Thomas William Sweeny
| Thomas William Sweeny | |
|---|---|
Thomas W. Sweeny
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Fighting Tom |
| Born |
December 25, 1820 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | April 10, 1892 (aged 71) Long Island, New York |
| Place of burial | Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union Fenian Brotherhood |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1865, 1866–1870 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General
|
| Battles/wars |
|
| Other work | Secretary of War |
Thomas William Sweeny (December 25, 1820 – April 10, 1892) was an Irish-American soldier who served in the Mexican-American War and then was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Sweeny was born in Cork, Ireland, on Christmas Day, 1820. He immigrated to the United States in 1833. In 1846, he enlisted as a second lieutenant in the 2nd New York Volunteers, and fought under General Winfield Scott in Mexico. Sweeny was wounded in the groin at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, and his right arm was so badly injured at the Battle of Churubusco that it had to be amputated. For his heroics, his fellow servicemen nicknamed him "Fighting Tom". Despite this possibly career-ending injury, he continued serving with the 2nd US Infantry until the outbreak of the Civil War. Sweeny was active in the Yuma War (1850–1853), fighting in several engagements against native Americans.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sweeny was in command of the arsenal at St. Louis, Missouri In reply to efforts of Confederate sympathizers to induce him to surrender that important post, he declared that before he would do so, he would blow it up. As second in command, he participated in the capture of Camp Jackson in May 1861 and later assisted in organizing the Home Guards. He was chosen as the brigadier general of that organization.
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