The Irish standard., 1892-11-19
MINNEAPOLIS AND PAUL. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER

Sherman, and he asterward declared that
the result was more important than any
Of the hundred achievements alleged to
have saved the day" at Shiloh. Sher-
man didn't forget The: deed either.
After the Shiloh and Corinth cam
paigns, Sweeny received generals star
and was assigned to division OF guards
and garrisons along the railroads on wes-
torn Tennessee and northern Mississippi.
The service was thek most difficult and
arduous that could fall to the lot of 8
soldier. The region was another Shen-
andoah valley, peopled with Jealous Con
federates and favorite stamping ground
for the wild raiders led by Forrest and
others. While incursions could not be
prevented in territory 80 vast and invit-
ing, the roads were held and travel kept
open between the Union front and the
North, aud between the separate camps
and many desperate battle was fought
to attain that end.
When the army started for Atlanta in
the spring Of 1864 Sweeny's division went
to the front in the 10th Corps in Nc
Pheraon'e Army Of the Tennessee. Dur
ing the advance beyond Resaca sweeny
took the lead in McPherson's column
and adroitly seized the crossing of the
Oostenanla at Lays Ferry IN the pres
ence of powerful body Of Confederates,
and held it until bridges were put down
and the army safely across on the flank
Of the retreating enemy.
In two years Of campaigning General
Sweepy had proved that he was capable
commander as we'll as. fighting hero.
But his chance to head large body Of
men In desperate battle didn't come
until the armies locked horns at the
gates of Atlanta, late in July. For sew
eral days the Sixteenth corps was in re-
serve and on the 2lst marched to the ex-
treme Union left to extend the line
around the city. Sweeny's division spent
the night in bivouac in rear Of the Seven
teenth corps, and General 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 extreme left to wheel into
line beyond the Seventeenth corps, and
halted in open field on Bald Hill to await
further orders.
Suddenly about noon General Sweeny
discovered troops Of the enemy marching
across the ground he had been directed
to occupy, aud sent out ekirmishors to
engage them. The firing alarmed the
Union chieftains, and Jefferson rode to
the front, as did also the commander Of
the Sixteenth Corps.
After looking on at the repulse Of the
enemy by Sweeny, General MCPHERSON
rode out beyond the new left flank, to
find brigade that he had hastily ordered
there in support Of Sweeny. He unwit-
tingly rode into the enemy's lines and
was shot down, noble sacrifice for the
army and the nation, and personal loss
to General Sweeney at the time. In the
excitement Of the hour the General COM
manding the 18th Corps rode up to
Sweenyis line and peremptorily detached
several regiments by giving orders direct
to the Colonels and ignoring the division
and brigade leaders altogether. His &C
tion broke up the division, and it subse-
quently fought in brigades and detach
ments, but always successfully, captur-
ing cannon, flags and prisoners.
After the battle General Sweeny made
q fiery protest against che arbitrary con-
duct OF his superior, and personal en-
counter was the sequel. he was placed
in errest and deprived OF his command.
When the affair reached the ears Of Cen
eral Sherman be wrote 9 strong letter to
General Logan, who had succeeded to
McPherson's place, to deal cautiously in
the matter and secure justice to the brave
IrlSQl0Hu. lulS 1At9Il0lGuS0 Adu Nlo
effect OF retaining Sweeny in service un-
til the end Of the war, when he was tried
and acquitted.
3 "a second cloud settled upon General
Sweeny's s fortunes in 1866 as result Of
his love for the land Of his birth. The
Fenian Brotherhood numbered bim
among its adherents in common with
most or the distinguished sons Of Ireland
IA the Union camps, and hewas chosen
to head the Irish forces for the invasion
81 Canada. He had reached the rank OF
BriRadier- General in the regular army,
and resigned that exalted and honorable
position to fight for the banner Of green.
A force OF "a, ,0C0 men was promised INN,
but when the clans mustered on the
Canadian border there was not 9 good
division On all the line between ST. Al
bans and Buffalo.
Yet the die was cast, and the General
crossed over at Buffalo with Colonel
O'Neils detachment aided in the attack
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