The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-14

dawnng, the other the climax of mn Irish
eXile's career. The pathway between was
not all sunshine or there would be no ro-
nance to follow. and of course was not
all yelled in clouds.
General Sweeny landed in New York in
the thirties, in IL family of eXiles from the
famine stricken island, and after few
years of study in the public schools took
up the printers trade. Those were the
days of general training. when the national
militia made some show of Keeping the law,
and every large city boosted numerous
companies of organized soldiery. Swccny
enrolled himself in q band known as the
Baxter Blues" and proved so good sol
dier that at the beginning of the Mexican
war he was elected II lieutenant in the
Second New York volunteers. That rcgi-
ment marched and fought with Scott from
Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, and
Sweeny was in every battle up to Churu-
busco. He was wounded there i'm the fierce
attack led by Gen. Shields against the
flank of Santa Annals army while the
regulars stormed the position in front.
The MeNicans fought Shields with unusual
desperation in order to save their main line
from foe in the rear
The New Workers made brilliant
charge, lost heavily and came out covered
with glory. Sweeny's right arm was shat
tered above the elbow aud was amputated
at the shoulder. On his arrival in New
York he was given II public reception at
Castle Garden thcater, then the arena for
great ceremonies. AMI was loaded with
honors. or course the hand buried ut
Churuhusco could no longer stick type
and Uncle sam kindly recognized the hero
stun behind that empty sleeve with com
mission iii the regular army
There WAS work ihoSn 1,vc for tbo
regulars in making the far, far west habit
able for the vcnturesome white man. and
Swccny's reGiment-the Second infantry
was iii the California gold fields almost rs
soon us Il pick WAS stuck In the yellow
earth in 1870. The regiment was on the
Colorado II couple of years ana built Fort
Yuma us u stronghold against the Coyote
and Yuma Indians, who kept the warpath
constantly. capturing and distressing the
settlers, if they did not Ito worse. In the
summer of ISL the Indians got between
the fort and the military base mt San Diego,
and the garrison was cut off from supplies
The commander saw no way out but to
fall back to San Diego. hut didn't intend
to give up the fort To the redskins. Swecny
was lieutenant in one of the companies,
and with detachment OF ten men was
| left to hold the fort until the main body
| could march to San Diego and bring back
| help and material.
The retreating garrison was followed up
by Indians, and shortly the country be-
tween Fort Yuma and San Diego swarmc,l
with hostilcs. Sweeny's band was under
siege from June TO Dec. 6, and would
have held ont until promised help came or
starvation or massacre overlook them but
for the timely arrival of II force of soldiers
from quarter unsuspectcd by the be-
sleSers. n government exploring cxpedi-
ton under military escort happened at the
time to he at work Oh Colorado river re-
mote from the scene Of trouble, and on Civ
ing up their searches for the winter re-
tired by the way of Fort Yuma. The ex.
plorcrs were well provided for the march,
and the two parties united made their way
to the military posts III spite of the red
skins.
The exploit put Sweeny's name peg
higher at the war Office and in 1861 he was
captain of his company. In April he was
assigned to duty at the St. Louis arsenal
under major of southern proclivities.
During the excitement following Sumter
the seccders Of the state tried to get pos