Nulis lanjutan pikeun paragraf ieu - Nalika ngalayanan salaku Seaman dina kapal uap sloop-of-perang dina tanggal 29 Agustus 1861, Swearer milu dina néwak Fort Clark di Hatteras Inlet, Karolina Kalér. Pikeun jasa-jasa na salila aksi ieu, dipikawanoh salaku Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries
, Swearer dilélér Medal of Honor dina 3 April 1863.