★  Sweeny, Thomas W.

Thomas William “Fighting Tom” Sweeny

Sweeny.jpg
Born:
December 25, 1820

Birthplace: Cork, Ireland

Father: William Sweeny – 1827

Mother: Ellen S. Clark

Occupation before War:

1833: Immigrated to the United States from Ireland​
Served in the Mexican – American War​
Wounded in the Groin at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico​
Right arm was amputated after injury at Battle of Churubusco, Mexico​
Served with the United States Army, 2nd Infantry Regiment​
1850 – 1853: Served in the Yuma War​

Civil War Career:

Commander of United States Arsenal in St. Louis, Missouri​
Told confederate Symphonizes before he would surrender the Arsenal, he would blow it up​
1861: Participated in the Capture of Camp Jackson, Missouri​
Assisted in organizing the Home Guard in Missouri​
1862: Colonel of 52nd Illinois Infantry at Battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee​
Brig. General in Union Army Volunteers Infantry​
1862: Commanded a brigade during the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​
1862: Wounded in his arm and legs during the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​
1862: Served in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi​
1864: Division Commander during the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia​
1864: Got into a fist fight with his corps commander at Atlanta​
1864: Received a court martial due to his actions with Grenville Dodge​
1865: Mustered out of the Volunteer Army​

Occupation after War:

1866: Commander Fenion Invasion of Canada​
1866: Arrested for breaking neutrality laws but was soon released​
1866: Reinstated in the United States Army with the rank of Major​
1870: Retired from United States Army with the rank of Brig. General​
1870 – 1892: Lived at Astoria on Long Island, New York​

Died: April 10, 1892

Place of Death:
Long Island, New York

Age at time of Death:
71 years old

Burial Place: Green – Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sweeney was one of the most abrasive commanders in the Union army. One of his subordinates claimed he knew how to speak "Irish, American, and Profane", and he apparently would rant in an annoying staccato. He despised the British, and so when he had to command a division alongside English-born John Fuller at Bald Hill, things were only going to result in a fistfight, which it eventually did almost immediately after the battle.
That said, he seemed to be an effective division commander, as his men were among the best in the army.
 
He was in command of the St. Louis Arsenal at the outbreak of the war.. When the demand for it's surrender was made, Sweeny replied that he'd blow up the 40 tons of gunpowder before he surrendered.It did halt the take over attempt.
 
Back
Top