Wager Swayne | |
|---|---|
 Medal of Honor recipient | |
| Born | (1834-11-10)November 10, 1834 Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Died | December 18, 1902(1902-12-18) (aged 68) New York City, New York, United States |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1870 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | 43rd Ohio Infantry 45th U.S. Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Relations | Noah Haynes Swayne |
Wager Swayne (November 10, 1834 – December 18, 1902) was aUnion Armycolonel during theAmerican Civil War and was appointed as the lastmajor general of volunteers of theUnion Army. Swayne received America's highest military decoration, theMedal of Honor for his actions at theSecond Battle of Corinth. He was also effectively the military governor ofAlabama from March 2, 1867, to July 14, 1868, after the passage of the firstReconstruction Act by theU.S. Congress until Alabama was readmitted to the Union.Robert M. Patton remained the nominal governor during this period, but as the local army commander, Swayne controlled the State government. During theReconstruction era, Swayne oversaw theFreedmen's Bureau in Alabama and helped establish schools for African Americans in the state.[1] He was the first person born after Alabama statehood to govern the state.
Born inColumbus, Ohio, on November 10, 1834, Swayne was the son ofNoah Haynes Swayne,associate justice of theUnited States Supreme Court.[2] He graduated fromYale University in 1856, was a member of the Scroll & Key Secret Society, and became a lawyer in Ohio.[2]
He served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a field officer in one of Ohio's three-yearinfantryregiments. In August 1861,GovernorWilliam Dennison appointed Swayne asmajor of the43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was being organized inMount Vernon, Ohio. He fought at the battles ofIuka andCorinth, and was promoted to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the regiment'scolonel.[2]
Swayne led the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry with distinction during theAtlanta campaign and in theCarolinas campaign until February 2, 1865, when he suffered a severe wound at theBattle of Rivers' Bridge (site now part ofRivers Bridge State Historic Site) in South Carolina by theSalkehatchie River, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg.[2][3]
On March 13, 1865,PresidentAbraham Lincoln appointed Swaynebrigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 8, 1865.[4] President Lincoln submitted the nomination to theU.S. Senate on that date and the Senate confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865.[4]
On May 1, 1866, PresidentAndrew Johnson appointed Swayne asmajor general of volunteers to rank from June 20, 1865.[5] The President nominated Swayne for the promotion on March 21, 1866, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on April 26, 1866.[5] This appointment took precedence over his appointment as abrevet major general of volunteers to which grade he had been appointed by President Johnson on January 13, 1866, to rank from October 13, 1865.[6] The U.S. Senate confirmed this appointment on March 12, 1866.[6] He was the last major general of volunteers appointed during the American Civil War period.[2] He also was commissioned colonel of the 45th United States Infantry Regiment. Later, on April 10, 1867, President Johnson appointed Swayne to the grade of brevet major general in theRegular Army to rank from March 2, 1867.[7] The Senate approved this nomination on April 15, 1867.[7] Swayne was mustered out of the volunteer army on September 1, 1867, but stayed in the Regular Army.[3]
After the war, he served as head of theFreedmen's Bureau for Alabama from July 26, 1865, to January 14, 1868.[3] From March 2, 1867, to July 14, 1868, as local army commander, Swayne effectively controlled the State government, althoughRobert M. Patton remained the nominal governor during this period.[2]
Swayne was unassigned as of March 15, 1869, when the army was reorganized and his regiment was consolidated with the14th U.S. Infantry Regiment.[2] Swayne retired from the army on July 1, 1870.[3] He then moved toToledo, Ohio, where he established a law practice.[2][3] He moved in 1881 toNew York City, where he set up another law practice, specializing in representingtelegraph and railroad companies.[2]
In 1893, he was awarded aMedal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge" at Corinth.
By May 1899, theNorth American Trust Company had directors such asJohn G. Carlisle,Adlai E. Stevenson, and Wager Swayne.[8]
He died in New York City on December 18, 1902, and was buried atArlington National Cemetery Arlington County, Virginia, Plot: Section 3, Lot 1406.[2][3]
Rank and Organization:
Citation:Conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge.[9][10]
Media related toWager Swayne at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Governor of Alabama 1867–1868 | Succeeded by |
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