He lost his right arm at the battle of Churubusco in 1848 during the Mexican War
Severely wounded and carried from the field at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo. in 1861
Wounded in the Battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee
(1820-92) He was born in County Cork Ireland on Christmas Day in 1820, and came to America at the age of 12. Becoming interested in the militia, he joined the "Independent Tompkins Blues" which later were called the "Baxter Blues" which served in the Mexican War as Company A, 1st New York Volunteers. He lost his right arm at the battle of Churubusco and in 1848 was commissioned a lieutenant of the 2nd U.S. Infantry, with which he served until 1861. After serving under General Nathaniel Lyon in St. Louis, Sweeney was sent with General Franz Sigel to Carthage in command of the Missouri Militia, and at Wilson's Creek he was wounded and carried from the field. In January 1862, he became colonel of the 52nd Illinois Infantry. He served at Fort Donelson, and at Shiloh he commanded a brigade of General W.H.L. Wallace's division, which sustained 1,247 casualties with Sweeney numbered among the wounded. At the battle of Corinth in Oct. 1862, he succeeded to brigade command after the death of General P.A. Hackleman. He spent most of 1863 on duty in Tennessee and Mississipi and was later advanced to the command of a division in the 16th Corps, which he led in the Atlanta campaign. After the battle of Atlanta, he was arrested and court martialed on charges preferred by General Grenville Dodge, commander of the 16th Corps, but was acquitted after a lengthy trial.
Half view, in uniform with rank of brigadier general. Imprint on the front mount, A.J. Fox, Artist, Corner of Fourth and Olive Streets, St. Louis. |