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Title	Thomas W. Sweeny
Description	Formal portrait of soldier who served in a New York state military unit during the Civil War. Photograph shows man sitting, half-length, in uniform, his left arm resting on the back of a chair. His right hand in lap. Numbers on the front of some photographs refer to an index no longer extant. At one point, most of these photographs were tacked to the wall of the State Capital building in Albany, New York.
Creator	Anthony, E & H.T.
Subject.LCSH	United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Subject.TGM	Cartes de visite Soldiers
Subject.Personal_Name	Sweeny, Thomas W.
Subject.Corporate_Name	United States. Army. Regiment Infantry 2nd, (1861-1863) United States. Army. Illinoise Field & Staff Infantry Regiment, 52nd, (1862-1862) United States. Army. Volunteers General Staff, (1862-1865) United States. Army. Field & Staff Infantry Regiment, 16th.
NY Heritage Topic	Military People
Date of Original	1861-1865
Time Period	American Civil War; 1861-1865
Physical Format	Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)
Physical Description	Photograph; albumen; b&w; 4 x 2 1/2 in. (10 x 6 cm.)
Relation	Reference back of image at http://24.39.195.147/dbtw-wpd/images/photographs/PA.1999.0014.1363_back.jpg
Type	Still Image
Language	eng
Format of Digital	image/jpeg
Identifier	PA.1999.0014.1363
Holding Institution	New York State Military Museum
Contact Information	61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-581-5100 http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/mil-hist.htm
Publisher of Digital	New York State Military Museum
Digital Collection	Civil War Carte de Visite Collection
Library Council	Capital District Library Council
Notes	Thomas William Sweeny Residence was not listed; a 40 year-old US Army Officer. Enlisted on 1/21/1862 as a Captain. On 1/19/1861 he was commissioned into US Army 2nd Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 10/20/1863 (Prior service in US Army since 03/03/1848) On 1/21/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff IL 52nd Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 11/29/1862 On 11/29/1862 he was commissioned into US Volunteers General Staff He was Mustered Out on 8/24/1865 On 10/20/1863 he was commissioned into Field & Staff US Army 16th Infantry (date and method of discharge not given) (Subsequent service in US Army until retiring 05/11/1870) Promotions: * Capt 1/19/1861 * Colonel 1/21/1862 (As of 52nd IL Infantry) * Brig-General 11/29/1862 * Major 10/20/1863 (As of 16th US Army Infantry) Other Information: born 12/25/1820 in County Cork, Ireland died 4/10/1892 in Astoria, NY Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.: - Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men - Roll of Honor: Names of Soldiers Who Died in Defense of the Union - Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion - Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903 (c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com THOMAS WILLIAM SWEENY Sweeny, Thomas W., brigadier-general, was born in Cork, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1820. He came to the United States in 1832, learned the printer's trade in New York city, and served in the 1st N. Y. infantry in the Mexican war, receiving a wound at the battle of Churubusco which made it necessary to amputate his right arm. On returning to New York he was brevetted captain and was presented with a silver medal by the city government. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the U. S. infantry March 3, 1848; promoted first lieutenant June 11, 1851; captain Jan. 19, 1861; major of the 16th infantry Oct. 20, 1863, unassigned March 15, 1869, and was retired as brigadier-general in the U. S. army May 11, 1870. After entering the regular army he was ordered to California, where for a time he was commandant at Fort Yuma, and afterward he distinguished himself in campaigns with the Indians. At the beginning of the Civil war he was placed in charge of the U. S. arsenal at St. Louis, Mo., which he saved by threatening to explode the 40 tons of gunpowder stored there in case the secessionists attacked him. He was second in command of the national troops at the surrender of the Missouri state forces at Camp Jackson was commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers on May 20, 1861, and at the battle of Wilson's creek he was severely wounded. After this he was given command of the 52nd Ill. infantry, was attached to Gen. Grant's army, took part in the capture of Fort Donelson, and at the battle of Shiloh successfully defended a gap in the line, for which Gen. Sherman afterward said: 'I attach more importance to that event than to any of the hundred events that I have since heard saved the day.' In Dec., 1862, he was given command of a division of the 16th army corps and was engaged in protecting the Memphis & Charleston railroad. In the Atlanta campaign he commanded the 2nd division, 16th corps, Army of the Tennessee with which he took possession of Snake Creek gap 24 hours before the arrival of supporting cavalry and held it against several assaults. Subsequently he took part in the battle of Resaca, forced a passage across Oostanaula river and fought a successful battle. He also distinguished himself in the battles of Kennesaw mountain, and in the battle before Atlanta on July 22, 1864, his division repelled an assault and captured 4 Confederate flags and 900 prisoners. After the occupation of Atlanta he held the post of commandant at Nashville till July, 1865, and was mustered out of the volunteer service on Aug. 24 following. Gen. Sweeny was active in the Fenian invasion of Canada in 1866, during a virtual retirement from the army. After that event he was reinstated in the army and assigned to duty in the Southern military district. He was presented by the city of Brooklyn with a costly sword for his services during the Civil war. He died in Astoria, L.I., April 1O, 1892. Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
Rights	Items in the Civil War Carte de Visite Collection are in the public domain. Please credit the New York State Military Museum.
Technical Data	Scans were made using an Epson 1640 XL; archival TIFFS created in color at 600 dpi. JPEGs created with Adobe Photoshop at 300 dpi.
Transcript	On reverse: 'Thomas W. Sweeny., Brig Gen Vols & maj. Inf U.S.A., Born in Ireland. App from N.Y., Ex-Colonel 52nd Ill Vol Inf.'
File Name	PA.1999.0014.1363.jpg

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