James C. Neill was lieutenant colonel of artillery in the Texian army at the Battle of Bexar. The Texians fought Mexican General Cós to a surrender on December 10, 1835 and Cós took his army out of San Antonio, leaving the town in control of the Texians. The Texians expected the Mexican army to return, but they didn't expect that to happen soon. Many, including General Edward Burleson, left San Antonio starting in December. Some went to go find other Mexicans to fight. Many had volunteered in October, November, or December to serve in the army for three months, and took the opportunity from their discharges to go back to their homes. Neill was left in command of about 110 men, most of whom had recently immigrated to Texas and did not yet have homes there.
During January and February, some reinforcements arrived. The companies of men brought by James Bowie, Philip Dimmitt, William B. Travis, and David Crockett raised the size of the garrison - which was still simultaneously losing some of the men who fought against Cós - up to about 150. Then Neill received word that his entire family in Bastrop had fallen ill. On February 11, he took a leave of absence, placing the San Antonio garrison under the temporary command of Lt. Colonel Travis. On February 23, while Neill was still gone, Santa Anna's army arrived. Travis and his men, plus a few residents of San Antonio who opposed the dictator, took shelter in the makeshift fortress where they would make their stand - the Alamo.
At some point during his two months in command at San Antonio, Neill made a muster roll of the men serving under him. According to the heading on the document, it was made "at the time when Col. Neil left." It does not, however, have the names of Travis, Bowie, Crockett, or any of the men who arrived with them. It also does not have the names of many men who voted in an election for convention delegates on February 1. A careful study of the names on the roll indicates that it had to have been made on or before January 14.1 The most logical assumption is that Neill made it upon or shortly after assuming command. It is probably the same document he enclosed with a letter he sent to the provisional government on January 6, in which he praised the men under his service and wrote, "they whose names are herewith inclosed [sic] are to a man those who acted So gallant in the 10 weeks open field Campaign..."2
There are two surviving specimens of Neill's muster roll. One is a copy that was made after the revolution (see the document here). It is part of a collection of muster rolls from the Texas Revolution in the archives of the Texas General Land Office. It originally contained the names of 110 men: 9 staff and field officers, a 3-man ordnance department, 56 artillerymen, and 42 infantrymen. Tears have removed 8 names completely and partially removed about a dozen more. The other specimen is said to be the original document made by Colonel Neill himself.3 Only the first folio of the original, containing 51 names, survives, but, fortunately, they include all eight of the names missing from the other specimen, and all but two of the other damaged names. The two copies have the same names, in the same order, with one exception: surgeon Amos Pollard, who is documented by his own letters to have been in San Antonio on January 16, is not on the original specimen, but he is on the later copy. The handwriting is not fully legible on either copy, so some of the names are uncertain. In several cases, the handwriting of one copy is used to interpret the other. There are a few spelling variations between the two versions. Many are varations on the same pronunciation, but some variations change the name significantly, such as Duel becoming Dust, and Pevehouse becoming Preehouse.
The table below contains our transcription of both specimens of Neill's muster roll. "Do" is an abbreviation for "ditto," or "same as above," which is also sometimes indicated by quotation marks. The third column, "Normalized Name," is the preferred version of the name on TexasCounties.net, and is the one used consistently throughout our articles and tables, no matter how it appears on a given source document. In most cases, it is the man's name as it appears on official government paperwork, such as land grants. The fourth column, Status, shows whether the man was killed in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836 or, if not, what became of him.
Note: although every effort has been made to be accurate, it is possible that we have missed something or made a copy-and-paste error or typo. If you spot something wrong, please contact us.
Original image | GLO Copy image | Normalized Name | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Return of the men remaining in the Garrison of Bexar at the time | Return, made by Col. J. C. Neil, of the men remaining in the garrison of Bexar when he left. | |||
Staff & Field Officers | Field and Staff Officers | |||
1 | Lieut. Coln. J. C. Neil,commd | J. C. Neil Lieut Colonel, commanding | Neill, James C. | voted on 2/1, left on 2/11/1836 |
2 | Major G. B. Jamison, Engineer | J. B. Jamison Maj. | Jamison, Green B. | KIB on 3/6 |
3 | S. Melton — Q. Master | E. Melton Qr. Master | Melton, Eliel | KIB on 3/6 |
4 | J. Baugh — Adjutant | J. Baugh Adjutant | Baugh, John J. | KIB on 3/6 |
5 | A. Anderson — Q. Mast. Sergt. | A. Anderson Qr. Master Sergt. | Anderson, A. | KIB on 3/6 |
6 | H. J. Williamson — Seargt Major | H. J. Williams Sergt. Major | Williamson, Hiram J. | KIB on 3/6 |
7 | J. Fitch — Instt of Arty | J. Fitch Inst. of Art. | Fitch, Jabez | discharged, voted on 2/1, survived the revolution |
8 | W. M. W. Hart — Assistant Surgeon | W. H. W. Hart Asst. Surgeon | Hart, William M. W. | unknown |
9 | Amos Pollard Do. | Pollard, Amos | KIB on 3/6 | |
Ordinance Department. | Ordinance Department. | |||
10 | Geo Evans — Master Ord. | George Evans. Mast of Ord | Evans, Robert | KIB on 3/6 |
11 | S. C. Blair — Asſistant | S. C. Blair Asst. | Blair, Samuel C. | KIB on 3/6 |
12 | Chal. Lance — | Charles Lance " | Zanco, Charles | KIB on 3/6 |
Artillery Company | Artillery Compy. | |||
13 | W. R. Carey — Captain | [torn] R. Carey Captain | Carey, William R. | KIB on 3/6 |
14 | F. W. Jackson — 1st Lieut | [torn] W. Jackson 1stLieut | Jackson, Francis W. | left before 2/4 |
15 | B. F. Fry — 2nd do | [torn] F. Fry 2nd do | Fry, Benjamin F. | survived the revolution |
16 | Wm. Hersee — Sgt. wounded | [torn] Hersee (wounded) 1 Sergt. | Hersee, William D. | died at the Alamo |
17 | J. Mc. Gregor — 2nd Sgt | [torn] M. Gregor 2nd do | McGregor, John | KIB on 3/6 |
18 | J. W. Healee — 3rd do | [torn] W. Heallie 3rd do | Healer, John W. | discharged on 2/10, survived the revolution |
19 | J. Robertson — 4th do | [torn] Robertson 4th do | Robinson, J. | KIB on 3/6 |
20 | P. J. Jennings — 1st Corporal | [torn] J. Jennings 1st Corpl. | Jennings, P.J. | unknown |
21 | Wm Lightfoot — 3rd do | [torn] Lightfoot 3rd " | Lightfoot, William W. | voted on 2/1, discharged on 2/10, survived the revolution |
22 | M. B. Atkinson — | [torn] B. Atkinson | Atkinson, Milton B. | voted on 2/1, fought at San Jacinto |
23 | L. Boatright — | [torn] Boatright | Boatright, Lewis | survived the revolution |
24 | J. Byrnes — | [torn] Byrnes | Byrnes, John | voted on 2/1, KIB on 3/6? |
25 | J. Balentine | [torn] Balentine | Ballentine, John J. | KIB on 3/6 |
26 | R. Cockran | [torn] Cockran | Cochran, Robert E. | KIB on 3/6 |
27 | P. Conrad | [torn] Conrad | Conrad, Peter | survived the revolution |
28 | R. W. Cunningham | [torn] W. Cunningham | Cunningham, Robert W. | KIB on 3/6 |
29 | W. Leerduff | [torn] Leerdoff | Leerduff, W. | unknown |
30 | S. Damon | [torn] Damon | Damon, Squire | KIB on 3/6 |
31 | L. Duel | [torn] Dust | Duel, Lewis | KIB on 3/6 |
32 | J. L. Ewing Secty to Commd | [torn] Ewing Sec to com. | Ewing, James L. | KIB on 3/6 |
33 | G. Navan—Secty Enginr dept | [torn] Navan " Engineer Dept. | Navan, Gerald | in San Felipe before 3/24 |
34 | William Edwards — | [torn].. Edwards | Edwards, William | unknown |
35 | C. Gaymes — | [torn]mes | Gaymes, G. | voted on 2/1 |
36 | T. Holland — | [torn] | Holland, Tapley | KIB on 3/6 |
37 | C. Heiskell — | [torn] | Haskell, Charles M. | KIB on 3/6 |
38 | L. Johnson — | [torn] | Johnson, Lewis | KIB on 3/6 |
39 | T. Kain — | [torn] | Cain, John | KIB on 3/6 |
40 | J. Kenney — | [torn] | Kenney, James | KIB on 3/6 |
41 | P. Lindley — | [torn] | Lindley, Jonathan | KIB on 3/6 |
42 | J. Lewis — | [torn] | Lewis, James | voted on 2/1, alive as of 3/23 |
43 | A. B. Mitchell — | A. B. Mitchell | Mitchell, Napoleon B. | KIB on 3/6 |
44 | M. T. Malone — | W. T. Malerne | Malone, William T. | KIB on 3/6 |
45 | J. Northcroſs — | J. Northcross | Northcross, James | KIB on 3/6 |
46 | P. Pevehouse — | P. Preehouse | Pevehouse, Preston | voted on 2/1, discharged on 2/10 survived the revolution |
47 | J. Pevehouse — | J. Preehouse | Pevehouse, John | voted on 2/1, discharged on 2/13, survived the revolution |
48 | R. Perry — | R. Perry | Perry, Richardson | KIB on 3/6 |
49 | J. Rutherford — | J. Rutherford | Rutherford, Joseph | KIB on 3/6 |
50 | T. Ryan — | T. Ryan | Ryan, Thomas | voted on 2/1, fought at San Jacinto |
51 | R. W. Russell — | R. W. Russell | Russell, Robert. W. | voted on 2/1, survived the revolution |
52 | William [torn] | William Smith | Smith, William H. | KIB on 3/6 |
53 | C. S. Smith | Smith, Charles Somerset | KIB on 3/6 | |
54 | R. Tommel | Trammel, Burke | KIB on 3/6 | |
55 | F. Taylor | Taylor, Felix | discharged, fought at San Jacinto | |
56 | G. Tomlinson | Tumlinson, George W. | KIB on 3/6 | |
57 | Thomas Walters | Waters, Thomas | KIB on 3/6 | |
58 | G. Wyatt | Wyatt, C. C. | voted on 2/1 | |
59 | A. Wolf | Wolf, Anthony | KIB on 3/6 | |
60 | J. Bartlett | Bartlett, J. | unknown | |
61 | S. C Connell | Connell, Sampson C. | survived the revolution | |
62 | J. Ingram | Ingram, James | KIB on 3/6 | |
63 | H. Johnston | Johnston, Harrison | voted on 2/1 | |
64 | J. Walker | Walker, Jacob | unknown | |
65 | J. Shudd | Sheid, Manson | KIB on 3/6 | |
66 | J. Wamull | Wamull, J. | unknown | |
67 | W. Howard | Howard, W. | unknown | |
68 | D. Borne | Bourne, Daniel | KIB on 3/6 | |
Infantry | ||||
69 | Wm Blazebey Captain | Blazeby, William | KIB on 3/6 | |
70 | John Jones 1st Lieut | Jones, John | KIB on 3/6 | |
71 | B. F. Musselman Sergt. | Musselman, Robert F. | KIB on 3/6 | |
72 | James Dockon do | Dimkin, James | KIB on 3/6 | |
73 | R. B. Moore | Moore, Robert B. | KIB on 3/6 | |
74 | Robt Crosser (wounded) | Crossman, Robert | voted on 2/1 | |
75 | Wm. Spratt | Spratt, William | KIB on 3/6 | |
76 | J[?] Mo[??] | Morcan, John | voted on 2/1, possible KIB John Morman, if not then unknown | |
77 | Saml. Holloway | Holloway, Samuel | KIB on 3/6 | |
78 | William Bell | Bell, William | voted on 2/1, survived the revolution | |
79 | J. W. Garrand | Garrand, James W. | KIB on 3/6? | |
80 | Stephen Dennison | Denison, Stephen | KIB on 3/6 | |
81 | W. Lynn (taken prisoner) | Linn, William | KIB on 3/6 | |
82 | W. Howell | Howell, William D. | KIB on 3/6 | |
83 | H. J. Nelson (wounded) | Nelson, George | KIB on 3/6 | |
84 | Richard Starr | Starr, Richard | KIB on 3/6 | |
85 | James M.Gee (wounded) | McGee, James | KIB on 3/6 | |
86 | Mills D. Andross (sick) | Andross, Mills D. | voted on 2/1, died at the Alamo | |
87 | Wm. Thomas (wounded) | Thomas, William | voted on 2/1 | |
88 | Wm Marshall | Marshall, William | KIB on 3/6 | |
89 | S. W. Edwards | Edwards, Samuel M. | killed at Goliad on 3/27 | |
90 | G. A. Fassitt Captain | Fassett, G. A. | left before about 2/5 | |
91 | Robt. White Lieut | White, Robert | KIB on 3/6 | |
92 | Wm. A. Erwin Sergt. | Erwin, William A. | discharged on 2/14, left Bexar | |
93 | Jona T. Hobbs | Hobbs, Jonathan T. | discharged on 2/14, survived the revolution | |
94 | Wm. Parks | Parks, William | KIB on 3/6 | |
95 | Isaac Ryan | Ryan, Isaac | KIB on 3/6 | |
96 | John Pickering | Pickering, John | left before 1/20, survived the revolution | |
97 | A. Devault | Duvalt, Andrew | KIB on 3/6 | |
98 | A.S. Summerlin | Summerlin, A. Spain | KIB on 3/6 | |
99 | Tho. Hendrick | Hendrick, Thomas | discharged on 2/14, survived the revolution | |
100 | T. Harris | Harris, Temple C. | fought at San Jacinto | |
101 | Chester Gorbit | Gorbet, Chester S. | survived the revolution | |
102 | H. K. Day | Day, Freeman H. K. | KIB on 3/6 | |
103 | G. Washington | Washington, George | voted on 2/1, unknown | |
104 | Mitchell | Mitchell, Edwin T. | KIB on 3/6 | |
105 | S. Sewell | Sewell, Marcus L. | KIB on 3/6 | |
106 | David Davis | Davis, David | discharged on 2/14 | |
107 | S. W. Main (in hospital) | Main, George W. | KIB on 3/6 | |
108 | W. Walker do | Walker, Asa | KIB on 3/6 | |
109 | W. Maze | Maze, W. | unknown | |
110 | [torn] | unknown | unknown |
This is a breakdown of the 110 men listed on Colonel Neill's muster roll.
A study of Neill's muster roll shows how freely men were moving in and out of the Texian garrison at San Antonio in early 1836. Fewer than two thirds of the men who were under Neill's command in mid-January entered the Alamo with Travis and Bowie, the others having either gone to other posts or gone back to civilian life. By the same token, of the 150 or so men who were present at the beginning of the Alamo siege, fewer than half had been in San Antonio for more than about five weeks. With a dysfunctional provisional government and a commanding general who was absent, men made their own decisions about whether their services were needed in the army and, if so, where.
By David Carson
Page last updated: November 3, 2023
1Samuel M. Edwards left on the 14th, William M. W. Hart was gone before the 16th, and John Pickering left before the 20th. Neill also wrote two letters on the 14th about a significant number of departures that had either already occurred or were anticipated that would leave him with 80 men or fewer.
2James C. Neill letter to the provisional governmnet, 1/6/1836.
3TexasCounties.net questions this claim. The heading on the document reads like something that was written by an archivist or editor, not its creator. It lacks the signature of the preparer, the date, and a testament of its accuracy, all of which would be expected on an original muster roll. Furthermore, Neill's own name is misspelled on it three times.
4No names are indicated as such.