The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-08-08
TR1BUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY AUGUST

Reserve Corps in the city, but Sweeny
made such disposition of his force as
to prevent an outbreak.
Shortly after this an election was held
by the field officers of the L. S. Reserve
Corps, or Home Guards, for the purpose
of electing a Brigadier-General, and
Sweeny was declared unanimously elect
ed, and, at the urgent request Of Lyon,
accepted.
Sweeny wrote to the Adjutant- General,
at Washington, informing him of his
election, and requesting leave of alb
sence for the time the troops remained
in service-about three months-in Or
der to command them:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May II, 1861.
SIR: / have the honor to inform you that
| have been properly elected Brigadier- General
of the Home Guards in this city and most re-
| spectiully request that said election be con-
| frmed, and that be granted leave of absence
| for such period of time said troops kept
| in tho U. s. service. to enablo me to command
them. I. w. SwEESY. Captain, I'd Inf.
L. THOMAS Adjutant General, U. S. A.,
Washington, ID. c.
After receiving orders from Lyon to
assume command of all the troops in St.
Louis, Sweenv was busted in preparing
the Reserve Corps for field service in case
of their being called on at any time.
The next day, May II, he received the
following from Col. B. Gratz Brown,
commanding 4th Regiment, L. S. Re
serve Corps:
HEADQUARTERS 4TH REGIMENT, U. S. Re-
SERVE CORPS
Capt. SwEENY, % Inf, Acting Brgadier-Ge
eral. u. s. Reserve Corps.
SIR: / have received orders to report to yoC
as my command ng officer. | have To state that
/ have a strong guard upon my Headquarters;
that the rest of my command are instructed to
report at Headquarters promptly notice;
that my position is not very defensible in case
of attack by any organized superior mill
tary force, but can be held against any unor-
ganized force If the necessary orders are given
me, | can very soon improve its defenses at
small cost.
desire to have orders in regard to the dis
position of my forces and the furnishing of
ratiOns to the men on duty.
In obedience TO orders, have withdrawn the
two companies that were stationed at the North
Missouri Railroad Depot. aud that place is no
longer occupied by any command. / also
would report that the company that was de-
tailed 10 protect the Office OF the Missouri
Democrat remained at that position last evening
until there was no longer any apparent danger
of attack, and vas then withdrawn by my
order to Headquarters.
b. GRATz BROwN,
Colonel Commanding 4th u. s. L. G.
ST. LOUIS. May II, 1861.
After the battle of Bonneville Lyon
was engaged in making preparations to
move on Jefferson City. He was de-
layed, however, owing to the lack of
transportation, etc.
Before Lyon left st. Louis for .Jefer-
son City and Bonneville he had a con-
ference with Sweeny, and instructed him
to move down to Springfield and assume
command Of all the Z. S. forces in that
part of the State, including Sigels and
SolOmon's regiments, whom Lyon had |
ordered on the 18th of June to move
down to Springfield and Neosho and ope-
rate in the rear of jackson and Price,
while he Oyon) kept them away from
the State Capital. Sigel and Solomon
had taken with them two four-gun
batteries.
Sweeny was delayed until the 26th of
June on account Of collision between
his troops and the people, in which four
or five of the latter were killed
After making every disposition he
thought necessary for the safety of the
city, he started for Springfield with four
of the Sd Regiment (Col.
John McNeiD, the entire 4th u. S. !,
r. c. Col B. Gratz Brown, and a
of the Regular recruits.
Previous to his departure for Spring
field Sweeny was in receipt of numerous
applications for authority to organize
nto companies the Union men of the
State. One of these letters, dated
Kinswick, Jefferson County, Mo-, June
%, 1861" exhibits the unhappy con-
lition of the loyal citizens in that part
If the State. 1t is addressed to Sweeny
1t the St. Louis Arsenal, and reads:
"a number of citizens in this vicinity
lesire to organize themselves into
for the purposes of protecting
heir houses and to assist, if necessary,
o. Q0H Ema Iez