SWORDS, Thomas, soldier, born in New York city, 1 November, 1806; died there, 20 March, 1886. He was a grandson of Captain Thomas Swords, a British officer, who died in New York in 1780, and his father was the senior member of the publishing-house of T, and J. Swords, of New York city. The son was graduated at the United States military academy in 1829, assigned to the 4th infantry, and served in various parts of the southern states for four years, when he was appointed 1st lieutenant in the 1st dragoons. He was promoted captain, 3 March, 1837, and during nearly the whole of the succeeding twelve years was engaged on frontier duty, serving with Gem Henry Leavenworth against the Indians in the southwest, and with General Stephen Kearny in the conquest of New Mexico and California, and raised the first American flag over Santa Fe. When General Kearny's force reached San Diego on the Pacific coast in January, 1847, Swords, who was the quartermaster, went to the Sandwich islands and obtained clothing and supplies for the soldiers. He became captain and assistant quartermaster, 7 July, 1838, major, 21 April, 1846, and lieutenant-colonel and deputy quartermaster-general, 3 August, 1861. He was chief quartermaster of the Army of the West in 1846-'7, was engaged at San Pasqual, California, 6 December, 1846, and at Vera Cruz, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, 30 May, 1848, for meritorious services in the enemy's country. He was chief quartermaster of the Departments of the Cumberland and the Ohio in 1861-'5, was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, and brevetted brigadier-general and major-general, United States army, 13 March, 1865. He was retired from active service, 22 February, 1869.