SAMUEL KLINGER SCHWENK, Colonel of the Fiftieth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-
General, was born on the 8th of May, 1842, in Dauphin county. He is descended
from the Von Schwencks of Germany, a noble family, several of whom served with
distinction in the late Franco-German war, and both paternal and maternal
ancestors served in our Revolutionary war and in the wars of Napoleon. He was
educated at Dickinson Seminary, which he left in his senior year to enlist in
the service of his country. He studied military tactics when but a boy, with an
old French officer, and at the age of sixteen was appointed Lieutenant of the
Germanville artillery. While at college he instructed the Dickinson Cadets,
composed of the teachers and students of the college. On the 19th of August,
1861, he was appointed a First Lieutenant in the Fiftieth, and proceeded with
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 906
it to South Carolina. In affairs at Beaufort and twice at Port Royal Ferry he
acted with skill, and received the thanks of General Stevens and Hunter. He
returned to Virginia in time to take part in the battles of Bull Run and
Chantilly. At South Mountain he was wounded in the ankle. At Antietam he was
still with his company, through scarcely able to walk, and was given command of
the sharpshooters on the Ninth corps front, where he was pitted against the
famous Palmetto sharpshooters, whom he drove, and opened connection with
Hooker's corps on the right, receiving handsome mention from Generals Wilcox and
Burnside. At Fredericksburg he again led the skirmishers, and reached out on
the left until he joined hands with those of Franklin's Grand division. The
Ninth corps was sent west in the spring of 1863, and at Blue Spring and Hough's
Ferry, where the advance of Longstreet was met, Captain Schwenk performed one of
those daring feats with which his name was often associated. He not only fought
the
enemy's skirmishers and captured a number of them, but actually went within the
hostile lines, gaining full information of the position and numbers, and in the
end took a party sent out to demand his own surrender. "At Campbell's Station,"
says his brigade commander, General Cutcheon, "he behaved most bravely," and
during the entire siege of Knoxville was "especially distinguished for his
coolness, prudent judgment, and determined gallantry, as well as professional
skill in the construction of defenses." The same officer further says: "During
the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania his regiment fought side by side
with the Twentieth Michigan, of which I was then the commanding officer. In the
first of these actions his gallantry was conspicuous and remarked by all who
witnessed it. At the passage of the Ny River, on the 9th of May, 1864, his
services were more valuable and permanent, being in command of the right company
of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, holding the extreme right of our line. The
enemy charged and attempted to turn that flank. Most of the regiment gave way
and fell back from the crest. Our flank seemed to be turned. At this moment
Captain Schwenk, by his great personal exertions and bravery, rallied a part of
his regiment, charged the enemy with the bayonet, and repulsed then from the
crest, thus saving
SAMUEL K. SCHWENK - 907
the brigade from serious disaster. Again on the 12th of May, in the battle of
Spottsylvania Court House, he greatly distinguished himself, so as to draw the
attention and admiration of the whole brigade," At the North Anna and at Shady
Grove he was alike conspicuous, always upon the advance line, where dangers
thickened and peril was most imminent. In the severe fighting at Cold Harbor he
was severely and at the time thought mortally wounded. A ball entered the side,
split and traversed a rib bone, carrying away a portion of the vertebra. It was
treated by men eminent in the medical profession, the case being regarded as
remarkable, many months elapsing before he could move about. In the meantime an
examining board had pronounced him permanently disabled, and the order for his
discharge on account of "physical disability from wounds received in action" had
been issued. On the day following that on which this was promulgated, Governor
Curtin had ordered his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel. On six
several occasions he went before the examining board to have the revocation of
the order of discharge recommended, before he succeeded, and then with his
wounds still open. He proceeded immediately to the field and assumed command of
his regiment, with the rank of Major. At the retaking of Fort Steadman and in
the final capture of Petersburg he was engaged, leading his troops with marked
skill and enterprise. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Brigadier-
General by brevet for "skilful and meritorious services during the war." Upon
the occasion of laying the corner-stone of the national monument at Gettysburg,
in July, 1865, Colonel Schwenk's regiment was selected, upon the recommendation
of General Grant, to represent the infantry of the army. At the muster oft of
service, on the 30th of July, only 134 men and two officers, out of 940 who
originally went forth, remained. In his farewell order to his men he said: "The
story of the old regiment, with the incidents of the past four years, will
always be remembered and cherished with the memory and virtues of our noble
comrades, whose remains are mouldering in ten different States. Your deeds of
valor and trials of endurance, with the achievements of thirty-two battles, will
brighten many pages in the annals of your country's fame."
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 908
Soon after his discharge General Schwenk entered Hancock's First Army corps,
and served for a time in Michigan. Near the close of the year 1866 he was
appointed First Lieutenant in the Forty-first regular infantry, which he joined
at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in March following, and was shortly after made
Adjutant. He was in succession brevetted Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel
in the regular army for conspicuous gallantry and skilful and meritorious
services at Ny River, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor. He was stationed at
Brownsville, Texas, in 1867, and was Adjutant-General to General Mackenzie in
command upon the Rio Grande. During the prevalence of yellow fever he in
addition performed the duties of Regimental and Post-Adjutant, until he was
himself stricken with the fever, of which, after having nearly recovered, he
suffered a violent relapse which came near carrying him off. He was promoted to
Captain in December, 1867, and stationed at forts along the Texas frontier,
where he had several encounters with the Indians. In July, 1868, he was
President of the first Military Commission for Texas under the reconstruction
acts of Congress. A year later he was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, in charge
of recruiting service, with offices in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and
Mississippi. When the army was reduced in 1871, he was assigned to the Eighth
cavalry, but in consequences of disability from wounds, of which he received
eight during the war, he was compelled to give up active services and will
probably have to go upon the retired list of the army.
Commissioned as First Lieutenant in Company A 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 19 August 1861 and promoted to Captain on 17 September 1862 during the Antietam Campaign. Schwenk was discharged on 12 October 1864 at the end of his term of service. He was then recommissioned as Major of the 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 28 February 1865. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 15 May 1865 and Breveted Colonel and Brigadier General US Volunteers on 24 July 1865 with a Date of rank of 13 March 1865. Mustered out with regiment on 30 July 1865. His Brevet Rank was confirmed by Congress on 12 March 1866.
General, was born on the 8th of May, 1842, in Dauphin county. He is descended
from the Von Schwencks of Germany, a noble family, several of whom served with
distinction in the late Franco-German war, and both paternal and maternal
ancestors served in our Revolutionary war and in the wars of Napoleon. He was
educated at Dickinson Seminary, which he left in his senior year to enlist in
the service of his country. He studied military tactics when but a boy, with an
old French officer, and at the age of sixteen was appointed Lieutenant of the
Germanville artillery. While at college he instructed the Dickinson Cadets,
composed of the teachers and students of the college. On the 19th of August,
1861, he was appointed a First Lieutenant in the Fiftieth, and proceeded with
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 906
it to South Carolina. In affairs at Beaufort and twice at Port Royal Ferry he
acted with skill, and received the thanks of General Stevens and Hunter. He
returned to Virginia in time to take part in the battles of Bull Run and
Chantilly. At South Mountain he was wounded in the ankle. At Antietam he was
still with his company, through scarcely able to walk, and was given command of
the sharpshooters on the Ninth corps front, where he was pitted against the
famous Palmetto sharpshooters, whom he drove, and opened connection with
Hooker's corps on the right, receiving handsome mention from Generals Wilcox and
Burnside. At Fredericksburg he again led the skirmishers, and reached out on
the left until he joined hands with those of Franklin's Grand division. The
Ninth corps was sent west in the spring of 1863, and at Blue Spring and Hough's
Ferry, where the advance of Longstreet was met, Captain Schwenk performed one of
those daring feats with which his name was often associated. He not only fought
the
enemy's skirmishers and captured a number of them, but actually went within the
hostile lines, gaining full information of the position and numbers, and in the
end took a party sent out to demand his own surrender. "At Campbell's Station,"
says his brigade commander, General Cutcheon, "he behaved most bravely," and
during the entire siege of Knoxville was "especially distinguished for his
coolness, prudent judgment, and determined gallantry, as well as professional
skill in the construction of defenses." The same officer further says: "During
the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania his regiment fought side by side
with the Twentieth Michigan, of which I was then the commanding officer. In the
first of these actions his gallantry was conspicuous and remarked by all who
witnessed it. At the passage of the Ny River, on the 9th of May, 1864, his
services were more valuable and permanent, being in command of the right company
of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, holding the extreme right of our line. The
enemy charged and attempted to turn that flank. Most of the regiment gave way
and fell back from the crest. Our flank seemed to be turned. At this moment
Captain Schwenk, by his great personal exertions and bravery, rallied a part of
his regiment, charged the enemy with the bayonet, and repulsed then from the
crest, thus saving
SAMUEL K. SCHWENK - 907
the brigade from serious disaster. Again on the 12th of May, in the battle of
Spottsylvania Court House, he greatly distinguished himself, so as to draw the
attention and admiration of the whole brigade," At the North Anna and at Shady
Grove he was alike conspicuous, always upon the advance line, where dangers
thickened and peril was most imminent. In the severe fighting at Cold Harbor he
was severely and at the time thought mortally wounded. A ball entered the side,
split and traversed a rib bone, carrying away a portion of the vertebra. It was
treated by men eminent in the medical profession, the case being regarded as
remarkable, many months elapsing before he could move about. In the meantime an
examining board had pronounced him permanently disabled, and the order for his
discharge on account of "physical disability from wounds received in action" had
been issued. On the day following that on which this was promulgated, Governor
Curtin had ordered his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel. On six
several occasions he went before the examining board to have the revocation of
the order of discharge recommended, before he succeeded, and then with his
wounds still open. He proceeded immediately to the field and assumed command of
his regiment, with the rank of Major. At the retaking of Fort Steadman and in
the final capture of Petersburg he was engaged, leading his troops with marked
skill and enterprise. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Brigadier-
General by brevet for "skilful and meritorious services during the war." Upon
the occasion of laying the corner-stone of the national monument at Gettysburg,
in July, 1865, Colonel Schwenk's regiment was selected, upon the recommendation
of General Grant, to represent the infantry of the army. At the muster oft of
service, on the 30th of July, only 134 men and two officers, out of 940 who
originally went forth, remained. In his farewell order to his men he said: "The
story of the old regiment, with the incidents of the past four years, will
always be remembered and cherished with the memory and virtues of our noble
comrades, whose remains are mouldering in ten different States. Your deeds of
valor and trials of endurance, with the achievements of thirty-two battles, will
brighten many pages in the annals of your country's fame."
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 908
Soon after his discharge General Schwenk entered Hancock's First Army corps,
and served for a time in Michigan. Near the close of the year 1866 he was
appointed First Lieutenant in the Forty-first regular infantry, which he joined
at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in March following, and was shortly after made
Adjutant. He was in succession brevetted Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel
in the regular army for conspicuous gallantry and skilful and meritorious
services at Ny River, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor. He was stationed at
Brownsville, Texas, in 1867, and was Adjutant-General to General Mackenzie in
command upon the Rio Grande. During the prevalence of yellow fever he in
addition performed the duties of Regimental and Post-Adjutant, until he was
himself stricken with the fever, of which, after having nearly recovered, he
suffered a violent relapse which came near carrying him off. He was promoted to
Captain in December, 1867, and stationed at forts along the Texas frontier,
where he had several encounters with the Indians. In July, 1868, he was
President of the first Military Commission for Texas under the reconstruction
acts of Congress. A year later he was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, in charge
of recruiting service, with offices in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and
Mississippi. When the army was reduced in 1871, he was assigned to the Eighth
cavalry, but in consequences of disability from wounds, of which he received
eight during the war, he was compelled to give up active services and will
probably have to go upon the retired list of the army.
Commissioned as First Lieutenant in Company A 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 19 August 1861 and promoted to Captain on 17 September 1862 during the Antietam Campaign. Schwenk was discharged on 12 October 1864 at the end of his term of service. He was then recommissioned as Major of the 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 28 February 1865. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 15 May 1865 and Breveted Colonel and Brigadier General US Volunteers on 24 July 1865 with a Date of rank of 13 March 1865. Mustered out with regiment on 30 July 1865. His Brevet Rank was confirmed by Congress on 12 March 1866.
SAMUEL KLINGER SCHWENK, Colonel of the Fiftieth regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-
General, was born on the 8th of May, 1842, in Dauphin county. He is descended
from the Von Schwencks of Germany, a noble family, several of whom served with
distinction in the late Franco-German war, and both paternal and maternal
ancestors served in our Revolutionary war and in the wars of Napoleon. He was
educated at Dickinson Seminary, which he left in his senior year to enlist in
the service of his country. He studied military tactics when but a boy, with an
old French officer, and at the age of sixteen was appointed Lieutenant of the
Germanville artillery. While at college he instructed the Dickinson Cadets,
composed of the teachers and students of the college. On the 19th of August,
1861, he was appointed a First Lieutenant in the Fiftieth, and proceeded with
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 906
it to South Carolina. In affairs at Beaufort and twice at Port Royal Ferry he
acted with skill, and received the thanks of General Stevens and Hunter. He
returned to Virginia in time to take part in the battles of Bull Run and
Chantilly. At South Mountain he was wounded in the ankle. At Antietam he was
still with his company, through scarcely able to walk, and was given command of
the sharpshooters on the Ninth corps front, where he was pitted against the
famous Palmetto sharpshooters, whom he drove, and opened connection with
Hooker's corps on the right, receiving handsome mention from Generals Wilcox and
Burnside. At Fredericksburg he again led the skirmishers, and reached out on
the left until he joined hands with those of Franklin's Grand division. The
Ninth corps was sent west in the spring of 1863, and at Blue Spring and Hough's
Ferry, where the advance of Longstreet was met, Captain Schwenk performed one of
those daring feats with which his name was often associated. He not only fought
the
enemy's skirmishers and captured a number of them, but actually went within the
hostile lines, gaining full information of the position and numbers, and in the
end took a party sent out to demand his own surrender. "At Campbell's Station,"
says his brigade commander, General Cutcheon, "he behaved most bravely," and
during the entire siege of Knoxville was "especially distinguished for his
coolness, prudent judgment, and determined gallantry, as well as professional
skill in the construction of defenses." The same officer further says: "During
the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania his regiment fought side by side
with the Twentieth Michigan, of which I was then the commanding officer. In the
first of these actions his gallantry was conspicuous and remarked by all who
witnessed it. At the passage of the Ny River, on the 9th of May, 1864, his
services were more valuable and permanent, being in command of the right company
of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, holding the extreme right of our line. The
enemy charged and attempted to turn that flank. Most of the regiment gave way
and fell back from the crest. Our flank seemed to be turned. At this moment
Captain Schwenk, by his great personal exertions and bravery, rallied a part of
his regiment, charged the enemy with the bayonet, and repulsed then from the
crest, thus saving
SAMUEL K. SCHWENK - 907
the brigade from serious disaster. Again on the 12th of May, in the battle of
Spottsylvania Court House, he greatly distinguished himself, so as to draw the
attention and admiration of the whole brigade," At the North Anna and at Shady
Grove he was alike conspicuous, always upon the advance line, where dangers
thickened and peril was most imminent. In the severe fighting at Cold Harbor he
was severely and at the time thought mortally wounded. A ball entered the side,
split and traversed a rib bone, carrying away a portion of the vertebra. It was
treated by men eminent in the medical profession, the case being regarded as
remarkable, many months elapsing before he could move about. In the meantime an
examining board had pronounced him permanently disabled, and the order for his
discharge on account of "physical disability from wounds received in action" had
been issued. On the day following that on which this was promulgated, Governor
Curtin had ordered his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel. On six
several occasions he went before the examining board to have the revocation of
the order of discharge recommended, before he succeeded, and then with his
wounds still open. He proceeded immediately to the field and assumed command of
his regiment, with the rank of Major. At the retaking of Fort Steadman and in
the final capture of Petersburg he was engaged, leading his troops with marked
skill and enterprise. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Brigadier-
General by brevet for "skilful and meritorious services during the war." Upon
the occasion of laying the corner-stone of the national monument at Gettysburg,
in July, 1865, Colonel Schwenk's regiment was selected, upon the recommendation
of General Grant, to represent the infantry of the army. At the muster oft of
service, on the 30th of July, only 134 men and two officers, out of 940 who
originally went forth, remained. In his farewell order to his men he said: "The
story of the old regiment, with the incidents of the past four years, will
always be remembered and cherished with the memory and virtues of our noble
comrades, whose remains are mouldering in ten different States. Your deeds of
valor and trials of endurance, with the achievements of thirty-two battles, will
brighten many pages in the annals of your country's fame."
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 908
Soon after his discharge General Schwenk entered Hancock's First Army corps,
and served for a time in Michigan. Near the close of the year 1866 he was
appointed First Lieutenant in the Forty-first regular infantry, which he joined
at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in March following, and was shortly after made
Adjutant. He was in succession brevetted Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel
in the regular army for conspicuous gallantry and skilful and meritorious
services at Ny River, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor. He was stationed at
Brownsville, Texas, in 1867, and was Adjutant-General to General Mackenzie in
command upon the Rio Grande. During the prevalence of yellow fever he in
addition performed the duties of Regimental and Post-Adjutant, until he was
himself stricken with the fever, of which, after having nearly recovered, he
suffered a violent relapse which came near carrying him off. He was promoted to
Captain in December, 1867, and stationed at forts along the Texas frontier,
where he had several encounters with the Indians. In July, 1868, he was
President of the first Military Commission for Texas under the reconstruction
acts of Congress. A year later he was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, in charge
of recruiting service, with offices in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and
Mississippi. When the army was reduced in 1871, he was assigned to the Eighth
cavalry, but in consequences of disability from wounds, of which he received
eight during the war, he was compelled to give up active services and will
probably have to go upon the retired list of the army.
Commissioned as First Lieutenant in Company A 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 19 August 1861 and promoted to Captain on 17 September 1862 during the Antietam Campaign. Schwenk was discharged on 12 October 1864 at the end of his term of service. He was then recommissioned as Major of the 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 28 February 1865. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 15 May 1865 and Breveted Colonel and Brigadier General US Volunteers on 24 July 1865 with a Date of rank of 13 March 1865. Mustered out with regiment on 30 July 1865. His Brevet Rank was confirmed by Congress on 12 March 1866.
General, was born on the 8th of May, 1842, in Dauphin county. He is descended
from the Von Schwencks of Germany, a noble family, several of whom served with
distinction in the late Franco-German war, and both paternal and maternal
ancestors served in our Revolutionary war and in the wars of Napoleon. He was
educated at Dickinson Seminary, which he left in his senior year to enlist in
the service of his country. He studied military tactics when but a boy, with an
old French officer, and at the age of sixteen was appointed Lieutenant of the
Germanville artillery. While at college he instructed the Dickinson Cadets,
composed of the teachers and students of the college. On the 19th of August,
1861, he was appointed a First Lieutenant in the Fiftieth, and proceeded with
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 906
it to South Carolina. In affairs at Beaufort and twice at Port Royal Ferry he
acted with skill, and received the thanks of General Stevens and Hunter. He
returned to Virginia in time to take part in the battles of Bull Run and
Chantilly. At South Mountain he was wounded in the ankle. At Antietam he was
still with his company, through scarcely able to walk, and was given command of
the sharpshooters on the Ninth corps front, where he was pitted against the
famous Palmetto sharpshooters, whom he drove, and opened connection with
Hooker's corps on the right, receiving handsome mention from Generals Wilcox and
Burnside. At Fredericksburg he again led the skirmishers, and reached out on
the left until he joined hands with those of Franklin's Grand division. The
Ninth corps was sent west in the spring of 1863, and at Blue Spring and Hough's
Ferry, where the advance of Longstreet was met, Captain Schwenk performed one of
those daring feats with which his name was often associated. He not only fought
the
enemy's skirmishers and captured a number of them, but actually went within the
hostile lines, gaining full information of the position and numbers, and in the
end took a party sent out to demand his own surrender. "At Campbell's Station,"
says his brigade commander, General Cutcheon, "he behaved most bravely," and
during the entire siege of Knoxville was "especially distinguished for his
coolness, prudent judgment, and determined gallantry, as well as professional
skill in the construction of defenses." The same officer further says: "During
the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania his regiment fought side by side
with the Twentieth Michigan, of which I was then the commanding officer. In the
first of these actions his gallantry was conspicuous and remarked by all who
witnessed it. At the passage of the Ny River, on the 9th of May, 1864, his
services were more valuable and permanent, being in command of the right company
of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, holding the extreme right of our line. The
enemy charged and attempted to turn that flank. Most of the regiment gave way
and fell back from the crest. Our flank seemed to be turned. At this moment
Captain Schwenk, by his great personal exertions and bravery, rallied a part of
his regiment, charged the enemy with the bayonet, and repulsed then from the
crest, thus saving
SAMUEL K. SCHWENK - 907
the brigade from serious disaster. Again on the 12th of May, in the battle of
Spottsylvania Court House, he greatly distinguished himself, so as to draw the
attention and admiration of the whole brigade," At the North Anna and at Shady
Grove he was alike conspicuous, always upon the advance line, where dangers
thickened and peril was most imminent. In the severe fighting at Cold Harbor he
was severely and at the time thought mortally wounded. A ball entered the side,
split and traversed a rib bone, carrying away a portion of the vertebra. It was
treated by men eminent in the medical profession, the case being regarded as
remarkable, many months elapsing before he could move about. In the meantime an
examining board had pronounced him permanently disabled, and the order for his
discharge on account of "physical disability from wounds received in action" had
been issued. On the day following that on which this was promulgated, Governor
Curtin had ordered his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel. On six
several occasions he went before the examining board to have the revocation of
the order of discharge recommended, before he succeeded, and then with his
wounds still open. He proceeded immediately to the field and assumed command of
his regiment, with the rank of Major. At the retaking of Fort Steadman and in
the final capture of Petersburg he was engaged, leading his troops with marked
skill and enterprise. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Brigadier-
General by brevet for "skilful and meritorious services during the war." Upon
the occasion of laying the corner-stone of the national monument at Gettysburg,
in July, 1865, Colonel Schwenk's regiment was selected, upon the recommendation
of General Grant, to represent the infantry of the army. At the muster oft of
service, on the 30th of July, only 134 men and two officers, out of 940 who
originally went forth, remained. In his farewell order to his men he said: "The
story of the old regiment, with the incidents of the past four years, will
always be remembered and cherished with the memory and virtues of our noble
comrades, whose remains are mouldering in ten different States. Your deeds of
valor and trials of endurance, with the achievements of thirty-two battles, will
brighten many pages in the annals of your country's fame."
MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 908
Soon after his discharge General Schwenk entered Hancock's First Army corps,
and served for a time in Michigan. Near the close of the year 1866 he was
appointed First Lieutenant in the Forty-first regular infantry, which he joined
at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in March following, and was shortly after made
Adjutant. He was in succession brevetted Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel
in the regular army for conspicuous gallantry and skilful and meritorious
services at Ny River, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor. He was stationed at
Brownsville, Texas, in 1867, and was Adjutant-General to General Mackenzie in
command upon the Rio Grande. During the prevalence of yellow fever he in
addition performed the duties of Regimental and Post-Adjutant, until he was
himself stricken with the fever, of which, after having nearly recovered, he
suffered a violent relapse which came near carrying him off. He was promoted to
Captain in December, 1867, and stationed at forts along the Texas frontier,
where he had several encounters with the Indians. In July, 1868, he was
President of the first Military Commission for Texas under the reconstruction
acts of Congress. A year later he was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, in charge
of recruiting service, with offices in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and
Mississippi. When the army was reduced in 1871, he was assigned to the Eighth
cavalry, but in consequences of disability from wounds, of which he received
eight during the war, he was compelled to give up active services and will
probably have to go upon the retired list of the army.
Commissioned as First Lieutenant in Company A 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 19 August 1861 and promoted to Captain on 17 September 1862 during the Antietam Campaign. Schwenk was discharged on 12 October 1864 at the end of his term of service. He was then recommissioned as Major of the 50th PA Volunteer Infantry on 28 February 1865. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 15 May 1865 and Breveted Colonel and Brigadier General US Volunteers on 24 July 1865 with a Date of rank of 13 March 1865. Mustered out with regiment on 30 July 1865. His Brevet Rank was confirmed by Congress on 12 March 1866.
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