[3] Strong's father was an American Revolutionary War veteran who had fought in the Battle of Trenton under George Washington.

[4] A contemporaneous newspaper report cited that the property, which was designated a national historic landmark, was sold to Swan's father, who gave it to him as a wedding present.

[1] An account cited that because of his pro-Union speeches, he gained the attention of Abraham Lincoln, who appointed him as brigadier general.

[7] In 1862, he was appointed commander of the District of Cairo, Illinois, replacing General Eleazar A. Paine, who was reassigned for violating orders.

Strong was also appointed as the president of a commission that investigated the circumstances behind the evacuation of the Union forces in New Madrid, Missouri.