Will Sweeney, like his father before him, joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 12. He trained as a fifer at the Marine Barracks in Washington DC then went to sea in 1862 aboard the USS Pensacola. He participated in the battle and capture of New Orleans from Confederate forces. From April 1863 to May 1864 young Mr. Sweeney served aboard the sloop-of-war USS Portsmouth at New Orleans. He finished his wartime service at the Philadelphia and Brooklyn navy yards.
After the Civil War Mr. Sweeney was assigned to ships on the Pacific Coast and for a time was stationed at Mare Island in California. In 1872 he succumbed to gold fever and deserted the Marine Corps to try his luck at mining in the Sierra Nevadas. When gold mining didn't pan out, Mr. Sweeney enlisted in the army joining the 21st U.S. Infantry in Sacramento on September 2, 1873. Private Sweeney was posted at Fort Vancouver when he was discovered to be a Marine Corps deserter. He was ordered to report to the navy at San Juan Island where he turned himself in. By order of the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Sweeney was discharged from the Marine Corps provided he completed his service in the army. Private Sweeney finished his service in Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry and was discharged March 3, 1875 at Fort Vancouver.
Mr. Sweeney made his way to Yamhill County, Oregon where in 1878 he married Miss Flora Bell Hash. The couple had two sons and a daughter. Between the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, Mr. Sweeney served his county for 15 years. He died at the age of 37.
After the Civil War Mr. Sweeney was assigned to ships on the Pacific Coast and for a time was stationed at Mare Island in California. In 1872 he succumbed to gold fever and deserted the Marine Corps to try his luck at mining in the Sierra Nevadas. When gold mining didn't pan out, Mr. Sweeney enlisted in the army joining the 21st U.S. Infantry in Sacramento on September 2, 1873. Private Sweeney was posted at Fort Vancouver when he was discovered to be a Marine Corps deserter. He was ordered to report to the navy at San Juan Island where he turned himself in. By order of the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Sweeney was discharged from the Marine Corps provided he completed his service in the army. Private Sweeney finished his service in Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry and was discharged March 3, 1875 at Fort Vancouver.
Mr. Sweeney made his way to Yamhill County, Oregon where in 1878 he married Miss Flora Bell Hash. The couple had two sons and a daughter. Between the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, Mr. Sweeney served his county for 15 years. He died at the age of 37.
Will Sweeney, like his father before him, joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 12. He trained as a fifer at the Marine Barracks in Washington DC then went to sea in 1862 aboard the USS Pensacola. He participated in the battle and capture of New Orleans from Confederate forces. From April 1863 to May 1864 young Mr. Sweeney served aboard the sloop-of-war USS Portsmouth at New Orleans. He finished his wartime service at the Philadelphia and Brooklyn navy yards.
After the Civil War Mr. Sweeney was assigned to ships on the Pacific Coast and for a time was stationed at Mare Island in California. In 1872 he succumbed to gold fever and deserted the Marine Corps to try his luck at mining in the Sierra Nevadas. When gold mining didn't pan out, Mr. Sweeney enlisted in the army joining the 21st U.S. Infantry in Sacramento on September 2, 1873. Private Sweeney was posted at Fort Vancouver when he was discovered to be a Marine Corps deserter. He was ordered to report to the navy at San Juan Island where he turned himself in. By order of the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Sweeney was discharged from the Marine Corps provided he completed his service in the army. Private Sweeney finished his service in Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry and was discharged March 3, 1875 at Fort Vancouver.
Mr. Sweeney made his way to Yamhill County, Oregon where in 1878 he married Miss Flora Bell Hash. The couple had two sons and a daughter. Between the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, Mr. Sweeney served his county for 15 years. He died at the age of 37.
After the Civil War Mr. Sweeney was assigned to ships on the Pacific Coast and for a time was stationed at Mare Island in California. In 1872 he succumbed to gold fever and deserted the Marine Corps to try his luck at mining in the Sierra Nevadas. When gold mining didn't pan out, Mr. Sweeney enlisted in the army joining the 21st U.S. Infantry in Sacramento on September 2, 1873. Private Sweeney was posted at Fort Vancouver when he was discovered to be a Marine Corps deserter. He was ordered to report to the navy at San Juan Island where he turned himself in. By order of the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Sweeney was discharged from the Marine Corps provided he completed his service in the army. Private Sweeney finished his service in Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry and was discharged March 3, 1875 at Fort Vancouver.
Mr. Sweeney made his way to Yamhill County, Oregon where in 1878 he married Miss Flora Bell Hash. The couple had two sons and a daughter. Between the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, Mr. Sweeney served his county for 15 years. He died at the age of 37.
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