James Clinton Neill (c. 1788 – 1848)[1] was an American soldier and politician, most noted for his role in the Texas Revolution and the early defense of the Alamo.

It is likely that James Clinton Neill was acquainted with a near-neighbor around those parts at the same time, David Crockett, another Tennessean who would become a Texas Revolution hero.

Like Crockett, J.C. Neill fought in the Creek Indian War, enlisting with the West Tennessee Militia (protecting present day Alabama).

In addition to potentially sharing time with Davy Crockett, during this military service James Clinton Neill may well have also met his future Texas Revolution commander, Sam Houston.

He lived in Tennessee (present day Alabama) with his wife Margaret Harriett, who bore him three children – George Jefferson Neill (b.

On September 28, 1835, when armed conflict with Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican troops seemed inevitable, he joined the Texian militia as a captain of artillery.

From December 5–10, Neill's battery provided covering fire for the assault on San Antonio de Béxar.

The flying hailstorm of iron would quickly end the advance, ultimately resulting in the surrender of the Mexican forces on December 9.

[9] On December 7, the Texas General Council had commissioned Neill lieutenant colonel of artillery in the regular Texian army.

[11] On December 21, 1835, Houston requested that Neill, now a lieutenant colonel of an artillery company, take command of the Texian and Tejano garrison stationed at the Alamo Mission in San Antonio de Bexar.

The orders also specified that Neill should make a report to Houston detailing the current state of the defenses in the city and what improvements were needed.

[13] Neill requested additional troops and supplies, stressing that the garrison was likely unable to withstand a siege greater than four days.

[15] On January 17, 1836, James Bowie arrived to evaluate the situation, with the suggestion from Sam Houston to remove the artillery and blow up the Alamo.

Despite Houston's orders to have the Alamo destroyed as indefensible, Neill and Bowie vowed "... we will rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy."

Thus, Neill once again relinquished his command and joined the withdrawal of Sam Houston's army to Groce's Retreat on the Brazos River.

[Note 3] During this fight, his artillery corps repulsed an enemy probe of the woods in which the main Texian Army was concealed.

1838: received a league of land (including a parcel in Henderson County along the confluence of Walnut Creek and the Trinity River) for his services during the revolution.

[20] On land owned with two partners, David Reed Mitchell and Thomas I. Smith, one hundred acres was donated on which the town of Corsicana, Texas, would be founded in 1848.