Theodore Schwan

:"Not to be confused with biologist Theodor Schwann."----Infobox Military Person
name=Theodore Schwan
born= Birth date|1841|7|9
died= Death date and age|1926|5|27|1841|7|9
placeofbirth=Hanover, Germany
placeofdeath=
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption= Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America Union
branch= United States Army Union Army
serviceyears=
rank=Brigadier General
commands= IV Corps
VIII Corps
unit=
battles=American Civil War
*Battle of Peebles' Farm
Spanish-American War
*Battle of Silva Heights
Philippine-American War
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=

Theodore Schwan (July 9, 1841 – May 27, 1926) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Peebles' Farm. He also served with distinction during the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars.

Early life and Civil War

Schwan was born in Hanover, Germany, and received his initial schooling in Germany. His family immigrated to the United States in 1857. Upon his arrival in the U.S., Schwan enlisted as a private in the Regular Army at age 16 and served in the 10th U.S. Infantry.

When the Civil War broke out, he served with his regiment, rising from private to Quartermaster-Sergeant by 1863. He was made a First Lieutenant in 1864 and received the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Peebles' Farm for dragging a wounded Union officer to the rear and preventing him from being captured. He remained in the Regular Army after the close of the Civil War and made lieutenant colonel of the 11th U.S. Infantry in February 1897.

panish-American War

When the Spanish-American War erupted, Lt. Col. Schwan was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and colonel in the Regular Army in May 1898, making him one of the only foreign-born generals in the Spanish-American War. He assumed command of the 1st Division, IV Corps which was stationed in Miami, Florida. That unit was never called into action, but he assumed command of the Independent Regular Brigade and sailed for Puerto Rico. His brigade landed at Guánica and moved west along the coast. On August 10, his brigade won the Battle of Silva Heights. The next day, he entered the town of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The Spanish moved up for another attack on Schwan, but a cease fire was enacted before either side attacked. Allegedly during this cease fire, Schwan's troops engaged in the first game of baseball to be played in Puerto Rico.

Philippine-American War

With the fighting on Puerto Rico over, General Schwan was transferred to the Philippines, where he became chief-of-staff in the VIII Corps, engaged in the Philippine-American War. He personally directed the first Cavite Expedition then took command of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, VIII Corps during the second Cavite Expedition.

Retirement and death

He retired from the army in 1901 and was made a Major General of Regulars and put on the retired list. Theodore Schwan died in 1926 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. [ findagrave|7881040 Retrieved on 2007-11-08]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization::First Lieutenant, 10th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Peebles Farm, Va., 1 October 1864. Entered service at: New York. Born: 9 July 1841, Germany. Date of issue: 12 December 1898.

Citation::At the imminent risk of his own life, while his regiment was falling back before a superior force of the enemy, he dragged a wounded and helpless officer to the rear, thus saving him from death or capture.cite web
publisher = AmericanCivilWar.com
title = "Civil War Medal of Honor Citations" (S-Z): Schwan, Theodore
date =
url = http://americancivilwar.com/medal_of_honor8.html
accessdate = 2007-11-09] cite web
publisher = army.mil
title = "Medal of Honor website” (M-Z): Schwan, Theodore
date =
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/civwarmz.html
accessdate = 2007-11-09]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*

Notes

References

* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/theodore.htm Arlington National Cemetery]
* [http://supervoca.com/gutenberg/gutenberg.cgi?datafile=19439.txt&last=1001&div= "From Yauco to Las Marias by Karl Stephen Herrman]

Persondata
NAME= Schwan, Theodore
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= July 9, 1841
PLACE OF BIRTH= Hanover, Germany
DATE OF DEATH= May 27, 1926
PLACE OF DEATH=