General Philip Henry Sheridan, U.S.A.

General Philip Henry Sheridan was born in Albany, New York, in March, 1831. He graduated from the U. S. Military Academy in July, 1853. He was appointed brevet second lieutenant of the Third Infantry. After serving in Kentucky, Texas, and Oregon, he was made second lieutenant of the Fourth Infantry November 22, 1854, first lieutenant March 1, 1861, and captain Thirteenth Infantry May 14, 1861. In December of that year was chief quartermaster and commissary of Army of Southwest Missouri; served in Mississippi campaign from April to September, 1862; was appointed colonel of the Second Michigan Cavalry May 20, 1862; on July 1 was sent to make a raid on Booneville, Mississippi. He did excellent service in pursuit of the enemy from Corinth to Baldwin, and in many skirmishes during July and at battle of Booneville. Appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, and on October 1 was placed in command of the Eleventh Division of the Army of the Ohio. He was distinguished for his services at Perryville on October 8, having driven back the enemy.

He marched with army to relief of Nashville, October and November. Was placed in command of Army of Cumberland, and took part in the two days' battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, and January 3, 1863. Division after division was driven back by Bragg's army until Sheridan was reached, and the fate of the day seemed to be in his hands. He resisted vigorously, then advanced, and drove the enemy back; held the overwhelming force in check, and retired only at the point of the bayonet. This brilliant work enabled General Rosecrans to form new lines in harmony with his overpowered right. He was a tinted major-general of volunteers, to date from December 31, 1862. Was with army crossing Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, August and September 6, and in battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20. At this battle he rendered valuable assistance to General Thomas, when a gap occurred in the centre of his line through the misconception of an order. Took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. In this latter action he first attracted the attention of General Grant, who saw that he might be one of his most useful lieutenants in the future.

They gave way, and soon the whole army was in retreat. Sheridan had been in Washington, and at this juncture had just returned to Winchester, twenty miles from the field. Hearing the sound of the battle, he rode rapidly and arrived on the field at ten o'clock. As he rode up, he shouted, " Face the other way, boys; we are going back." A succession of attacks was made, and Early's army was driven back as far as Mount Jackson. The Confederates lost in the campaign sixteen thousand nine hundred and fifty-two killed or wounded and thirteen thousand prisoners. Between Feb. 27 and March 24, 1865, he conducted, with ten thousand cavalry, a colossal raid from Winchester to Petersburg. His battle of Five Forks was one of the most brilliant and decisive of the engagements of the war, and compelled Lee's evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, leaving in Sheridan's hands six thousand prisoners.

After the war Sheridan had command of several of the departments. In 1867 he conducted a winter campaign against the Indians. In 1870 he visited Europe to witness the Franco-Prussian war. On the retirement of Sherman in 1883, he was made lieutenant-general. In May, 1888, while he was ill, President Cleveland signed a bill commissioning him a full general, and on August 5, 1888, he died. Sheridan never was defeated, and often plucked victory out of the jaws of defeat. He bore the nickname of "Little Phil;" he was below middle height and powerfully built.

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.

Related Links:

• Civil War Records
• Civil War Microfilm at the National Archives
• Sheridan Surname