The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-10-26
General Sheridan.

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|: PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN, to whom
the country is indebted for the great
triumphs in Virginia, is native Of
Perry county, Ohio, born in the year
1881. lie was graduated at tho West
Point Military Academy in July, 1853.
and at that time entered the army as n
brcvct Second Lieutenant of the First
United States Infantry. During the
years 1851 and S, he served in the
Indian campaigns in Texas; and in
July of the last mentioned year, after
serving few months in command Of
one Of the forts in New York harbor, he
was ordered to California. Engaged for
while in the Government railroad
surveys on, the Pacific coast, he was
detached from that service to take part.
in the campaign against the, lndians, in
Oregon Territory. In the severe cam:
paign under Major Raines he greatly
distinguished himself, and was highly
praised by his commander for gallant
and meritorious conduct in the fight at
the Cascades Of Columbia, April %,
1856. >.''.
For the part he took in the settlement
of tho Indian troubles in Oregon, Sher-
idan WINS very warmly eulosized by Gen.
Scott, then General-in Chief Of the
army. Just after the breaking out Of
the rebellion, he was made Captain in
tho Thirteenth Infantry, and served for
several months in St. Louis, as President
of Military Commission convened at
that place. In December, 1861, he was
made Quartcrmastcr Of the Army Of the
Southwest, then operating in Southern
Missouri, and afterwards in Arkansas
under Cen. Samuel Il. Curtis. lie re.
mained with that army until after the
great battle of Pea Ridge, in the spring
of 1862, when he was appointed Chief
Quartcrmaster on the staff Of Gen. Hal.
lcck, then in command Of the army
before Corinth.' ~ 4~. .,... -.
In May, 1862, he was offered and
accepted the command of the Second
Michigan cavalry, and from this, time
he was in proper element, and his great
merits as soldier in active field service
were rapidly developed. Three days
after he assumed command (May 3O),
he fought and defeated considerable
body Of rebel cavalry near Coriuth. 10
eleven days after this he was entrusted
With the command of a brigade Of cav
airy; and on the 1st of July be yindi.
Gated the choice Of his commander, BY
lighting and defeating q rebel cavalry
force of nine regiments under tho noto.
rious Chalmers This action was so
brilliant that it won for him the star Of
brigadier.' d.. ... .'..... ....... '".A
Thus in one month he won his way
by sheer force of. active and moritorious
service, from the rank Of major to that
Of general officer. .....
In September Of the same year he was
given the command of the Third Divi.
sion of the Army Of tho Ohio, then op-
Grating under Buell. in Kentucky. lie
fought his brigade with distinguished
gallantry and success in the severe battle
Of Perryville, in October Of that year !
and again, with still greater distinction,
uudor Gen. Rosecrans, in the victorious
Murfrccsboro campaign in December,
1862, and January, 1863: His services
at this time were Of such distinguished
merit that lie was made Maj jor General,
to date from December 81, 1852.
From that time on, his career in the
Tullahoma, Chattanooga, ard Chieka-
mauga campaigns Of Gen. Rosccrans,'in
the Chattanooga and Mission Ridge
campaign with Gen. Grant, and in the
great campaign Of the Army Of, the Po:
tomac commencing in May. 1861, all
the. time as. most, accomplished and
successful General ola corps Of cavalry,
is still SO fresh in the memory Of the
people as to render more particular
mention unnecessary. ' "' "...'' - .''' ''.'
His dashing expedition to the rear Of
the rebel lines near the Wilderness, in
May, last; bis. destructive foray on the
Virginia Central Railroad ia"june, aud
his almost ubiquitous operations against
the enemy, with tho splendid cavalry be
had imbued with his own .soldierly
spirit, made him the terror Of Lees
army in the early months of the cam
|paign. ~" .'''.' '" ~ .'''. '.
In all his various employments,
whether as q subalterp in au' Indian
campaign, 10 tho difficult executive
duties. of the .Quartermostcr's office, as
tho. Colonel of a cavalry regiment, as
the. General Of, an, infantry division, as
the General Of a cavalry corps, or in tho
higher and more responsible position of
commanding General Of an independent
army in the Geld, Philip Horny Sheridan,
now Mojor.G General, and B'igadier 10
tho regular army disappointment, has
h;nsalf n most Rhorouph and