The Irish standard., 1888-06-16
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN.
Some Facts Concerning the Fa-
nous IriSh-American
General.
DISAPPOINTMENT TO WEST POINT
His First Active Service on the Pacific
Slope-His Brilliant Battles in the
West and East.

Slope-His Brilliant Battles in the
West and East,
[Fro,n the Boston Republicl.
Although the locality of Gen Sheri-
dams birthplace was a matter Of no
little dispute few months ago, when
it was reported that bis name was being
considered in connection with O. presi-
Dental nomination, the bulk Of the evil
dence in the matter goes to show that
he was born out in Ohio, to which state
his parents went shortly after their
coming to this country from ireland.
The Sheridans were Cavan people, and
the venerable mother Of the general is
still alive and, not Notwithstanding her ad
vanced age, retains full possession Of
all her mental faculties. Of the gener-
ais boyjlood little is left on record save
that he was typical lrish-American
lad, whose parents were not in che most
affluent circumstances, which fact ne
cessitated his going to work at an early
age. It has been said that the future
general was at one time an altar boy
and that. in that capacity, he often
served the mass of the venerable Father
Young, the famous Dominican mission.
ary who was one Of the pioneer priests
in the Buckeye state, and who fire.
uuently visited the vicinity OF the Sheri-
dams home in his ministerial missions.
Nothing remarkable characterized the
life of young Sheridan until his appoint.
ment as a cadet to West Point. This
appointment was brought about IN
singular!y fortuitsous manner. The
congressman Of the district, haying
been notified that vacancy awaited
his appointment Of a cadet, was at a
loss to decide to which of two youths
he had in his mind to give the appoint
ment. He feared that il he took either
he would offend the friends of the
others family and thus weaken his own
chances Of reelection. While he was
debating the subject friend happened
to call on him, and, when he mentioned
the quandary in which ne found him
self, this friend said to him: "Why
take either Of these two youths, then 20
and the father OF General Sheridan hap
pening to come into the room at the
time, the gentleman continued: ''Why
not give the appointment to one Of
Sheridap's boys? He has couple and
would be glad enough to give one of
them to his country.' The congress-
man was so we'll pleased with this solu-
tion of his difficulty that he lost no
time in acting upon it, and at once
asked the elder Sheridan which one OF
his sons he should send to West Point.
This query was almost as big q puzzle
TO MI. Sheridan as the original ap-
pointment was to the congressman.
He answered it, however, in his own
way by saying: IF it's a lad for book
learning you want, sir, Michael's your
boy; but if it's for fighting you want
him, then PhlPs your lad" Phil,
therefore, it was who got the appoint
ment at West Point, and right glad
was the young ster to exchange his work
in a country grocery store for the life of
a cadet on the banks OF the Hudson.
Fighting was an inbl ed passion in him,
and it is needless to say that the change.
therefore, pleased him highly. Years
afterwards, when he had attained re-
nown on the battlefield, his venerable
mother alluded to his fighting propensi-
ties in youth and said of her son: ''He
was always a fine LAD and good to his
mother. I don't want to be foolish or
proud about him, but he's been a good
son to me. He was always in mischief,
and always used to be teaching the
boys to be soldiers when he was Young
er than any of them. But he would
never do anything mean, and his worst
fault was his fighting" while she add
ed, with a pardonable pride: "He
never leaves the year go round that he
doesn't come to see me, and he's very
kind"
sheridan's life at West Point did not
differ from that Of the average cadet.
He was fair, but by no means bril-
liant student, who had no difficulty in
keeping abreast of his classmates and
graduating with them at the end of the
term. His military studies ended, the
young lieutenant was assigned to duty |
on the Pacific slope, and he obtained
his first taste of active military service
out in Oregon and Washington terri
tories, whittier he was sent about
thirty-three years ago to keep the 1ndi-
ans in subsection. Although graduating
second lieutenant Of infantry from
West Point, young Sheridan found
himself assigned, on the Pacific slope,
to the command of a squadron Of cav