The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-14
GEN swEENY In rIIE BATTLE or nALp IIIlL

GEN. swEENY AT TIE BATTLE OF BALD HILL.
the 2lst marched to the extreme Union
left to extend the line around the city.
Swceny's division spent the night in
bivouac in rear of the Seventeenth corns.
and Gen. Mcpherson shared the tent of
the Irish hero. Plans were laid for tho
morrow. and on the morning of the 22d
the division marched Off toward the cx-
IRENE left to wheel into line beyond the
Seventeenth corps, and halted in open field
on Bald Hill, To await further orders.
Suddenly about noon Gen. Swccny dis
covered troops of the enemy marching
across the ground lie had been directed Io
occupy, and sent out skirmshers to engage
them. The firing alarmed the Union
chieftains, and Mcpherson rode to the
front, as did also the commander Of the
Sixteenth corps. Before new dispositions
could be made II Confederate corps, led by
General lIardcc, burst from the woods
into the open field and dashed three or
four lines deep upon the flank OF the Seven.
teenth corps to roll up the line. An eye.
witness says that Sweeny's division sprung
to arms like magic, the batteries unlim.
bercd on knoll where they happened to
he resting, and before the bold nssailantS
had time To recover their surprise at the
presence Of this unlocked for danger they
were met at close range by Il storm of bull.
lets and canister that sent them bnck IN
the cover Of the trees Again and ngain
they reformed and charged. At the third
rcpulse Gen. Swccny gathered up three
regiments and led them with fixed bay.
oncts against the broken Confederate
ranks
After looking on at the rcpulse of the
enemy by Swecny, Gen. Mcpherson rode
out beyond the new left flank to find Il
brigade That lie had hastily ordered there
in support e. Swccny. He unwIttinply
rode into the enemy's lines and was sho.
down, Il noble sacrifice for the army and
the nation and Il personal loss to Gen.
Swecny ut the time. Iii the excitement of
the hour the general commanding the
Sixteenth corps rode up to Sweeny's line
and percmptorily detached several rcui-
mcnts by giving orders direct to the colo
nels and Ignoring the division and brigade
leaders altogether. His action broke up
the division, and it subsequently, fought in
brigades and dctachments, but always sue
ceSsfully, capturing cannon, flags and
prisoners
After the battle Gen. Swecny made a
fiery protest against the arbitrary conduct
of his superior, and personal encounter
was the sequel. lie was placed in arrest
and deprived of his command. When the
affair reached the ears of Gen Sherman he
wrote StTnilp letter 10 Gcu. Logan, who
had succeeded to McPhcrson's place, to
deal cautiously in the matter and secure
justice to the brave Irishmun. This inter
ference had the effect of retaining Swecny
in service until the end of the war when
he was tried and acquitted
y second cloud settled upon Gen Swce-
nyS fortunes i'll 1866 as IL result of his love
for the land of his birth. The Fcnian
brotherhood numbered him among its adj
hercnts in common with most of the dis
tinguished sons of Ireland in the Union
camps, and he was chosen to head the
Irish forces for the invasion of Canada.
He had reached the rank of brigadicr gen
eral in the regular army and resigned that
exalted and honorable position to fight for
the banner OF green. a force of 40, 900 men
was promised him, but when the clans
mustered on the Canada border there was
not good division on all the line between
St. Adams and Buffalo.
Yet the die was cast. and the genera
crossed over at Buffalo with Col. Ncil'h
detachment, aided in the attack on Lime
stone Ridge, and shed blood for the cause
1t was Il fiasco of the most disastrous sort
and the whole movement went TO pieces
But the republic was not ungrateful tc
the heroic exile, and he was soon after
ward restored to full rank in the army
and placed on the retired list. So he died
soldier in the enjoyment of II rank earned
spon score of battleneds.
GEORGE l.. KII.MER