Wager Swayne
Encyclopedia
Wager Swayne was a Union Army
general during the American Civil War
who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor
for his actions at the Second Battle of Corinth
. He was also appointed military Governor of Alabama
during the early days of Reconstruction, serving from 1867 to 1868.
Born in Columbus, Ohio
, he was the son of Noah Haynes Swayne
, Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme Court.
He graduated from Yale University
and became a lawyer in Ohio.
He served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a field officer in one of Ohio's three-year infantry
regiment
s. In August 1861, Governor William Dennison
appointed Swayne as major
of the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry
, which was being organized in Mount Vernon, Ohio
. He fought at the battles of Iuka
and Corinth
, and was promoted to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the regiment's colonel
.
Swayne led the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry with distinction during the Atlanta Campaign
. On March 13, 1865, President
Abraham Lincoln
appointed Swayne brigadier general
of volunteers to rank from March 8, 1865. President Lincoln submitted the nomination to the U.S. Senate on that date and the Senate confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865. Swayne had his leg amputated from a severe wound suffered in 1865 in South Carolina. On May 1, 1866, President Andrew Johnson
appointed Swayne a major general
of volunteers to rank from June 20, 1865. The President nominated Swayne for the promotion on March 21, 1866 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on April 26, 1866. Swayne was mustered out of the volunteer army on September 1, 1867, but stayed in the Regular Army
.
After the war, he served in the Freedmen's Bureau and moved to Alabama, where he served as military governor. He retired from the Army July 1, 1870 and moved to Toledo, Ohio
, where he established a law practice. He moved in 1881 to New York City
, where he set up another law practice, specializing in representing telegraph and railroad companies.
In 1893, he was awarded a Medal of Honor
for "conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge" at Corinth.
He died in New York City and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington County, Virginia, Plot: Section 3, Lot 1406.
Rank and Organization:
Citation:
Conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions at the Second Battle of Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
The Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
. He was also appointed military Governor of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
during the early days of Reconstruction, serving from 1867 to 1868.
Biography
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, he was the son of Noah Haynes Swayne
Noah Haynes Swayne
Noah Haynes Swayne was an American jurist and politician. He was the first Republican appointed as a justice to the United States Supreme Court.-Birth and early life:...
, Associate Justice
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
of the United States Supreme Court.
He graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and became a lawyer in Ohio.
He served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a field officer in one of Ohio's three-year infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s. In August 1861, Governor William Dennison
William Dennison (Ohio governor)
William Dennison, Jr. was a Whig and Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 24th Governor of Ohio and as U.S...
appointed Swayne as major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry
43rd Ohio Infantry
The 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 43rd Ohio Infantry was organized in Mount Vernon, Ohio September 28, 1861 through February 1, 1862 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Joseph L...
, which was being organized in Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
. He fought at the battles of Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
and Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
The Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
, and was promoted to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the regiment's colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
.
Swayne led the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry with distinction during the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
. On March 13, 1865, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Swayne brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers to rank from March 8, 1865. President Lincoln submitted the nomination to the U.S. Senate on that date and the Senate confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865. Swayne had his leg amputated from a severe wound suffered in 1865 in South Carolina. On May 1, 1866, President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
appointed Swayne a major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of volunteers to rank from June 20, 1865. The President nominated Swayne for the promotion on March 21, 1866 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on April 26, 1866. Swayne was mustered out of the volunteer army on September 1, 1867, but stayed in the Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
.
After the war, he served in the Freedmen's Bureau and moved to Alabama, where he served as military governor. He retired from the Army July 1, 1870 and moved to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, where he established a law practice. He moved in 1881 to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he set up another law practice, specializing in representing telegraph and railroad companies.
In 1893, he was awarded a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for "conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge" at Corinth.
He died in New York City and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
Arlington County, Virginia, Plot: Section 3, Lot 1406.
Medal of Honor citation
- Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 43d Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Corinth, Miss., October 4, 1862. Entered service at: Columbus, Ohio. Born: November 10, 1834, Columbus, Ohio. Date of issue: August 19, 1893.
Citation:
Conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge.
See also
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: Q–S
- List of American Civil War generals
- List of Ohio's American Civil War generals