Resides in East Springfield, Jefferson County, Ohio; born in Jefferson Co., O. Enlisted in the 1st Missouri Engineers, at St. Louis, Mo., August 7, 1861, under the command of Col. Bissell. This regiment was raised for service as Mechanics, their business being the repairing of railroads, building block-houses, government store-houses, pontoon bridges, and any other mechanical work, and to do fighting when absolutely necessary. This class of regiments and soldiers were often in the most trying situations and in the very faces of the enemy. Thus you see it was a dangerous part of the service. Comrade O'Connell was with his regiment on all occassions. First in its ordeal at New Madrid, when Gen. Pope was besieging the place. It was Comrade O'Connell's regiment that cut or sawed all the trees off under the water, through the James Bayou, ten miles. This accomplished, boats passed through while troops to the Tennessee side of the Mississippi river. Consult a map for the situation. They remained here until after the evacuation of New Madrid by the rebels and the occupation of the same by Gen. Pope. After the surrender of Island No. 10 the regiment went to Corinth, Miss., and remained there until the rebels evacuated their position. Then the regiment commenced to repair the Mobile and Ohio Rail Road to Columbus, Ky. Resting at Camp Jackson, Tenn., awhile, and afterwards under orders marched to the relief of Gen. Rosecrans, at Corinth, Miss., thence to Grand Junction and Holly Springs, Miss., with U. S. Grant, and to Vicksburg and was present the entire time of the Siege of Vicksburg. From Vicksburg they were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, where assistance was rendered in opening the North Western R. R. from Nashville to Atlanta, and were present at the battle of Jonesboro, which gave us Atlanta. In November followed Hood's Army as far as Big Shanty and returned to Atlanta and prepared for the great and grand march of Sherman's Army to the sea. Comrade O'Connell had charge of the Pontooniers, army of Tennessee. Was present at the storming of Fort McAllister and Siege of Savannah. He and his Pontooniers marched with Sherman from Savannah up through the Carolinas to the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., from there to Louisville, Ky., thence to St. Louis, Mo., where Comrade O'Connell's regiment was mustered out of the service as the 1st Mo. Engineers, July 18, 1865. This regiment was raised and entered the service as the 1st Engineers of the West, then on the 17th of February, 1864, was consolidated with the 23rd Mo. Vol. Infantry and then called the 1st Mo. Engineers. Comrade O'Connell was the Commissary Sergeant for two years and has undoubtedly seen his share of service in the war of the great Rebellion.