Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-11-10

GEN. swEENY AT THE BATTLE OF BALD HILL.
the 2lst marched to the extreme Union
left to extend the line around the city.
Sweeny's division spent the night in
bivouac in rear of the Seventeenth corps,
and Gen. Mcpherson shared the tent Of
the Irish hero. Plans were laid for the
morrow. and on the morning of the 22d
the division marched off toward the ex-
treme 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. Sweeny dis
covered troops of the enemy marching
across the ground he had been directed TO
occupy, and sent out skirmishers 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 Confederate corps, led by
General Hardee. burst from the woods
| into the open field and dashed three or
! four lines deep upon the flank Of the Seven
/ tenth corps to roll up the line. An eye
witness says that Sweeny's division sprang
! TO arms like magic, the batteries unlim.
bered on knoll where they happened to
be resting, and before the bold assailants
had time to recover their surprise at the
presence OF this unlocked for danger they
were met at close range by storm Of bull.
let's and canister that sent them back to
the cover OF the trees Again and again
they reformed and charged. At the third
repulse Gen. Sweeny gathered up three
regiments and led them with fixed bay
onets against the broken Confederate
ranks.
After looking on at the repulse Of the
enemy by Sweeny, Gen. Mcpherson rode
out beyond the new left flank to find a
brigade that he had hastily ordered there
In support Of Sweeny. He unwittingiy
rode into the enemy's lines and was shot
down, a noble sacrifice for the army and
the nation and a personal loss to Gen
Sweeny at the time. In the excitement OF
the hour the general commanding the
Sixteenth corps rode up to Sweeny's line
and peremptorily detached several regi
ments by giving orders direct to the colo
nels and ignoring the division and brigade
leaders altogether. His action broke up
the division, and 1t subsequently fought in
brigades and detachments, but always sue
cessfully, capturing cannon, flags and
prisoners.
After the battle Gen. Sweeny made 8
fiery protest against the arbitrary conduct
of his superior, and personal encounter
was the sequel. He was placed in arrest
and deprived of his command. When the
affair reached the ears of Gen. Sherman he
wrote strong letter to Gen. Logan, who
had succeeded to McPherson's place, tC
deal cautiously in the matter and secure
Justice 10 the brave Irishman. This inter
| = l. . L., offa % n ininn SVvpant
i'm service until the end of the war, wher
he was tried and acquitted.
A second cloud settled upon Gen. Swee
ny's fortunes in 1866 as result OF his love
for the land of his birth. The Feniar
brotherhood numbered him among its adj
herents in common with most OF the dis
tinguished sons of Ireland in the Unior
camps, and he was chosen to head thu
Irish forces for the invasion OF Canada
He had reached the rank of brigadier gen
eral in the regular army, and resigned tha
exalted and honorable position to fight To-
the banner Of green. force OF 4O,OOO mel
was promised him, but when the CLAN
mustered on the Canada border there wa
not a 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. Neilli
detachment, aided in the attack on Lime
stone Ridge, and shed blood for the cause
1t was a flasco of the most disastrous sort
and the whole movement went to pieces
But the republic was not ungrateful Il
the heroic exile, and he was soon after
ward restored to full rank in the arm,
and placed on the retired list. So he dice
soldier in the enjoyment of rank earned
upon score of battlefields.
GEORGE L. KILMER