NARRATIVE OF ARMY SERVICE IN THE MEXICAN WAR

AND ON THE PLAINS, 1846-1853

I. THE MEXICAN WAR.

T the time of the outbreak of the Mexican War, in 1846, I was in the employ of Messrs. Gould, Banks & Company, of New York City, at that time the leading law-book publishers of the United

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States.

I had been for nearly ten years connected with the militia companies of the city, being then a member of the Independent Tompkins Blues, commanded by Captain Charles Baxter.

Soon after the declaration of war, Congress authorized the raising of several volunteer regiments to serve during the war. I immediately volunteered my services, and was elected a second lieutenant in the "First Regiment of New York Volunteers," of which Ward B. Burnett, a graduate of West Point, was commissioned colonel, and Charles Baxter, the former commander of the Independent Tompkins Blues, lieutenant-colonel.

On the 11th of December, 1846, I was duly commissioned second lieutenant by the governor, Silas Wright, "to rank as such from the fourth day of December, 1846." The next day I appeared before Colonel Burnett and took and subscribed to the oath of allegiance.

NOTE.-The following pages comprise a narrative of military service during the war with Mexico and in California, compiled from the journals of Lieutenant Sweeny, Second United States Infantry.

Thomas William Sweeny was born in Ireland, December 25, 1820, and was brought to the United States in 1832, settling in New York City, where after finishing his education in the city schools, he was apprenticed to the printing business.

At the outbreak of the Mexican War he became second lieutenant in the First New York Volunteers, and participated in the campaign under Gen. Winfield Scott from the siege of Vera Cruz to the storming of Churubusco, where he received wounds that necessitated the amputation of his right arm.

He was commissioned second lieutenant, Second United States Infantry, March 3, 1848, and served with his regiment en route to and in California to 1853. His subsequent appointments in the regular service were as follows: First lieutenant, Second Infantry, June 11, 1851; captain, Second Infantry, January 19, 1861; major, Sixteenth Infantry, October 20, 1863; retired with the rank of brigadier-general May 11, 1870, on account of disability resulting from "loss of right arm and wounds in the line of duty."

On the 8th of January, our regiment, to the number of about eight hundred men, sailed from New York for the seat of war.

The voyage passed without any incidents occurring worthy of mention, and we reached the rendezvous, at the Island of Lobos, about two miles from Vera Cruz, toward the end of February. Here we were joined by the First and Second Pennsylvania, the South Carolina, twothirds of the Louisiana and detachments from the Massachusetts regiments of volunteers. One of the principal objects in landing at Lobos was to give the new regiments an opportunity for drilling, prior to the descent upon the Mexican coast.

During the siege of Vera Cruz, in March, 1847, our regiment was attached to the division of General Worth, and occupied a position immediately southeast of the city, which was considered the front of the attack. I was fortunate enough to escape being wounded, but, owing to the excessive heat, was prostrated for a time by an attack of sunstroke.

After the bombardment of Vera Cruz, our regiment, with the others was marched into the interior.

It was at Cerro Gordo-April 17-18, 1847-that I first practically "smelt powder." My company-A-and one other were detached to support Capt. Francis Taylor's battery in storming the first height. We cut a road through the chaparral for the artillery, to the left of the enemy's position, in order to turn it. After reaching the base of the hill, and winding some distance around it, we halted for orders. Here we were exposed to a raking fire from the Mexican batteries. At this time the appearance of our company was as follows: Lieutenant Miller was lying off quite unconcerned; I sat a little to his left, with my knees

Lieutenant Sweeny was stationed at New York City on recruiting service from March to September, 1854; at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., and in Nebraska Territory, at Forts Pierre and Randall, to June, 1858, being engaged in the Sioux Campaign of 1855-1856, as aide to Gen. William S. Harney; on recruiting service at New York City to June, 1860; at Jefferson Barracks and St. Louis Arsenal, Mo., to June, 1861; brigadier-general, Missouri Volunteers, May, 1861; in action at Forsyth and capture of Camp Jackson, Mo., May-July, 1861; severely wounded at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., August, 1861; on sick leave to October, 1861; on staff duty, Department of the Missouri, October, 1861, to March, 1862; colonel, Fifty-second Illinois Volunteers, January, 1862; commanding Third Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Tennessee, to May, 1862; at the Battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862 (severely wounded); commanding First Brigadier, Second Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July 25, 1863; engaged in the Battle of

drawn up, smoking an old clay pipe; Private David Doremus (afterward second lieutenant) was leaning against a tree; and the men scattered about in every direction: some lying, some in a sitting posture, cracking their jokes about the manner in which the balls were peppering among them. A round shot passed within a foot of my head, and struck the tree against which Doremus leaned, and fell between his legs. He picked up the ball, and tossing it to me, said, "Lieutenant, feel how thundering hot that is!" A private was sitting with his musket erect between his legs, and had it knocked several feet from him by a grape shot. Indeed, we lay there under a perfect shower of balls.

After a severe skirmish, with the loss of two men of our company, the first height was carried.

During the night of the 17th we were ordered to drag the artillery and ammunition to the top of the hill, a very laborious work, but it was accomplished by three o'clock on the morning of the 18th. Although not obliged to do so, I carried balls with the men, in order to encourage them in their arduous work. So thoroughly broken down were some of the men on its completion that they dropped where they stood, and in the cold night air enjoyed a sound repose for a couple of hours. I lay down between two men, who, as I supposed, were members of my company, but on awakening in the morning, I found that they were dead Mexicans, killed in taking the heights the evening before.

After the Battle of Cerro Gordo, we pushed onward toward Jalapa, where we remained for a short time, when we again resumed our march across the plains of Perote and entered the city of Puebla, where we reIuka and siege of Corinth, September-October, 1862 (wounded); brigadier-general, United States Volunteers, November 29, 1862; commanding Second Division, Sixteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee, September, 1863, to July, 1864; engaged in the Atlanta Campaign, participating in the Battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, actions of Ruff's Mills, Rome Cross Roads, Nickajack Creek, Lay's Ferry, etc., and Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864; honorably mustered out as brigadier-general of volunteers August, 1865; commanding posts of Nashville, Tenn., and Augusta and Atlanta, Ga., to March, 1869; awaiting orders, April, 1869; retired as brigadier-general, United States Army, May 11, 1870.

General Sweeny was presented a sword by the City of Brooklyn for his services during the Rebellion.

After retirement from active service General Sweeny resided in New York City and vicinity, and died at Astoria, Long Island, April 10, 1892. He was twice married. A widow, three sons and two daughters survive him.

ASTORIA

WILLIAM M. SWEENY.

mained about two months, awaiting reinforcements. Leaving a small garrison at Puebla, we resumed our march toward the City of Mexico on the 8th of August, Moving across the Pedregal, an almost impassable tract of country, we encamped at Buena Vista on the 11th, and on the 19th of August, arrived at the village of San Augustin. About three o'clock in the afternoon we were ordered to the support of Generals Pillow and Twiggs, who had left San Augustin in the morning with their troops the Third and Second Divisions of Regulars—and were then at San Geronimo (or Contreras). We reached Contreras at midnight, in a heavy downfall of rain. Every shelter was occupied, and our regiment was compelled to pass the night under arms, on the muddy ground without fires or any protection from the fury of a tropic

storm.

When daylight broke, we began making fires in order to warm and dry ourselves, and I then perceived for the first time that we had bivouacked in an orchard of young olive trees. I was kneeling on the ground, endeavoring, with the aid of my cap, to start a fire into a blaze, which I finally succeeded in doing, after the exercise of a great deal of patience and not a little exertion. The smoke from our fires was slowly ascending, in thin blue streaks, through the tree tops, and penetrating the mist, which was beginning to dispel, when suddenly there came a violent rush of air, followed by a crashing among the trees. Seizing my cap, I sprang to my feet, and shouted to my men: "This is no place to camp, men. They are firing upon us with canister!" Such, indeed, was the case. Being unaware of the close proximity of the enemy, we had inadvertently halted within a short distance of the town, and within close range of the Mexican batteries--a fact which they were not long in discovering, and taking advantage of. Fortunately, no one was injured, and we withdrew to a safe distance and continued our preparations for breakfast. About sunrise, General Smith, who commanded, commenced the attack. While General Smith was storming the works, the New York and South Carolina regiments, of General Shields' brigade, were ordered to the rear of the church, to cut off the retreat of the Mexicans. In this movement we were very successful, capturing over three hundred prisoners, among them being a general and several offiders of lesser rank, besides which we took about two hundred stand of arms, lances, etc.

At about 9 o'clock A. M., we were aroused to advance toward the

City of Mexico. Our regiment, on leaving the villege of Contreras, numbered about three hundred officers and men-Company D, of the regiment, with about fifty men of other companies, having been left behind in charge of the prisoners.

Passing through San Angel, we reached the village of Churubusco, where we found the Mexicans strongly intrenched behind two field works. The Second Division of Regulars soon became engaged, and our brigade the New York and South Carolina regiments, under General Shields-was ordered to countermarch and go around by the hacienda of Los Portales, and attack the enemy in flank, the road to the village, which passed over the Rio Churubusco, being strongly fortified by the Mexicans, who resisted all attempts to dislodge them. After marching nearly three miles, over marshes and fields, we reached the enemy's right and rear at Los Portales. While our line was being formed to charge the breastworks and hacienda, the enemy endeavored to turn our left. We advanced under a tremendous fire, from the effects of which Colonel Burnett was disabled by a musket ball in the left leg, and was compelled to turn over the command of the regiment to Lieutenant-Colonel Baxter.

While leading my men into action, I was struck in the groin by a spent ball. It passed through three thicknesses of clothing, and produced a painful, though not dangerous wound. Although advised to retire, I refused, so long as I was able to stand. Advancing farther, in a few minutes I was again wounded, receiving a ball from an escopette in my right arm above the elbow. The ball passed completely through the arm, but for a few minutes I did not know that I had again been wounded until I felt a stinging sensation in my arm, as if I had been struck smartly by a rattan. Looking down, I perceived a hole in my sleeve, slightly tinged with blood; the next instant my arm dropped powerless to my side, a sickening sensation came over me; I staggered and would have fallen had not a brother officer-Lieutenant Potter-seeing me falter, sprang forward and caught me in his arms as I was about to fall.

It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and the battle was raging furiously. General Scott, fearing that Shields would be overwhelmed by the enemy, sent Capt. Robert E. Lee, of the Engineer Corps down to see if reinforcements were needed. Lee returned and reported that they were, whereupon General Scott ordered forward the only