Moore, the daughter of Dr. Alfred Moore, and they had nine children.[2] O'Neal studied law with James W. McClung and was admitted to the bar in 1840.[1]
In 1841 O'Neal was elected to Alabama's fourth judicial circuit to fill out an unexpired term and served four years. He strongly believed in secession and advocated that Alabama should secede from the United States during the secession crisis of 1860.[2]
After the war, O'Neal resumed his law career. In August 1875, he was elected to the Alabama Constitutional Convention and served in that convention as chairman of the Committee on Education. In 1880, O'Neal was an elector on the Winfield Scott Hancock campaign for president and made speeches throughout the state advocating Hancock's election. O'Neal served as the Democratic governor of Alabama from 1882 to 1886.[5]
Brown, William Garrott, and Albert James Pickett. A History of Alabama, for Use in Schools: Based as to Its Earlier Parts on the Work of Albert J. Pickett. New York: University Publishing Co., 1900. OCLC 654938664.
McDonald, William Lindsey. Walk Through the Past - People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama. Killen, AL: Heart of Dixie Publishing, 2003. ISBN0-9719945-6-0.
Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4.
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9.
White, J. T. National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. New York: J. T. White, 1900.
edward, neal, those, similar, name, edward, neill, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2020, learn. For those of a similar name see Edward O Neill disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Edward Asbury O Neal September 20 1818 November 7 1890 was a Confederate officer during the American Civil War and the 26th Governor of Alabama Edward Asbury O Neal26th Governor of AlabamaIn office December 1 1882 December 1 1886Preceded byRufus W CobbSucceeded byThomas SeayPersonal detailsBornSeptember 20 1818Madison County AlabamaDiedNovember 7 1890 aged 72 Florence AlabamaPolitical partyDemocraticMilitary serviceAllegiance Confederate States of AmericaBranch service Confederate States ArmyRankColonelUnit9th Regiment Alabama InfantryCommands26th Alabama InfantryBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Civil War 3 Postbellum career 4 Death and legacy 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesEarly life and career editO Neal was born in Madison County Alabama to Edward and Rebecca Wheat O Neal His father was a native of Ireland and his mother was a South Carolinian of French Huguenot ancestry 1 O Neal s father died when his son was three months old After receiving an academic education including English literature and the classics O Neal graduated from LaGrange College the predecessor of the University of North Alabama in 1836 at the top of his class with a bachelor of arts 1 In 1838 he married Olivia Moore the daughter of Dr Alfred Moore and they had nine children 2 O Neal studied law with James W McClung and was admitted to the bar in 1840 1 In 1841 O Neal was elected to Alabama s fourth judicial circuit to fill out an unexpired term and served four years He strongly believed in secession and advocated that Alabama should secede from the United States during the secession crisis of 1860 2 Civil War editIn June 1861 O Neal was commissioned as a captain and commanded three companies of soldiers Upon reaching Richmond he was appointed major of the 9th Regiment Alabama Infantry and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the fall 2 In March 1862 he was appointed colonel of the 26th Alabama infantry he commanded this regiment during the Peninsula Campaign 3 At the Battle of Seven Pines his horse was killed under him and a shell fragment severely wounded him He received high praise for his performance at the Battle of Chancellorsville In 1863 he commanded a brigade in Maj Gen Robert E Rodes s division and led it at the Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Manassas Gap and at the Battle of Mine Run Early in 1864 his regiment was sent back to Alabama to recruit its depleted ranks but was quickly ordered to Dalton Georgia where O Neal took command of Brig Gen James Cantey s brigade in the Army of Tennessee 3 O Neal commanded this brigade during the remainder of the Atlanta Campaign After Lt Gen John Bell Hood was given command of the Army of Tennessee O Neal was relieved and served on detached duty for the remainder of the war He was appointed brigadier general on June 6 1863 However this appointment was held up by Gen Robert E Lee The promotion was canceled by Confederate President Jefferson Davis 4 Postbellum career editAfter the war O Neal resumed his law career In August 1875 he was elected to the Alabama Constitutional Convention and served in that convention as chairman of the Committee on Education In 1880 O Neal was an elector on the Winfield Scott Hancock campaign for president and made speeches throughout the state advocating Hancock s election O Neal served as the Democratic governor of Alabama from 1882 to 1886 5 Death and legacy editO Neal died in Florence Alabama His son Emmet O Neal followed in his footsteps and served two terms as Governor of Alabama from 1911 to 1915 2 The O Neal Bridge spanning the Tennessee River between Florence and Sheffield Alabama is named in his honor See also editList of American Civil War Generals Acting Confederate Notes edit a b c Brown pp 295 296 a b c d McDonald pp 50 52 a b White p 437 Eicher p 606 White p 437 claims that he was made a brigadier general before the end of the war Warner p 226 References editBrown William Garrott and Albert James Pickett A History of Alabama for Use in Schools Based as to Its Earlier Parts on the Work of Albert J Pickett New York University Publishing Co 1900 OCLC 654938664 Eicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 978 0 8047 3641 1 McDonald William Lindsey Walk Through the Past People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County Alabama Killen AL Heart of Dixie Publishing 2003 ISBN 0 9719945 6 0 Sifakis Stewart Who Was Who in the Civil War New York Facts On File 1988 ISBN 978 0 8160 1055 4 Warner Ezra J Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1959 ISBN 978 0 8071 0823 9 White J T National Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York J T White 1900 National Governors Association biographyParty political officesPreceded byRufus W Cobb Democratic nominee for Governor of Alabama1882 1884 Succeeded byThomas SeayPolitical officesPreceded byRufus W Cobb Governor of Alabama1882 1886 Succeeded byThomas Seay Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward A O 27Neal amp oldid 1191920268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
