Class of 1853

Nelson Bowman Sweitzer: Born Dec. 12, 1828, Brownsville, PA.​a

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1849, to July 1, 1853, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut. of Dragoons, July 1, 1853.

Served: at the Cavalry School for Practice, Carlisle, Pa., 1854; on

(Second Lieut., 1st Dragoons, July 25, 1854)

frontier duty at Ft. Union, N. M., 1854, — Ft. Lane, Or., 1854, — Scouting in Southern Oregon, 1855, — Rogue River Expedition, 1856, being

(Second Lieut., 2d Cavalry, Mar. 3, 1855: Declined)

(First Lieut., 1st Dragoons, Sep. 4, 1855)

engaged in several Skirmishes, — and Ft. Walla Walla, Wash., 1856‑57; on Recruiting service at New Orleans Depot, La., 1858; on frontier duty at Ft. Walla Walla, Wash., 1858‑59, — Escorting Wagon Road Expedition from Ft. Dalles, Or., to Salt Lake City, Utah, 1859, — and Ft. Walla Walla, Wash., 1859‑60; and on Recruiting Service, 1860‑61.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑66: as

(Captain, 1st Dragoons, May 7, 1861: 1st Cavalry, Aug. 3, 1861)

Aide-de‑camp to Major-General McClellan, July, 1861, to Mar. 31, 1863,

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Staff — Additional Aide-de‑Camp, Sep. 28, 1861, to Mar. 31, 1863)

during his Western Virginia Campaign, and while commanding the Army of the Potomac, and as General-in‑Chief at Washington, D. C., being present in the various movements and engagements of the Virginia Peninsular and Maryland Campaigns; in Re-organizing the dismounted cavalry

(Bvt. Major, July 4, 1862,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Peninsular Campaign in Virginia)

of the Army of the Potomac, at Washington, D. C., May to Aug., 1863; in command of 1st Cavalry (Army of the Potomac), in Operations in Central Virginia, Aug., 1863, to May, 1864, being engaged in various Skirmishes, Reconnoissances, Raids, and on Picket duty; in the Richmond Campaign (Army of the Potomac), May to Aug., 1864, being engaged in the Combat of Todd's Tavern, May 7, 1864, — Capture of Spottsylvania C. H., May 8, 1864, — "Sheridan's Raid" to Haxall's Landing, and returning to New Castle, May 9‑29, 1864, participating in the Engagements at Yellow Tavern, May 11, Meadow Bridge, May 12, Mechanicsville, May 12, and Hawes's Shop, May 28, 1864, — Actions of Cold Harbor, June 2‑4, 1864, — and "Sheridan's Raid" towards Gordonsville, June 7‑28, 1864, participating in the Battle of Trevillian Station, June 11‑12, 1864, and several Skirmishes; in the Shenandoah Campaign, Aug., 1864, being engaged in Skirmishes and Actions at Newtown, Aug. 11, Cedarville, Aug. 16, Kearnyville, Aug. 26, Smithfield, Aug. 28, and crossing the Opequan, Aug. 29‑30, 1864, — and Battle of Opequan, Sep. 19, 1864; on Picket duty in front of the Defenses of Washington, D. C., and

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Col., Sep. 19, 1864,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Winchester, Va.)

patrolling Loudon County, Va., Nov., 1864, to Apr., 1865; in guarding

(Colonel, 16th N. Y. Cavalry Volunteers, Nov. 12, 1864)

 p544  (Bvt. Brig.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Meritorious and Distinguished Services)

(Bvt. Colonel, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Rebellion)

Northern Neck, Va., for the arrest of the conspirators in the assassination of President Lincoln, Apr.‑May, 1865, Booth being killed and Harold and Dr. Mudd being captured by detachments of his regiment; in command of the District of the Northern Neck, Va., May to Oct., 1865; and on

(Mustered out of Volunteer Service, Oct. 3, 1865)

Recruiting service, Nov., 1865, to Apr., 1866.

Major, 2d Cavalry, July 28, 1866.

Served: in garrison at Sedgwick Barracks, Washington, D. C., Nov. 3, 1866, to Apr., 1867; on frontier duty at Ft. Laramie, Wy., June 23 to Nov., 1867; on leave of absence, to Apr. 68; as Acting Assistant Inspector-General, Department of the Platte, Apr. 3, 1868, to Apr., 1871; on frontier duty at Omaha Barracks, Neb., Apr., 1871, to Nov. 18, 1872, being in command of detachment in the field, May 1 to Oct. 6, 1871; on leave of absence, Nov. 18, 1872, to Jan. 18, 1873; on frontier duty at Ft. Ellis, Mon., Mar. 27, 1873, to Sep. 12, 1875; as Member of Board for Army Ambulances at Washington, D. C., Oct., 1875, to Jan., 1877; on frontier duty at Ft. Sanders, Wy., Jan. 23 to July 13, 1877, — Ft. Brown,

(Lieut.‑Col., 8th Cavalry, June 25, 1877)

Tex., commanding regiment, July 25, 1877, to Jan., 1878, — and Ringgold Barracks, Tex., Jan. 27, 1878, to May 8, 1879; on Courts Martial in Texas, to Jan. 16, 1880; on frontier duty at Ft. Brown, Tex., to Oct. 6, 1880, — and in command of regiment and post of Ft. Clark, Tex., to May 3, 1882; on leave of absence to Oct. 30, 1882; on frontier duty at Ft. Clark, Tex. (commanding regiment), to Dec. 15, 1882, — and San Antonio, Tex. (Member of Boards for inspection of horses, Mar. 9 to Sep. 9, 1884, and Dec. 17, 1884, to Aug. 17, 1885), to Apr. 7, 1886; and

(Colonel, 2d Cavalry, Jan. 9, 1886)

in command of regiment and post of Walla Walla, Wash., May 1, 1886, to Oct. 4, 1888.

Retired from Active Service, Oct. 29,​b 1888,
at his own request, after 30 Years of Service.