Solon D. Neal
Encyclopedia
Solon D. Neal was an American
soldier in the U.S. Army
who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas-Indian Wars
. He was one of thirteen men who received the Medal of Honor
for gallantry against the Kiowa
and Chief Kicking Bird
at the Battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870.
in 1846. One of four children, he had two brothers, Joseph and Frank, and a sister Mary. Neal was educated in local public schools and, upon outbreak of the American Civil War
in 1861, the 15-year-old Neal attempted to enlist in the Union Army
but his father refused to give his permission. Solon remained in school and later became a carpenter's apprentice however, on March 1, 1866, he left home and made his way to Boston, Massachusetts where enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was sent to Carlisle Barracks
in Pennsylvania
for basic cavalry training and assigned to Company L of the 6th U.S. Cavalry. Neal spent his first three years
in East Texas
at Bonham
, McKinney
, Jefferson
, and Greenville
during Reconstruction assisting civil authorities in law enforcement, patrolling against vigilante groups, and monitoring elections. He was also involved in pursuing outlaws in the region, most notably, Bob Lee and his gang. On February 20, 1867, less than a year after his enlistment, Neal was promoted to the rank of sergeant
.
When his term of enlistment expired on March 1, 1869, Neal immediately reenlisted and was transferred to Fort Richardson where he served as post librarian. In early-1870, he was called for frontier duty against raiding bands of Kiowa
and Comanches. He was among the cavalrymen under Captain Curwen B. McClellan who fought against the Kiowa and Chief Kicking Bird
near the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870, and one of thirteen soldiers who received the Medal of Honor
for "gallantry in action" a month later. On the final day of the battle, Neal volunteered with Corporal James Watson and Sergeants John May
and John Kirk to clear snipers high up on the cliffs who were preventing the cavalry's retreat. Two of the snipers were killed and all four men were able to hold the hill until the command was safely past. The fighting ended half an hour later as the Kiowa withdrew and rode off.
Afterwards, Neal was transferred to Fort Harker
in Kansas
in early 1871 and where he was discharged on May 29 of that year. He returned to military service a year later and joined Company K of the 11th U.S. Infantry at Fort Richardson, Texas
. Neal spent the next several years escorting railroad-surveying crews, mail coaches and supply trains until April 15, 1877. He then reenlisted with the 10th U.S. Infantry at Fort Clark, Texas on January 8, 1878, but obtained a transfer to the 8th U.S. Cavalry shortly after and spent five years fighting against Mexican bandits and trans-border Indian raiders. After his reenlistment on February 20, 1883, Neal served with 19th U.S. Infantry from 1883 to 1888, and with the 16th U.S. Infantry until 1893. He was appointed to the Indianapolis Arsenal as an ordinance sergeant and remained there until his retirement in 1897. Returning to Texas, he lived in San Antonio until his death in the Station Hospital at Fort Sam Houston
on November 1, 1920, and interred at the San Antonio National Cemetery
. In accordance to his final wishes, his entire life savings ($5,000) was left to the American Red Cross
. His residence at 106 Wyoming Street later became the site of the HemisFair '68 Tower
.
Citation:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas-Indian Wars
Texas-Indian Wars
The Texas–Indian wars were a series of conflicts between settlers in Texas and Plains Indians. These conflicts began when the first European and mostly Spanish settlers moved into Spanish Texas, and continued through Texas's time as part of Mexico, when more Europeans, especially Americans...
. He was one of thirteen men who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for gallantry against the Kiowa
Kiowa
The Kiowa are a nation of American Indians and indigenous people of the Great Plains. They migrated from the northern plains to the southern plains in the late 17th century. In 1867, the Kiowa moved to a reservation in southwestern Oklahoma...
and Chief Kicking Bird
Kicking Bird
Kicking Bird Also known as Tene-angop'te, "The Kicking Bird," or "Eagle Striking," and as Watohkonk, "Black Eagle," was the high chief of the Kiowa Native American tribe. He was born around 1835, not a lot is known of his early life except his grandfather was a Crow captive that was adopted by the...
at the Battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870.
Biography
Solon D. Neal was born to Eli and May Neal in Hanover, New HampshireHanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
in 1846. One of four children, he had two brothers, Joseph and Frank, and a sister Mary. Neal was educated in local public schools and, upon outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1861, the 15-year-old Neal attempted to enlist in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
but his father refused to give his permission. Solon remained in school and later became a carpenter's apprentice however, on March 1, 1866, he left home and made his way to Boston, Massachusetts where enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was sent to Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle Barracks is a United States Army facility located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It is part of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and is the site of the U.S. Army War College...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
for basic cavalry training and assigned to Company L of the 6th U.S. Cavalry. Neal spent his first three years
in East Texas
East Texas
East Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
at Bonham
Bonham, Texas
Bonham is a city in Fannin County, Texas, United States. The population was 10,127 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Fannin County. James Bonham sought the aid of James Fannin at the Battle of the Alamo....
, McKinney
McKinney, Texas
McKinney is a city in and the county seat of Collin County, Texas, United States, and the second in population to Plano. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 131,117 The Census Bureau listed McKinney as the nation's fastest growing city from 2000 to 2003 and again in...
, Jefferson
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
, and Greenville
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
during Reconstruction assisting civil authorities in law enforcement, patrolling against vigilante groups, and monitoring elections. He was also involved in pursuing outlaws in the region, most notably, Bob Lee and his gang. On February 20, 1867, less than a year after his enlistment, Neal was promoted to the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
.
When his term of enlistment expired on March 1, 1869, Neal immediately reenlisted and was transferred to Fort Richardson where he served as post librarian. In early-1870, he was called for frontier duty against raiding bands of Kiowa
Kiowa
The Kiowa are a nation of American Indians and indigenous people of the Great Plains. They migrated from the northern plains to the southern plains in the late 17th century. In 1867, the Kiowa moved to a reservation in southwestern Oklahoma...
and Comanches. He was among the cavalrymen under Captain Curwen B. McClellan who fought against the Kiowa and Chief Kicking Bird
Kicking Bird
Kicking Bird Also known as Tene-angop'te, "The Kicking Bird," or "Eagle Striking," and as Watohkonk, "Black Eagle," was the high chief of the Kiowa Native American tribe. He was born around 1835, not a lot is known of his early life except his grandfather was a Crow captive that was adopted by the...
near the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870, and one of thirteen soldiers who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for "gallantry in action" a month later. On the final day of the battle, Neal volunteered with Corporal James Watson and Sergeants John May
John May (Medal of Honor)
John May was a German-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas-Indian Wars...
and John Kirk to clear snipers high up on the cliffs who were preventing the cavalry's retreat. Two of the snipers were killed and all four men were able to hold the hill until the command was safely past. The fighting ended half an hour later as the Kiowa withdrew and rode off.
Afterwards, Neal was transferred to Fort Harker
Fort Harker (Kansas)
Fort Harker, located in Kanopolis, Kansas, was an active military installation of the United States Army from November 17, 1866 to October 5, 1872. The fortification was named after General Charles Garrison Harker, who was killed in action at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in the American Civil War...
in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in early 1871 and where he was discharged on May 29 of that year. He returned to military service a year later and joined Company K of the 11th U.S. Infantry at Fort Richardson, Texas
Fort Richardson, Texas
Fort Richardson was an United States Army installation located one mile south of Jacksboro, Texas. Named in honor of Union General Israel B...
. Neal spent the next several years escorting railroad-surveying crews, mail coaches and supply trains until April 15, 1877. He then reenlisted with the 10th U.S. Infantry at Fort Clark, Texas on January 8, 1878, but obtained a transfer to the 8th U.S. Cavalry shortly after and spent five years fighting against Mexican bandits and trans-border Indian raiders. After his reenlistment on February 20, 1883, Neal served with 19th U.S. Infantry from 1883 to 1888, and with the 16th U.S. Infantry until 1893. He was appointed to the Indianapolis Arsenal as an ordinance sergeant and remained there until his retirement in 1897. Returning to Texas, he lived in San Antonio until his death in the Station Hospital at Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
on November 1, 1920, and interred at the San Antonio National Cemetery
San Antonio National Cemetery
San Antonio National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 3,163 interments.- History :...
. In accordance to his final wishes, his entire life savings ($5,000) was left to the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. His residence at 106 Wyoming Street later became the site of the HemisFair '68 Tower
HemisFair '68
HemisFair '68 was the first officially designated world's fair held in the southwestern United States. San Antonio, Texas hosted the fair from April 6 through October 6, 1968. More than thirty nations hosted pavilions at the fair. The fair was held in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Private, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Hanover, N.H. Date of issue: 25 August 1870.Citation:
Gallantry in action.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
Further reading
- Konstantin, Phil. This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002. ISBN 0-306-81170-7
- Loftin, Jack. Trails Through Archer: A Centennial History, 1880-1980. Burnet, Texas: Nortex, 1979. ISBN 0-89015-227-6