Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-07
GENERAL SHERIDAN.
A Condensed Biographical Sketch
 of tho Famous Warrior.

Somerset, Perry County, O., March 6, 1881.
 A few years at the village school, followed
 by servlce in the village store, furnished his
 education and training until fortunate ap-
 plication to the Congressman of his district
 made him in 1S4S cadet at West Point, He
 should have been graduated in 1852, but a
 years suspension, the result of a quarrel
 with a fellow-student, transferred him to
 the class of 1853, in which he ranked thirty
 fourth among it's fifty-two members. He
 was appointed a brevet Second Lieutenant
 of Infantry July 1, 1853; in the following g
 year was assigned to the First Infantry, in
 Texas, and on November 9, 1S54 received
 his commission as Second Lieutenant of the | Fourth Infantry With the latter regiment 1 he served during the next six years in | Washington Territory and Oregon. In one 1 of General Scott's orders this mention of
 hlm is found: April 2S, 1856, Brevet Lieu tenant-ColOnel E.. J. Steptoe, Ninth Infantry,
 commanding Companies A, E, F and l,
 same regiment, and detachments of Com panY E First Dragons, and Company l.,
 Third Artillery, in all two hundred men, at
 the Cascades, w. T., repulsed the Indians ln their attack of that place. The troops l landed under fire, routing and dispensing the enemy at every point. x x Second Lieutenant Philip H. Sheridan, Fourth h.
 fantrS, is especially mentioned for his gal
 lantry."
 Through the resignation of Southern
 officers and the creation of new regiments
 on the outbreak of the civil war, Sheridan
 secured a First-Lieutenancy in March, 1861,
 and May If he was made Captain in the
 Thirteenth regiment. The day before
 Christmas he was appointed Quartermaster
 on the staff of General Curtis, commanding
 the army of Southwest Missouri. Being
 recommended to the Governor of Michigan,
 he was commissioned May 25, 1862, as
 Colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, then near Corinth, and took part with it in ElliOts raid against the railroad. July he fought brilliant battle at Bonneville, and his appointment as rigadier-General of volunteers was dated from the action.
 During the autumn of 1862 he was trans ferred to Kentucky, and there received command of the Eleventh Division of the Army of the Ohio, under Buell.. At the bat tie Of Pcrryvllle he maneuVered his division with conspicuous skill and effect, and at the bloody battle of MurfreesborO he held the key-pOint for several hours in the first days fighting, displaying superb tactical skill and the greatest gallantry. On the recom- mendation of Rosecrans, who had succeeded Buell. he was made Major-General of volun- tccrs.
 | homa across the Cumberland Mountains and the Tennessee, Sheridan, September 19 and 20, distinguished himself again in the battle at Chlckamauga with Bragg. At the storming of Lookout Mountain Sheri- dan's division was the first to cross the crest This battle was the eliminating point of his career in the West
 In the spring of GA Sheridan took com mand of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, under Grant, and when the May campaign opened he pioneered the army on it's path through the wilderness, and thence to Spottsylvania. May he fought battle at Todd's Tavern, and two days later he made a cavalry expedition within the enemy's lines, dashing upon the of Richmond itself, when he took a hundred prisoners. He returned to the army May 24, having destroyed many miles of railroad track and recaptured 375 Union soldiers on their way to Libby Prison During June and July Sheridan was en- gagged in number of minor battles, serving with the greatest distinction. Toward the end Of July he moved north of the James to aid General Hancocll's operations at Deep Bottom, and July 2S he was engaged at 
 On the 7th of August Grant put Sheridan in command of the Middle Military Division, and for six weeks he was kept on the de- fensive near Harper's Ferry, his forces op- posing those of General Early. September l9, however, as Early's forces had been he crossed the Aupequon, and after severe battle completely defeated the Confederates. The next day, at Grants recommendation, President Lincoln ap- pointed Sheridan a Brldadier-General in the regular army. Pursuing Early up the val ley turnpike, Sheridan again defeated him forced n with Gap He then withdrew, and, at the re- quest of Secretary Stanton for consultation, went to Washington October 16. On re- turning, when at Winchester, he heard the noise of battle dozen miles away.
 Early, aided by fog, had surprised the eft of the Union army, and, in Sheridan's | absence, had driven it back beyond Middle town. With an escort of only twenty men | Sheridan rode to the scene of battle, and in 1 l Hull of few hours, succeeded in rallving ais forces. He then ordered an advance. md swept the enemy from the field in one of the most overwhelming routs of the war. in recognition of his services, passed vote of thanks to him and his roOps for the 'brilliant series of victories n the valley''
 Sheridan was also appointed by the. President MajorGeneral in the regular lrmy flor the personal gallantry, military skill and just confidence in the courage and of your troops, displayed by you 'n the 18th day of October''
 February 2, 1865, General Sheridak moved his cavalry, 10000 strong, up the alley to Waynesboro, where, March ?, it i overthrow the remnant of Early's force. n the final campaign, Sheridan, by a fine l tactical movement, entrapped and com- 1 )letely routed Pickett and Johnston at Five 1 Forks. He was far in the van in the pur- l uit of Lee, and harrassed the army con- tantly. Aided by the Second and Sixth | Corps he captured nearly all of Ewell's | April 6, at Sailors Creek, and | wo days later, he again fought the enemy | 1t Appomattox station, the day after Lee | 
 Later in April Sheridan conducted an ex. 'edltion into North Carolina, and on June ook command of the Military Division of he Southwest at New Orleans. Relieved y President Johnson August 26, 1867, dur ng the reconstruction troubles in Louisi- ma, he was assigned, September 12, to the Department of the Missouri March 4, 1869, le was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Ienpral and fyyn1ua 6o1-c 1o+o, o,.,,,,oo3 l