The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-28
VOTE FOR 7 0 NELL,
The Soldier Candidate For
Assemblyfin the New
Fourth District.
IN EVERY UNION BATTLE.
He Fought Under Every Com
mander of the Army Of
the Potomac
Entering the Army As a Drummer
Boy He Soon Became An
Active COmbatant.
ACTIVE, FAITHFUL, CLEAR HEADED
In Various Positions OF Public Trust
and All the Walks of Private
Life He Has an Unim-
peachable Record.
ACTIVE, FAITHFUL, CLEAR HEADED

80
The citizens of the new Fourth dis
trict will have an opportunity at this
election to elect to the Assembly man
who has an excellent record as gal
liant and brave soldier, and tried and
trustworthy public servant. Patrick II.
O'Neill, the present City Collector, has
been before the public many years, and
during that time has in more ways than
one, proved himself worthy of the trust
reposed in him.
Mr.. O'Neill was born in Ireland in the
year 1916. He was the youngest Of five
children and came to this country with
his parents and brothers and sisters
when he was about one year old.
His father settled in Jersey City, and
Mr.. O'Neil has lived here ever since. He
attended the private and parochial
schools in the old frst district, and at the
outbreak of the war he Was pupil at
old Public School No. on Brighb street.
Two Of his older brothers, John and
Michael, were among the nrst 10 jersey
cali for troops upon the fall Of Fort
Sumter. Young O'Neill was fired with
the patriotic spirit, aud was anxious to go
to the front. But he was considered TOO
young, being then scarcely fifteen years
old, ;.nd his relations suppressed his ar
dor. When the three mouths, men came
home young O'Neills elder brother en-
listed apain, and once more Patrick de-
termined to become a soldier He ran
away, was overtaken and brought
back, but he finally succeeded in
his laudable desire, and 1851 fonnd
hiin drummer boy vt Washington. One
day the drummajor, a big ''six rooter"
from the rural districts, commanded
young O'Neill to beat certain roll. The
performance did not please the Major,
and he struck the Jersey drummer boy.
powerful blow in the mouth with the
back of his hand. This was more than
the proud spirit OF the young Jerseyman
his superior both In rank and strength
he promptly cracked ''old furs and
feathers" over the head with his drum
stick. For this act OF insubordiuation
young O'Neill was compelled to carry q
gun. and thus he became full hedged
soldier in Company Il Ct tne Sixty,slxtn
New York Volunteers. Colonel Pickney,
commanding.
The regiment was assigned to Summers
Division, Army OF the Potomac, In Octo-
ber, 1851, and was soon seeing service OF
the most active kind.
CALLED INTO BATTLE.
EARLY on the morning of May 81 the
Sixty-sixth was summoned 10 the help of
Cases division, which had been routed
out Of its tents by the Confederates. about
four miles from Richmond. The regi-
ment gailantly responded TO the call and
nobly attacked the Confederates. The
battle OF Fair Oaks followed.
O'Neills regiment was next engaged IN
the fight known as the Seven Days Fight
before Richmond. which was brought
about by Stonewall jackson's demonstra-
tion against the right wing OF McClel-
lnn's army. The advancing Confeder-
ates were repulssd in gallant style by
two trigades under Meighsr and
French, and the battle Of Gaines Mills
followed. But the next day the tide
turned in favor of the Jonnnies and Che
Yankees were driven back to Peach
Orchard, where. June 20, bloody en-.
qagement took place with the celebrated
"Texas Rangers Owing TO the drsper-
ate odds against them, the bluecoats
were forced back seven miles to Oak
Swamp, where they made gallant stand
under heavy artillery fire. The Confed-
crates. flushed with victory. came on
with 4 confident rush. The Irish brigade
met them with equal dash aud when the
battle closed had captured three OF the
rebel cannon.
participated was the fight at Turkey
Bend. or Harrlson's Landing, which was
followed by the desperate struggle at
Malvern Hill, when the whole rebel
force was hurled agninst the Union
Army and was repulsed with great
loss. After doing his part, and
tam, O'Neill went with his regiment on
the famous reconnoitre from Harper's
Ferry to CharlestoWn, Va. The Sixty
sixth and the Flfty-seventh New York
supported the engineer corps as 1t laid a
pLntoon bridge across the Rappahannock.
IN This engagement the Sixty-sixth srlf-
fered severely and lost its colonel SO
gallantly did young OsNeill conduct him
SELF In this fignt, that at its close he was
made sergeant
MANY OTHER BATTLES.
From that time TO the close OF the war
the young Sergeant saw severe nghtlng.
He was 10 the engagement OF Snicker' $
Gap. the Battle Of Fredericksburg. where
he was made third sergeant, and the
famous charge on Marye's Heiants by
the Second corps under Major General
Hancock; the battle Of Chancellorviile,
in which SsoiieWalf Jackson was killed.
In this battle young O'Neiil was raken
prisoner and he had q caste OF LIBBY
Prison. He was soon released and i'm
mediarely returned 10 his regiment. With
which he participated III the battle of the
Wilderness; the fights at Spottsvlvauia,
Pee River, Coltt Harbor, Petersburg,
Deep Bottom, the great mipe explosion
of July 80; the battle OF Strawberry
Plains. the Weldon Railroad expedition
and the hattie of Ream Station
CAPTURED A SECOND TIME,
While the Sixty sixth WIS engaged in
repelling charge made By Mahone's
Division, young O'Neill again fell Into
the hands of the enemy and wns once
more treated to the hospitalities of Li0by
Prison Two weeks later he waaat Belle
Isle and soon after that he was sent to
Salisbury. North Carofna.
There he passed six months within 8
stockude where untold horrors were daily
enacted. The old factory and ont build
inqs were wholly inadequate 70 contain
the thousands upon thousands Of Union
solder who were confined there. and q
great majority OF them were compelled
Io burrow iuto the ground IN order te