The Memoirs of Gen. Joseph Gardner Swift, LL.D., U.S.A., First Graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, Chief Engineer U.S.A. from 1812 to 1818. 1800-1865
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About the Book
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The memoirs of Gen. Joseph Gardner Swift, LL.D., U.S.A., first graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, Chief Engineer U.S.A. from ... family of Thomas Swift of Dorchester, Mass.
(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
This book was originally published prior to 1923, and represents a reproduction of an important historical work, maintaining the same format as the original work. While some publishers have opted to apply OCR (optical character recognition) technology to the process, we believe this leads to sub-optimal results (frequent typographical errors, strange characters and confusing formatting) and does not adequately preserve the historical character of the original artifact. We believe this work is culturally important in its original archival form. While we strive to adequately clean and digitally enhance the original work, there are occasionally instances where imperfections such as blurred or missing pages, poor pictures or errant marks may have been introduced due to either the quality of the original work or the scanning process itself. Despite these occasional imperfections, we have brought it back into print as part of our ongoing global book preservation commitment, providing customers with access to the best possible historical reprints. We appreciate your understanding of these occasional imperfections, and sincerely hope you enjoy seeing the book in a format as close as possible to that intended by the original publisher.
Joseph Gardner Swift was an American soldier and engineer. He is noted for his service as a Chief of Engineers of the United States Army from 1812 to 1818. He was the first American engineer of distinction whose training was acquired wholly in the United States.
Background
Joseph Gardner Swift was born on December 31, 1783 on Nantucket Island, the son of Foster Swift and his wife, Deborah. His father, a physician in private practice, had recently been surgeon on a naval vessel and from 1814 until his death in 1835 was an army surgeon; his mother was Deborah, daughter of Thomas Delano of Nantucket, of Huguenot ancestry.
Education
In the summer of 1801, Secretary of War Henry Dearborn notified the Army that President Thomas Jefferson had directed the establishment of a military academy at West Point, New York. Swift reported to the academy on October 14, 1801.
On December 15, 1801, then-Major Jonathan Williams took command and several months later became the first Superintendent of the United States Military Academy. The Academy was established by law on March 16, 1802. Swift progressed well and was considered by Williams to be the foremost cadet. After a thorough examination, Swift became the first graduate of the Academy on October 12, 1802. Simeon Magruder Levy was the only other graduate in 1802.
Career
Joseph Swift was appointed on May 12, 1800, a cadet (apprentice officer) in the corps of artillerists and engineers and served at Newport, Rhod Island, until transferred to West Point, New York, in October 1801.
On March 16, 1802, the United States Military Academy was formally established to provide for the training of cadets at that place instead of with their several organizations as formerly. At first there was no definite period of residence or course of study.
Swift and one other, commissioned second lieutenants on October 12, 1802, are regarded as the first graduating class. The rapid expansion of the tiny American army gave Swift correspondingly rapid promotion. He was promoted first lieutenant of engineers on June 11, 1805.
In 1816 the government brought the French military engineer, Simon Bernard, to the United States and placed him in practical charge of all fortification work, though without actual rank. Swift remained chief engineer of the army, but his activities did not extend much beyond the administration of the Military Academy, of which the chief engineer was then ex officio superintendent. Finding the situation intolerable, he resigned from the army, November 12, 1818.
He was surveyor of the port of New York until 1826, and then chief engineer of several railroads, including the Baltimore & Susquehanna, the New Orleans & Lake Pontchartrain, and the New York & Harlem.
From 1829 to 1845 he was a civil engineer in government service, in charge of harbor improvement on the Great Lakes. He spent the latter part of his life at Geneva, New York.
In his religious affiliation Joseph Swift was an active and opinionated Episcopalian.
Views
A slave owner, Swift resented abolitionist efforts to disturb his servants but freed them. And though he opposed interference with the institution of slavery in the slave states, he opposed its extension elsewhere; the last words in his journal are a plea for humane treatment of Confederate prisoners and a stern opposition to Southern independence.
Swift used to be in the Masonic order but left because he considered it un-American.
Quotations:
When the citizens of Wilmington gave him a testimonial dinner, Swift proposed a toast to "North Carolina and her liberal spirit, as evinced in her carte blanche order to Canova for a sculpture of Washington, at an expense limited only by the artist's decision. "
Membership
Joseph Swift accepted the membership offered to him in the Society of Statistics of Paris, France. He was also a member of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and of the New York City Philharmonic Society.
Personality
Personally, Joseph Swift was "a pink-cheeked, chubby optimist, a handsome man, a hard and methodical worker" (personal letter from William Patten).
Interests
Joseph Swift had a great interest in statistical and educational matters.
Connections
Joseph Gardner Swift was married to Louisa Margaret on June 6, 1805, who was a daughter of James Walker of Wilmington, North Carolina. He had six children: Charlotte Swift, born April 5, 1826, died December 31, 1840; Julius H. Swift, died February 6, 1850, aged 35; Thomas Delano Swift, born Wilmington, November 27, 1812, died Geneva September 1829; James Thomas Swift, died July 31, 1890; Foster Swift, M. D. , born Geneva October 31, 1833, died Santa Cruz, West Indies May 10, 1875; Jonathan Williams Swift, Commodore, United States Navy, born Taunton, March 30, 1808, died Geneva July 30, 1877.