Thomas William Sweeny | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sweeny in his Brigadier general attire,c. 1865 | |
| Nickname | Fighting Tom |
| Born | (1820-12-25)December 25, 1820 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | April 10, 1892(1892-04-10) (aged 71) Long Island, New York, US |
| Place of burial | Green-Wood Cemetery,Brooklyn, New York |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union Fenian Brotherhood |
| Branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Service years | 1846–1865, 1866–1870 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Conflicts | Mexican–American War
|
| Other work | Secretary of War[1] |
Thomas William Sweeny (December 25, 1820 – April 10, 1892) was anIrish-Americansoldier who served in theMexican–American War, theYuma War, and as a general in theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War.
Sweeny was born inCork, Ireland, onChristmas Day, 1820. He immigrated to the United States in 1833. In 1846, he enlisted as asecond lieutenant in the 2nd New York Volunteers, and fought under GeneralWinfield Scott inMexico. Sweeny was wounded in the groin at theBattle of Cerro Gordo, and his right arm was so badly injured at theBattle of Churubusco that it had to be amputated. For his heroics, his fellow servicemen nicknamed him "Fighting Tom". Despite this usually career-ending injury, he continued serving with the2nd US Infantry until the outbreak of the Civil War. Sweeny was active in theYuma War (1850–1853), fighting in several engagements againstnative Americans.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sweeny was in command of thearsenal atSt. Louis, Missouri. In reply to efforts ofConfederate sympathizers to induce him to surrender that important post, he declared that before he would do so, he would blow it up. As second in command, he participated in the capture ofCamp Jackson in May 1861 and later assisted in organizing theHome Guard. He was chosen as thebrigadier general of that organization.
Sweeny commanded the52nd Illinois Infantry Regiment atFort Donelson. AtShiloh, in command of a brigade, he successfully defended a gap in theUnion line. He was wounded in the battle, being shot twice in his only remaining arm and once in one of his legs.[2] Sweeny kept the field until the close of the fight, exciting the admiration of the whole army. He returned to command his regiment but returned to brigade command when GeneralPleasant A. Hackleman was killed atCorinth. He commanded the Second Division of theSixteenth Army Corps in theAtlanta campaign. At theBattle of Atlanta Sweeny's division interceptedJohn B. Hood's flank attack. Sweeny got into a fistfight with his corps commander, GeneralGrenville M. Dodge, when Dodge broke protocol and personally directed one of Sweeny's brigades during the fight. Sweeny received acourt-martial for these actions but was acquitted. He mustered out of the volunteers in August 1865, and was dismissed for goingAWOL by the end of the year.
In 1866, he commanded the ill-fatedFenian invasion of Canada, after which he was arrested for breakingneutrality laws between the United States and Britain, but was soon released. He was reinstated with his former rank ofmajor later that year, and retired from theregular army in May 1870 as a brigadier general.
Sweeny retired toAstoria onLong Island. He died there on April 10, 1892, and is buried inGreen-Wood Cemetery inBrooklyn.
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