McNelly, Leander H., 1843 or 1844-1877

Civil War hero and captain in the Texas State Police and the Texas Rangers, Leander H. McNelly was born in Virginia in 1844. His family moved to Washington Co., Texas, in 1860. McNelly joined the Confederate Army when 16 years old, afterwards returning to Brenham, where he married Carey Cheek. During the Edmund J. Davis administration he was one of 4 State Police captains. He was appointed a Deputy U.S. Marshall April 4, 1873. In July 1874 McNelly was commissioned captain of a 30 man volunteer militia in the Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers. For 4 months his company mediated the violence in DeWitt Co. caused by the Taylor-Sutton Feud. In 1875, McNelly raised a company of Texas Rangers that pursued cattle rustlers on both sides of the Rio Grande. He was fired due to ill health in 1876, and died of tuberculosis Sept. 4, 1877.

From the description of Leander H. McNelly papers, 1873-1933 (bulk 1880-1910). (San Jacinto Museum of History). WorldCat record id: 55223959

Civil War hero and captain in both the Texas State Police and the Texas Rangers, Leander H. McNelly was born in Virginia in 1844 to P. J. and Mary Downey McNelly. The family moved to Washington County, Texas, in 1860 where they raised sheep. McNelly joined the Confederate Army when sixteen years old and served in Sibley's New Mexico Campaign, the Battle of Galveston, and the Louisiana campaign. General Thomas Green recommended McNelly for a commission as captain of scouts in 1863. He was seriously wounded at the Battle of Mansfield in April 1864, but returned to his command and continued with his scout company until 1865 when he was assigned to Washington County to arrest deserters.

After the war he returned to Brenham, Washington County, where he married Carey Cheek. During the Edmund J. Davis administration he was one of four State Police captains from 1870 until April 22, 1873, when the Texas State Police force was disbanded. He was appointed a Deputy U.S. Marshall April 4, 1873.

In July 1874 McNelly was commissioned captain of a thirty man volunteer militia from Washington County in the Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers. For four months until it was disbanded, his company successfully mediated the civil violence in DeWitt County caused by the Taylor-Sutton Feud. In the spring of 1875, McNelly was called upon to raise another company of Texas Rangers to be stationed in the Nueces Strip, a hotbed of cattle thievery and banditry. During his eighteen months on the border with Mexico, he actively pursued gangs of cattle rustlers on both sides of the Rio Grande. Although criticized for his extra-legal crossings of the Rio Grande and his methods for obtaining information, he often dealt in situations where the legal system was paralyzed by the very outlawry he confronted. In June 1876 he and his company of Texas Rangers captured King Fisher, a notorious outlaw, and 800 head of stolen cattle. After transporting Fisher to Eagle Pass, the local authorities freed Fisher and the cattle inspector refused to inspect the herd, so it too was set loose.

By October of 1876 McNelly's health had greatly deteriorated. To great public outrage, William Steele, the Adjutant General, relieved him from service citing the cost of his medical care as the reason. Leander McNelly retired to his farm in Burton and died of tuberculosis September 4, 1877. He was survived by his wife and two children.

From the guide to the Leander H. McNelly papers MC084. 55223959., 1873-1933, (Bulk: 1873-1877), (Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, )