Military Monday - Prisoner of war...how many times?

Colonel H. Megonnigil was my fourth great grandfather and had a surname that I both love and hate (see my lengthy discourse here and here). I have found nothing in addition to what I mention in these previous posts. But I did do a little research on Colonel's time as a prisoner of war in 1863.

Colonel, who was not a colonel at all, served in the 6th Missouri State Militia Cavalry as a bugler. His records show that he enlisted on December 17, 1861 for the duration of the war. He was mustered out January 16, 1865. Throughout the war he was reimbursed for the use of his horse and equipment. A nice extra bonus, I imagine. Unfortunately, poor Colonel's horse and equipment were taken by the Confederates at the Surrender of Neosho, Missouri on October 4, 1863.

Maj. Eno, commander of the 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, provides this report regarding the capture of the 6th M.S.M.

Report of Maj. Edward B. Eno, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, of action at Neosho, Mo.

NEWTONIA, October 5, 1863--11 a.m.

COLONEL: Reached here with force from Cassville at 4 a.m. Shelby attacked Captain McAfee at Neosho yesterday, capturing him and his whole force, 165 men, with a train of 6 wagons loaded with subsistence. Captain McAfee fought them as long as he could, but they knocked the court-house down with their artillery (three pieces). Their force is 1,200 or 1,500 strong. They left Neosho for Carthage about 4 o'clock last evening. About 200 prisoners paroled have arrived. I suggest that you order the artillery, with the balance of the cavalry, to join us here, when we could push on and be further re-enforced at Greenfield. Shelby will march night and day to reach Jackson County. If we start after him, subsistence must be sent after us. We have five days' rations. Will arrive to-day.

E.B. ENO, Major [Eighth] Missouri State Militia [Cavalry]. to Col. J. Edwards, Springfield*

It is unclear whether Colonel Megonnigil was among the number of 6th M.S.M. captured, but it is certain that his horse was.

But Colonel's records show this was not his only time as a captive. Among Colonel's civil war files is his prisoner of war record. Similar to his time in Neosho, Missouri, he was only held captive for one day:

The document states that he was captured and released at Roseville, Arkansas, on September 26, 1863. Just nine days prior to his surrender at Neosho, Missouri. I currently live in Arkansas and couldn't help but try to find the location of Colonel's capture. This is all I could find:

I kid you not. It wasn't even listed on most maps that I looked at. I did not have time to visit the county historical society for more information so this little sign was all I found. Was Colonel really here?

Well, it turns out that if you flip over the P.O.W. card shown above you find this:

The last line of this record reads: "No record of Capture at Roseville, Ark. Sept. 26/63." So there you have it. According to the Adjutant General's Office Colonel wasn't there. The only record I find of a skirmish at Roseville, Ark. is November 12, 1863, well after his supposed capture and release. It appears that my research and drive across the state of Arkansas were based on the misinformation of a clerk. I'm pretty sure somewhere he is laughing.

* - Ancestry.com. Official records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1861-1865, Vol. XXII, Part 1, page 658; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M262, 128 rolls); National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Surname Saturday - Megonnigil

A few days ago I wrote about the myriad of ways to spell the surname: Megonnigil. There are so many things that have grown to become the bane of my genealogical existence, but I truly think this name is at or near the top. In an effort to spread the word on this family, and hopefully break down a wall or two, I will share what I know of this line.

Colonel Henderson Megonnigil, bugler, 6th Cavalry Regiment, MSM

I am connected to the Megonnigil line through my 3rd-great grandmother, Lucinda Megonnigil. She was born in Camden, Ray County, Missouri in 1851 and married James Madison Thomas October 23, 1870. Lucinda died January 26, 1912 in the same town she was born in and I was able to link her to her parents through her death certificate. They are listed as Colonel H. Megonnigil and Mary Akers.

I have only been able to find a little bit on Colonel and Mary. In 1850, 1860 and 1870, Colonel and Mary lived in Ray County, Missouri, Jackson County, Missouri and then Ray County, Missouri, respectively. Colonel is listed as born in Illinois. He also served in the Civil War as a bugler for the Union in the 6th Regiment Calvary Missouri State Militia. It appears he served for the entire war with this unit. I also found record of him as a prisoner of war at Roseville, Arkansas, but that is not substantiated. He may have also fought in the Mexican War.

Colonel and Mary Megonnigil had six children that I am aware of: Lucinda (1851), Mary Isabel (1854), Elizabeth (1857), Annie (1864), John Nelson (1866) and Malinda (1869).

John Nelson and Fannie (Clevenger) Megonnigil

The 1870 census is the last record I find of either Colonel or his wife, Mary. I have located a few of their children on the 1880 census and the younger ones are living with their siblings or boarding with other families, which leads me to believe that both Colonel and Mary are dead prior to 1880. I have found several trees online that link Colonel to Eli Megonnigil, also living in Ray County, Missouri, as his father. I have found no documents linking Colonel to Eli, although with such a unique name I am sure they are related somehow.

So what is next? Perhaps I need to "back door" my research and learn more about Eli Megonnigil to see if I can find a link back to Colonel. I could also contact the county clerk and request any probate records they may have for either individual, though I am not certain of any death dates. The surname continues to rankle me!

Photos courtesy of the Smith and Cooley Tree.

How do you spell that?

Ancestry.com has this neat little function on their homepage entitled Recent Member Connect Activity. I both love and hate this function. I love it because it brings to my attention new research options and reminds me to check out lines I have neglected. I hate it because it only compounds my genealogy ADD. A couple of days ago I saw that another user had added files for the Megonnigil family. Alas, I went to my own Megonnigil line, which I don't have much information for, and was reminded why I had neglected them. How do you spell that? Let me count the ways:

Colonel H. Megonnigil, courtesy
Smith and Cooley Tree

Megonnigil
Megonnigal
Megonnigle
McGonigle
McGonigal

Mugonnigil

McGonnigal

McGunigil
McGunnigale
MeGonnigial
McGunnegle
McGunigal

I have two spellings of the name in my own tree! I will have to be very motivated to break through this wall.