Click HERE to see and read about General Sweeny's sword, scabbard, and binoculars - all on display at General Sweeny's Museum.
General Thomas William Sweeny, or "Fightin' Tom," was born in County Cork, Ireland, December 25th, 1820. He immigrated to the United States in 1832. At the outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846, Sweeny was elected 2nd Lieutenant of Company A, First New York Volunteers. He participated from the siege of Vera Cruz to the storming of Churubusco, where he was wounded by a musket ball in the right arm. This wound necessitated amputation above the elbow. During the 1850's, Sweeny fought Indians in California and on the Great Plains. He was appointed 1st Lieutenant in the 2nd Infantry. In 1857, Sweeny was present at the Great Treaty with the Sioux Nations. In January 1861 Sweeny was promoted to captain. On January 11th he arrived in St. Louis, Missouri. He would spend the major part of the year in Missouri. He was placed in command of the federal troops at the St. Louis arsenal. The city was full of tension and intrigue involving both ardent secessionist and radical unionist. On February 6th, 1861 an old friend, Captain and soon to be General Nathaniel Lyon, arrived and took command of the arsenal itself. He was senior to Sweeny and a West Point graduate. Sweeny was second in command to Lyon throughout the turmoil in St. Louis from the Camp Jackson affair and the difficult movement of troops from St. Louis to Springfield, Missouri. He was in command of the troops at the Battle of Forsyth, Missouri and took part in the battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10th. Here he received a musket ball in the thigh that he would carry for the rest of his life. He was offered the Colonelcy of the 52nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry in December of 1862. Lt. Col. Wilcox, of the regiment, described Sweeny as "5 ft. 9 inches tall with black hair and whiskers, dark eyes, straight, slim, and very quiet. His right arm was amputated above the elbow which caused him to handle his sword with his left hand." He earned honors and admiration from his men and superior officers at Shiloh, Iuka, and Corinth. Shiloh was the 52nd Illinois' first battle. He was in command of a brigade above the sunken road near the "Hornet's Nest," where he was wounded several times. On the evening of April 6th, he was forced from loss of blood to leave the field, being wounded in his remaining arm. Sweeny was promoted to the command of Gen. Hackleman's former brigade upon that officer's death at Corinth in October of 1862. On October 27th, 1862, the officers of the 52nd Illinois gave Col. Sweeny a Tiffany presentation sword and field glass, "as a token of respect and confidence." These items, along with a captured Confederate flag and belt plate may be seen at General Sweeny's Museum. Sweeny officially became a Brigadier General of Volunteers on March 16, 1863 from the date of November 29, 1862. He distinguished himself in the Atlanta campaign leading a division under Grenville Dodge. At the battle of Atlanta one of the officers described him as a "hot tempered Irishman that had the manner of giving his orders in staccato . . . and if any hesitancy was shown in obeying, his comments were rendered in three languages, English, Irish-English and profane, thickly punctuated with explanation points making it decidedly unpleasant for the person addressed." After the battle of Atlanta, Sweeny brought to a climax a long-standing feud with General Grenville Dodge, and another politically appointed commander whom he also resented, General John Fuller, an Englishman by birth. With good cause, Sweeny questioned Fuller's actions during the battle. Dodge, coming to the aid of his friend Fuller, called Sweeny a liar. Sweeny called Dodge a "God-damned liar," and blows were exchanged between the two generals. Dodge had Sweeny arrested and at the court martial, was honorably acquitted in December of 1864. He was placed in command of a post in Nashville, Tennessee to October of 1865. In 1866, Sweeny was in supreme command of the ill-fated Fenian Invasion of Canada. He was arrested but soon released. After his retirement as a Brigadier General of Regulars, Sweeny lived in Astoria, Long Island, N.Y. until his death on April 10, 1892. He was 72 years of age. He was buried with honors befitting his rank at Greenwood Cemetery.
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