★ ★  MOH Swayne, Wager

Wager Swayne

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Born: November 10, 1834

Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio

Father: U.S. Associate Justice Noah Haynes Swayne 1804 – 1884
(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Mother: Sarah Ann Wager 1810 – 1881
(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Wife: Ellen Harris 1846 – 1909
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Children:

Virginia Washington Swayne Lomas 1877 – 1937​
(Buried: Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, New York)​

Education:

1856: Graduated from Yale University​
1859: Graduated from Cincinnati Law School​

Occupation before War:

1859 – 1861: Attorney in Columbus, Ohio​

Civil War Career:

1861: Major of 43rd​ Ohio Infantry Regiment​
1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 43rd​ Ohio Infantry Regiment​
1862: Served in the Battle of Island Number 10
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1862: Served in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi
1862 – 1865: Colonel of 43rd​ Ohio Infantry Regiment​
1862 – 1864: Garrison Duty in Tennessee​
1864: Served in the Battle of Resaca, Georgia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Dallas, Georgia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia
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1864: Served In Sherman’s March to the Sea, Georgia​
1865 Wounded during crossing of Salkehatchie River​
1865: His right leg had to be amputated due to his wound​
1865: Brevetted Brigadier General for his service in the war​
1865 – 1866: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​
1865 – 1866: Head of Alabama’s Freedmen’s Bureau​
1866 – 1868: Major General of Union Army, Volunteers​
1867: Mustered out of the Union Army on September 1st​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1868: Major General of Union Army, Volunteers​
1867 – 1869: Colonel of United States Army, 45th​ Infantry Regiment​
1867 – 1868: Military Governor of Alabama​
1869 – 1870: Colonel in United States Army, unassigned Duty​
1870: Retired from United States Army on July 1st​
1870 – 1881: Attorney in Toledo, Ohio​
1881 – 1902: Attorney in New York City, New York​
1893: Recipient of Medal of Honor for Battle of Corinth, Mississippi​
1899 – 1902: Director of North American Trust Company​

Died: December 18, 1902

Place of Death: New York City, New York

Cause of Death: Diabetic coma

Age at time of Death: 68 years old

Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

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Medal of Honor Citation​
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Wager Swayne, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on October 4, 1862, while serving with 43d Ohio Infantry, in action at Corinth, Mississippi, for conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge.​
 
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I give a regular program about Wager Swayne and his performance during the battle of Corinth. The citation "Conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge," hardly does justice for what he did.

When Battery Robinett briefly fell to the attacking Confederates, the 43rd Ohio began to take fire from the rear as well as in front. Swayne had the regiment sidestep to the left and then refused the right flank, creating an inverted L, which allowed his men to return fire in two directions. A magnificent piece of soldiering, one that few commanders could have pulled of under fire, and he a Yale lawyer in his first battle. (The 43rd was present at Island No. 10 but was not called upon to fight.)
 
When the commander of the 43 rd Ohio, Col. Joseph L.Kirby Smith, was mortally wounded at the 2nd Battle of Cornith on Oct. 12, 1862 command fell to Lt. Col. Swain. Col. Joseph Kirby Smith was a nephew of Gen.Edmund Kirby Smith.
 
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