Swinney, Jonathan

Jonathan Swinney was born in 1836 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and later served in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. When Swinney went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in July 1863 to join Company H of the 3rd USCT, the enlistment officer noted that Swinney worked as a farmer before the war. The War Department initially sent Swinney’s regiment to South Carolina, where it was involved in the campaign to seize Fort Wagner in the Charleston harbor. In 1864, the 3rd USCT moved to Florida, where it remained until it was disbanded in October 1865. Swinney received a promotion to corporal on November 1, 1864 and, in September 1865, became a sergeant. His military service ended on October 31, 1865 while stationed at Jacksonville, Florida. (By Don Sailer)