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.
Military career.
Sweeney enlisted in the 1st Vermont Cavalry and was sworn into federal service on Tuesday, November 19, 1861. He saw service with regiment in the eastern theater. He was at the Battle of Winchester, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Third Battle of Winchester, and the Battle of Cedar Creek. A private in Company A, he captured a regimental color, an ambulance, and three officers including the mortally wounded Maj. Gen. Stephen Ramseur at Cedar Creek for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor citation.
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 1st Vermont Cavalry. Place and date: At Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864. Entered service at: Burlington, Vermont. Born: September 24, 1845, Manchester, England. Date of issue: November 26, 1864.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Frederick A. Lyon, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 October 1864, while serving with Company A, 1st Vermont Cavalry, in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia. With one companion, Corporal Lyon captured the flag of a Confederate regiment, three officers, and an ambulance with its mules and driver.
The companion mentioned in his citation was corporal Frederick A. Lyon, who also received the Medal of Honor. Sweeney was sent to Washington, D.C., with the captured Confederate battle flag. He was personally introduced to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton by General George Custer. Stanton personally presented the Medal of Honor to Sweeney, who was also promoted to corporal.
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