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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Colonel · U.S. Army

Wager Swayne

Lieutenant Colonel Wager Swayne, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 4, 1862 in Corinth, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 4, 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Lieutenant Colonel Wager Swayne received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 4, 1862 in Corinth, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 43d Ohio Infantry. Swayne was 27 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 19, 1893, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Swayne was born on November 10, 1834 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Swayne died on December 18, 1902 in New York, New York, at the age of 68. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Swayne is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Columbus — map
  • Died: New York City — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. November 10, 1834
    Born in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
  2. October 4, 1862
    Act of valor — Corinth, Mississippi
    Age 27. 43d Ohio Infantry
  3. August 19, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 18, 1902
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 68.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Wager Swayne (November 10, 1834 – December 18, 1902) was a Union Army colonel during the American Civil War and was appointed as the last major general of volunteers of the Union Army. Swayne received America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Second Battle of Corinth. He was also effectively the military governor of Alabama from March 2, 1867, to July 14, 1868, after the passage of the first Reconstruction Act by the U.S. Congress until Alabama was readmitted to the Union. Robert M. Patton remained the nominal governor during this period, but as the local army commander, Swayne controlled the State government.

From the Wikipedia article “Wager Swayne”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on October 4, 1862

James W. Archer First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

JB John Brown First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 DM Delano Morey Private · Army Civil War · 1862 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JH Joseph Hanks Private · Army Civil War · 1863 George V. Kelley Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 SG Samuel Grimshaw Private · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.