Born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, on October 23, 1843, he served as a private in Company C of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry. First enlisting in May 1861 into the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, he was discharged after the death of his mother but soon reenlisted in September 1862 after her death.[1] He earned his medal at Carrsville on May 15, 1863, when he attempted with the aid of David Goodhue to rescue the wounded George Fox. Goodhue was killed and Sweatt and Fox were taken prisoner and held in Libby Prison, where Fox later died.[2][3]
Prior to the war, Sweatt was a brass worker.[3] He worked in Charlestown after the war at the navy yard and as a fireman.[4] He made his own firm, Sweatt & Chase, and retired in 1901.[4] He died in East Billerica on February 14, 1914, and is now buried in Medford's Oak Grove Cemetery.[5] He was married to Sarah Hume and had five children with her.[3] A loyal member of the G.A.R, he was buried at two o'clock pm on February 18, 1914.[6]
