A o auauna o se seila i luga o le vaa o le steam sloop-of-war iā Aokuso 29, 1861, na auai ai Swearer i le faatoʻilaloina o Fort Clark i Hatteras Inlet, i North Carolina. Mo lana auaunaga i le taimi o lenei gaoioiga, lea na taʻua o le Taua o Hatteras Inlet Batteries
I le aso 3 o Aperila, 1863, na tuuina atu ai iā Swearer le faailoga o le Medal of Honor.