Thomas William "Fighting Tom" Sweeney.

[major bill]

Born in Ireland Sweeny came to the United States in time to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Mexican American War. During this war he was shot in the groin and lost an arm. His disabilities did not keep him from remaining in the Army. He fought in the Yuma War were he saw action against the Indians.

When the Civil War broke out Sweeny was in command of the St. Louis Arsenal. He refused to turn over the arsenal to thevsecessionist and stated he would blow it up before he surrendered it. He was second in command at the Camp Jackson incident.

Dispute being shot twice in his remaining arm and one in the leg at Shiloh, he refused to leave the field. He served throughout the Atlanta Campaign. He got in to a fist fight with his Corps commander, but the charges were dismissed. Post war he was dismissed for going AWOL.

He joined the Fenians being in command of an invasion. Despite being arrested he soon was reinstated by the US Army. He earned promotion to Brigadier General.

Perhaps "Fighting Tom?" was a good nickname for this controversial Union hero.

 

[archieclement]

Makes one wonder why would they ever have reinstated him.

Considering in a relatively short period he was consequently court martialed, then awol, then arrested for violating neutrality laws. That period army justice seems to have been injustice for officers.

 

[major bill]

Makes one wonder why would they ever have reinstated him.

Considering in a relatively short period he was consequently court martialed, then awol, then arrested for violating neutrality laws.

I have no idea. One would suspect a political connection but I do not see one.

 

[Pollaco]

A one armed armed man in a fist fight, I guess you got the title right.

 

[Pollaco]

It seems like his "enemy" was General Grenville Dodge. It was this general that he got into a fistfight with. It was General Howard who refused to reinstate him afterwards.

 

[major bill]

How do you command an army that disobeys US law by invading Canada and then get reinstated in the US Army? Not just get reinstated but be promoted to Brigadier General?

 

[archieclement]

Who would want to serve in an army where an enlisted man could be shot/hung, branded, whipped or other draconion punishments for desertion, yet officers could go awol or take "French leave" with little consequences.

During the period "justice" seemed unduly harsh for enlisted men and rather non existent for officers.

 

[major bill]

I did have a few commanders who I whished I could get in to a fist fight with. For some silly reason I thought the Army might take a dim view of me doing so.

 

[archieclement]

I did have a few commanders who I whished I could get in to a fist fight with. For some silly reason I thought the Army might take a dim view of me doing so.

Perhaps if you had, then went awol and joined a "terrorist" attack on a foreign country you would be Brig Gen Bill

 

[major bill]

Perhaps if you had, then went awol and joined a "terrorist" attack on a foreign country you would be Brig Gen Bill

I am a Brev. Brig Gen on CivilWarTalk, does that count?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

There was plenty of personal fight (verbal and physical) in Sweeny, despite his numerous debilitating wounds. Apparently he possessed a fiery temper. One soldier claimed he spoke three languages: ..."English, Irish-American and Profane"...

An incident is particularly noteworthy. During the Atlanta Campaign (on the morning of July 25, 1864), Sweeny got into a furious argument with his Corps commander, M-G Dodge, and a fellow Divisional commander, B-G Fuller, when he invited both of them into his tent. The heated argument escalated into physical violence when Sweeny suddenly struck Dodge in the chest and Dodge swings back at him. Fuller then wrestled Sweeny to the ground and choked him until he was pulled away and restrained by staff officers.

Sweeny was placed under arrest , but acquitted at his court-martial trial in Nashville. However, he never returned to active duty.

 

[Cavalier]

There is a song about him, "Fighting Tom Sweeny" appropriately enough.
I can't imagine that anything but some kind of political.pull would allow him to get away with what he did though.

But I love the story of the of the fist fight with Dodge and Fuller.

I think everyone has worked with someone at one time or another that they wish they could take a swing at.

John