Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/461

mission, however, was not made out until April 2d. He led this regiment at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines and the battles around Richmond. At Seven Pines he had a horse killed under him, and was himself severely injured by a fragment of shell. During the advance into Maryland he commanded Rodes' brigade until two days before the battle of Boonsboro, when he was relieved and returned to the command of his regiment. In this battle he received a very painful wound in the thigh. During the winter he again reported for duty and took command of the brigade. He led the brigade at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Mine Run, General Rodes having been put in command of the division. Early in 1864 his regiment was sent back to Alabama to recruit, but was not permitted to long remain idle, being ordered to Dalton and placed in Cantey's brigade. General Cantey being now in charge of the division, Colonel O'Neal led his brigade through the battles and marches of the Atlanta campaign until after the removal of General Johnston. Soon after that event Colonel O'Neal was relieved and during the rest of the war served on detached duty. A commission of brigadier-general was during this time issued to him, bearing date, June 6, 1863; but on account of the irregularity of the mails, he never received it, though acting in that capacity for the last year and a half of the war. Just four years from the time that he had left Florence for the war he returned home. He resumed the practice of law, and also took much interest in political matters. In 1874 he entered the political fight which resulted in the restoration of the Democratic party to the control of the State. In 1875 he was elected to the constitutional convention, and was chairman of the committee on education. In 1880 he was an elector on the Hancock ticket, and in 1882 was elected governor of Alabama. In 1884 he was re-elected. His administration throughout was highly commended. Retiring from the highest office in the gift of his State, he