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

dawnine, the other the climax OF an irish |
exilc's career. The pathway between was
not all sunshine or there would be nor
NAME 10 follow, aud Of course was not
all yelled In clouds.
General swccny landed in New York In
the thirties, In family Of cxiles 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 soldicry. sweeny
enrolled himself In band known Us the
"Baxter Blues" and proved 30 good a sol
der that at tho beginning Of the Mexican
war he was elected lieutenant In the
Second New York volunteers. That regi
ment marched mud fought with Scott from
Vera Cruz to the City Of Mexico, and
Sweeny was In every battle up TO Churu
busco. Hewns wounded there In the fierce
attack led by Gen. Shields against the
flank Of Santa Anna's army while tue
regulars stormcd the position In front.
The Mcxicans fought Shields with unusual
desperation In order 10 save their main lin,
from foe In the rear.
The New Workers made brilliant
charge. lost heavily and came out covered
with glory. Swceny's right arm was shat
tered above the elbow and was amputaicd
Mt the shoulder. On his arrival In New
York he VIVA given public reception Mt
Castle Garden thcater. then the areDn Tot
great ceremonies, and was loaded with
honors. OF course the hand buried NJ
Churubusco could no longer stick type
and Uncle Sam kindly recognized the hero
stuff behind that empty sleeve with com
mission In the regular army.
There was work In those days for th'
regulars In making the far, far west habit
able for the venturcsome white man, ant
Swecny's rcgiment-thc Second infantry
was In tho California gold fields almost NJ
soon ns pick was stuck In the yellow
Garth In issg. The regiment was on IN,
Colorado n couple OF years and built Fort
Yuma ns stronghold against the Coyots
and Yuma Indians, Who kept the warpath
constantly, capturing and distressing the
settlers, II they did not do worse In the
summer Of 1851 tho Indians got between
, the Tort and the military base nj San Diego.
and the garrison was cut OIL from supplies
Tho commander saw no way out but to
fall back TO San Diego. but didn't intend
" give up the fort TO tho redskins. Swccny
WINS . lieutenant In one OF the companies.
and with detachment Of ten men was
left 70 hold tho fort until the main body
could march 70 San Diego and bring back
help md material.
The retreatlng garrison was followed up
BY Indians, and shortly the country he
tween Fort Yuma and San Diego swarmed
with hostiles. Swecny's band was under
siege from juno . 10 Dec. o, and would
have held out until promised help came OF
starvation or massacre overlook them but
far the timely arrival Of u force Of soldiers
from q quarter unsupported by the be.
slegers. A government exploring cxpedi.
tion under military escort happened at tho
time 70 DO at work on Colorado river 70.
mote from the scene Of trouble, and ON Civ.
ing mp their searches for the winter 10
tired by the way OF Fort Yuma. The cx.
plorors were well provided for the march.
and the two parties united made their way
70 tho military posts in spite Of the red
skinA
The exploit put sweony's name peg
higher at tho war Office and In 1851 hc was
captain OF his company. In April no was
assigned TO duty at the st. Louis arsenal
under major Of southern procliyities
During tho excitement following Sumter
the seceders Of the state tried TO get pos