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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Philip Henry Sheridan Biography SHERIDAN,
Philip Henry (1831-88). A distinguished American soldier, born at Albany, N.
Y. He graduated at West Point in 1853. He was appointed colonel of-the Second
Michigan Cavalry (1862) and participated with success in the operations in north
Mississippi. Later he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and given
command of the Eleventh Division and the Army of the Ohio and in October, 1862,
took part in the battle of Perryville. At Stone River (or Murfreesboro) be
commanded a division of the Army of the Cumberland and by stubborn resistance
helped to prevent a Federal rout. He became major general of volunteers early in
1863, took part against Van Dorn, and aided in the capture of Winchester, Tenn.,
June 27, 1863. At Chickamauga he maintained his reputation for daring and later
was conspicuous in the battles around Chattanooga, where he came under the
observation of Grant. In April, 1864, General Sheridan
was transferred by Grant to Virginia and placed in command of the cavalry corps
of the Army of the Potomac, and during the summer, besides protecting the flanks
of the army and reconnoitring the enemy's position, was engaged in 18 actions,
including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. His reputation for
daring was further increased by his raid (May 9-25), when he destroyed railroad
communications of the Confederates, captured Beaver Dam, and at Yellow Tavern
defeated the Confederates under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart (q.v.), who was killed in
the action. In
August, 1864, Sheridan was placed in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, soon
constituted the Middle Military Division. With this command he defeated General
Early at Opequon Creek, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek (Oct. 19, 1864) and
captured 5000 men and several guns. His dashing ride of 20 miles from Winchester
to Cedar Creek (q.v.), to save his army, was a brilliant exploit. On September
10 he was made brigadier general in the regular army and in November promoted to
be major general. An act for which Sheridan has been widely censured was his
devastation of the Shenandoah valley to weaken Confederate resources. For the
rest of the war he served under Grant in Virginia as a raider and destroyer of
bridges, railroads, etc. He fought at Waynesboro, March 1, 1865; Dinwiddie
Court House, March 31; and Five Forks, April 1, compelling Lee
to evacuate Richmond and Petersburg, and displayed great military skill and
courage. He was present at the surrender of Lee. In July, 1865, he received the
thanks of Congress. After the war he assumed command of the Department of the
Gulf and during Reconstruction was commander of the Fifth Military District
(Louisiana and Texas) and was known for stern and vigorous enforcement of the
Reconstruction Acts. In September, 1867, he was recalled by President
Johnson. He then commanded the Department of the Missouri for 16 years. With
the election of Grant to the presidency and the promotion of General
Sherman to be commander of the army Sheridan was raised to the rank of
lieutenant general, In 1870 he visited Europe to witness the France-Prussian War
and later commanded military divisions in
the West and Southwest. During political disturbances in Louisiana (1875) he was
sent to New Orleans to maintain order and was severe as a military ruler. Upon
the retirement of Sherman in 1883 he succeeded to the chief command of the army.
He died at Nonquitt, Mass., Aug. 5, 1888. Sheridan published Personal Memoirs (New York, 1888). |