Community and Culture, Government and Politics, Military, Remembrance

The best of the best should always be remembered.

WHEN: BIANNUALLY, February 23 and/or May 17

WHERE: Wherever you are, or create an event, and share with others to attend.

Celebrate the life of 1st Lt. Stephen Atkins Swails.

Civil War Union officer 1st Lieutenant Stephen Atkins Swails was born on February 23, 1832 and died on May 17, 1900. Swails could have easily chose a different path in life, but instead chose to fight for not only his country, but for the well-being of Americans. Not confederates, but Americans.

1st Lt. Atkins became a member of the infamous 54th Massachusetts All Voluntary Regiment. 1st Lt. Atkins was the first African-American soldier promoted to commissioned rank as a line officer. However, Swails' honor and promotion to 2nd Lieutenant was denied publicly because of US Army's War Department staunch discrimination and racist policies. But Swails commanded respect, and argued his case, which resulted in his official 2nd Lieutenant rank.

2nd Lieutenant Swails was promoted to 1st lieutenant on April 28, 1865, and discharged honorably from military service on August 20, 1865. Mr. Swails returned to South Carolina, where he became a lawyer, a mayor, and a state senator for 10-years, including as president pro tem. Mr. Swails was also delegate to the 1868, 1872 and 1876 Republican national conventions, and was a member of the U.S. Electoral College. Mr. Swails was also editor of the Williamsburg Republican.

White confederates/supremacists repeatedly tried to assassinate Mr. Swails, and ultimately forced him out of South Carolina, because of the long-standing bigotry of South Carolina (John Calhoun, James Henry Hammond, and Sons of confederate Vets/kkk, the same organization of segregationist and white supremacist Strom Thurmond).

1st Lt. Swails worked in Washington, D.C. at the US Postal Service and United States Treasury Department. Mr. Swails left behind an abundance of family members, including in New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Atlanta, Georgia. One of his descendants is Dr. Robert Swails Rollins, a US Air Force Major and flight surgeon.

Never forget which side of history that 1st Lieutenant Stephen Atkins Swails fought for and stood with: living his truth, and fighting for what's right, at all times. 1st Lt. Swails commanded respect, honorably.

Never let confederates, #project2025fascism, or #J6 insurrectionists degrade his honor, which can never be taken from him, in life, nor death.

Additional Information:

https://www.nps.gov/people/stephen-swails.htm

https://shaw54thwitnesstohistory.org/lieutenant-stephen-a-swails/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10515871/stephen-atkins-swails

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6417951