Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-06
sHERrDAS's MILITARY KEcoRn


Philip Henry Sheridan was born in Perry
county, Ohio, III 1881. He entered the military
academy at West Point in 1913 and graduated
with honor III 1853. as a classmate of Mcpherson
and Sehoheld. he served several years in Ore
gon, and having returned to the East was ap-
pointed Captain in the regular army in May,
1861. In March or May, 1862, he became chief
quartermaster under General Halleck. He was
appointed Colonel of the Second Michigan Cav
airy in May, and obtained command of a cav
airy brigade in June, 1862. Having defeated a
troop superior in number to his own at Boon
vile, Mississippi, he was raised to the rank of
Br1gadler-General i'll July. He took command
OF a division of the army of the Ohio in Sep-
tember, and distinguished himself at the battle
OF Perryville October s. 1862. For his gallant
conduct at the great battle of Stone river which
ended on the I'd of January, 1868, he was re-
warded with the rank of Major-General of vol
unteers. He commanded division at Chicka-
manga September 18th and 20th and at the bat
tie of Chattanooga or Missionary Ridge Novem-
Der o. 1868. In April, 1854, he was appointed
commander of all the cavalry of the Army of the
Potomac, which crossed the Rapidan and be-
gan operations against Lees army on the 4th of
May. On the 9th Sheridan started ON raid
against the enemys lines of communication
with Richmond. He destroyed the depots, etc.
at Beaver Dam and Ashland advanced to the
outer defenses of Richmond defeated the rebel
cavalry under General Stuart, and rejoined the
army of General Grant on the 18th of Nav On
the Ith OF June he led an expedition against the
Virginia Central Railroad, from which he re-
turned to the White House on the 18th, after he
had routed the enemy's cavalry at TreviIian
Station and destroyed part of the railroad.
About the 9TH OF August he was assigned to the
command of the Middle Military Division" ("
which was then constituted in order to oppose
the lncursiOns of the rebels from the shenan.
doah valley into Maryland and Pennsylvania
His operations during the month of August and
the first part of September were of both an
offensive and defensive character resulting in
many severe skirmishes with the army of Gen
eral Early. On the l4th of September General
Grant lett City Point to visit Sheridan and con-
fer with him. = / saw says Grant, "there
were but two words of instruction necessary
go in,' Sheridan attacked Early on the 18th
near Winchester, defeated him and took several
tIousand prisoners. He gained another victory
at Fishers Hill on the 10Th, and pursued the
enemy with great energy through Harrisburg
and Staunton. Soon after this battle he was ap-
pointed Brigadier-General in the regular
army. During a brief absence of sheridan, who
was called TO Washington, General Early having
been reinforced, attacked suddenly the Union
army near Cedar creek and Strasburg on the
10th of october, and at first was victorious
Afler the Federals had retreated about three
miles with much loss. Sheridan, riding at full
speed, arrived on the field, rallied his men with
words of magical power, and converted the dis
aster OF the morning into a complete victory
General Early lost here the most OF his artillery
and trains, besides 1900 prisoners. In a letter
dated October Goth, General Grant wrote thus
Turning what bid fair to be n disaster into
glorious victory, stamps Sheridan what always
thought him, one of the ablest of Generals"
lar army in place of Mcclellan, resigned, No.
vember. 1864. Sheridan moved from Winches-
ter on the 18th of February, 1866, took Staunton
on the I'd of March and defeated Early near
Waynesoorough. Having inflicted much dam
age on several railroads aud the James river
canal he reached his base at the White House
about the 18Th of March. On the 9th he Joined
the main army of General Grant near Peters
burg, and on the 29th commenced, with 5000
cavalry, a movement for the destruction of Dan
vile and South Side Railroads, the only remain
ing avenues of supply to Lees army. He was
supported by a corps of infantry. He encoun-
tered near Five Forks a superior force on the
3lst of March, and was driven back towards
Dinwiddie Court house. Here " says General
Grant, General Sheridan displayed great gem
eralship. Instead of retreating with his whole
command on the main army to tell the story of
superior forces encountered, he deployed his
cavalry on foot. leaving only mounted men
enough to take charge of the horses" On the
lst of April, Sheridan having been reinforced
drove the enemy back on Five Forks, assaulted
and carried his strongly fortified position and
captured over 5 900 prisoners. He pursued Lees
army, retreating from Richmond and Petersburg
attacked it Sailor creek on the 9Th of April
and took about 5000 prisoners. few days
afterthis action the war was virtually ended by
tue surrender of General Lee. In the spring of
1867 Sheridan was appointed commander Of the
Fifth Military District. comprising the States of
Louisiana and Texas He removed the Coy
ernors of those States because they were i'm
pedim ments TO reconstruction, and he supported
Congress in its cont st with President johnson.
He was removed from his command by johnson
in August, 1867, against the advice of General
Grant, who declared that Sheridan "has per
formed his civil duties faithfully and inteih-
gently" and protested against his removal for
military, pecuniary and patriotic reasons. Sheri-
dan was then ordered to take command OF the
Department of the Missouri. In March 1869 he