Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private James Sweeney received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 19, 1864 at Cedar Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 1st Vermont Cavalry. Sweeney was 19 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 26, 1864. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.
Sweeney was born on September 24, 1845 in Manchester, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Essex, Chittenden County, Vermont. Sweeney died on June 26, 1931 in Sawtella, California, at the age of 85. He is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Sweeney is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With one companion captured the state flag of a North Carolina regiment, together with three officers and an ambulance with its mules and driver.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →
Timeline
- September 24, 1845Born in Manchester, England
- October 19, 1864Act of valor — Cedar Creek, VirginiaAge 19. Company A, 1st Vermont Cavalry
- October 26, 1864Medal of Honor presented
- June 26, 1931Died in Sawtella, CaliforniaAge 85.
- Resting placeLos Angeles National CemeteryLos Angeles, California
Biography
James Sweeney (September 24, 1845 – June 26, 1931) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.
From the Wikipedia article “James Sweeney (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
