IN HONOUR OF OUR ANCESTORS

 

CHARLES H. SWEENY, Co. H, 2nd VA Cavalry
This article submitted by Commander Tony Griffin

 

Charles H. Sweeney is the 3rd great grandfather of Tony Griffin. Charles was born November 5, 1837 in what was then Buckingham county, Virginia to Charles A. and Mary Staples Sweeney. They lived less than a mile from the little village of Clover Hill on the north side of the Appomattox River.
He followed his brother Robert and cousin Sam Sweeney into the 2nd VA Cavalry Co. H, the Appomattox Rangers. He enlisted at Appomattox Court House, 10 March, 1862. Charles was wounded in the shoulder at 2nd Manassas in a charge by the 2nd VA on a Yankee Calvary brigade on 30 August, 1862 and was absent wounded July through December, 1862.
He was present March-April, 1863 and then was sent off sick from Williamsport, Maryland (with measles), July-August, 1863. He was ordered transferred to Shoemaker's Battery of Stuart's Horse Artillery, 2 June, 1863. He spent the rest of the war with this battery fighting in the Valley Campaign of 1864 and then was paroled at Appomattox Court House.

Charles married his neighbor Martha J. Bryant in January of 1865 while his unit was disbanded for the winter.
They had seven children and he worked a small farm and died in the same house he was born in on 19 May 1909 and is
buried in the family cemetery just up the hill from his cabin. Charles received a pension for his service to the Confederacy.
Charles Sweeney's home is part of the Appomattox National Battlefield Park.


From "Appomattox Times"-26 May 1909

The funeral services of Mr. Charles H. Sweeney who died at the advanced age of 74 years on last Thursday (20th) at his late home near the old Court House took place Friday, the services being conducted by the Rev. W. L. Murphy, pastor of the Methodist Church of which Mr. Sweeney was a member. For the past three years, Mr. Sweeney had been in poor health and his death was not a surprise to his many friends. He is survived by a widow and several children. He has been blind for many years. His nephew, Joe Sweeney was with Gen. Munford during the Civil War, and was a great musician and credited with being the inventor of the banjo.