Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-15

dEy. swEEsY AT TnE RATTLE or nAtD NIL
the 2ist marched to tho extreme Union
left TO extend the line around the city.
Swecny'a division spent the night In
blvouac In rear OF the Seventeenth corps,
and Gen. Mcpheraon shared the tent 81
the Irish hero. Plans were laid for the
morrow. md on the morning 81 the cd
tho division marched or toward the eX.
IRENE left 10 wheel into limo beyond the
Seventeenth corps, and halted IN open field
on Bald illll, 90 await further orders.
Suddenly about noon Gen. Swccny dla.
covered troops Of tho enemy marching
across the ground he had been directed to
occupy. aud sent ont skirmshcrs to engage
them. The firing alarmed the Union
chicftains aud Mcpherson rode TO the
front, as did also the commander u the
Sixteenth corps. Before new dispositions
could DO made Confederate corps. led by
General Hardcc, burst from the woods
into the open Held and dashed three or
four lines deep upon the flank OF the Seven
teonth corps 20 roll up the line. An eye
witness says that Swecny'a division sprnuy
TO arms like magic, the batteries unlim-
bcred ON knoll where they happened to
be resting. and before the bold a.sailants
had time TO recover tholf surprise at the
presence OF this unlocked for danger they
were met at close range by storm Of bull
lets and canister that sent them back to
tho cover OF tho trees. Again mud ngaln
they reformed and charged. At the third
repulse Gen. sweeny gathered up three
regiments and led them with iiSel bay.
onets against the broken Confederate
ranks
After looking on at the rcpulse Of III.
d.. a. TN /.
out beyond the new left flank TO find
brigade that he had hastily ordered there
Ia support OF Sweeny. lie unwlttingly
rode into the cnemy'a lines and was shot
down, ~ noble sacrifice for the army and
the nation and personal loss to Gen,
Sweeny at the time. In the excitement u
tho hour tho general commanding tho
Sixteenth eorps rode up 10 Swecny's line
aud percmptorily detached several rcgl-
mcnta by giving orders direct To the colo
nols and ignoring the division and brigade
leaders altogether. His action broke up
tho division, and II subsequently fought In
brlgades and attachments, but always sue
oessfully, capturing cannon, flags aud
prisoners.
After the battle Gen. Swceny made n
fiery protest against the arbitrary conduct
Of his superior, and a personal encounter
was the sequel He was placed IN arrest
and deprived Of his command. When the
affair reached the ears Of Gen. Sherman hc
wrote strong letter to Gen. Logan, who
had succeeded To Mephcrson's place, "a
deal cautiously In the matter and secure
Justice TO the brave lrishman. This inter
ference had the effect OF retaining Sweony
In service until the end Of the war, when
he was tried and acquitted.
A second cloud settled upon Gen. Swes
ny's fortunes Ia 1888 a. u result Of his love
for the land Of hi. birth. The Fenlan
brotherhood numbered him among its ad
hcrcnts In common with most OF the dis
tinguished sons OF ireland In the Union
camps, and he was chosen 20 head th,
Irish forces for the invasion OF Canada
lie had reached the rank OF brigader gen
eral In the regular army, and resigned TINT
exalted and honorable position to fight fol
| the banner Of green. A force Of 10000 met
was promised him, but when the clan,
mustered on the Canada border there wa.
not good division On all the line between
ST. Adams and Buffalo
Yet the die was east, and the genera
crossed over at Buffalo with Col Neilr,
detachment, aided In the attack on Lime
stone Ridge, and shed blood for the cause
IL was n ilnseo Of the most disastrous sort
aud the whole movement went 10 piecra
But the republic was not ungrateful tf
the heroic exile, aud he was soon after
ward restored to full rank In the army
and placed on the retired list. So he died
a soldier In the enjoyment OF rank earned
upon u score OF battlefrlds.
GEORGE l.. KIIAIER.