The Forrest City times., 1888-08-11
Biographiea al.

Philip Henry Sheridan was born March 6, 1883. The biographies pub lished of Gen. Sheridan have given Somerset, Perry County, O., the dis tinction of being Gen. Sheridan's birth place, but recently when the matter came into public notice by reason of a statement attributed to a relative that Gen. Sheridan was born in Ireland, and hence was ineligible to the presi- dency, Gen. Sheridan stated that he was born in Albany, N. Y. A mistake as to his birthplace made in the record at the time of his admission to the West Pont Academy led to the inac- curacies in biographical sketches. His parents. who were Irish, upon coming to this country fiist settled ia Albany, and then removed 10 Ohio. Gen Sheri- dan was educated at the United States Military Academy at Wet Point. graduating ill 1853. He was assigned 10 the infantry aud stationed on frontier duty in Texas for nearly two years and fn Oregon Territory from 1855 to 1881, seeing much servi during that time in Indian campaigns. He was promoted to a captaincy in 1851. At the commencement of the civil war
 
 soon appointed Quartevmaster of the army of SouthW estern Missouri. In April, 1862, he was made Chief Guar termaster of the Western Department. In May, ls62, he was made Colonel of the 2d Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, and soon after was made Act ng Bri- gadier General. His success in an ac- ton against largely supe for force at Boonville first attracted notice to his admirable qualities as commander. He was commissioned as a Brigadier General of volunteers July l, 1862, and afterward was assigned to the com mand of the 11th Divis on of the Army of the Ohio. He was en2agSd success fully in the battle of Perryyille, Ky, October s, 1882; commanded a division in the army of the Cumberland, and at the battle of Stone River, December 3l, 1862. saved the army from rout by his stubborn resistance. For this ser vice he was promoted to the Ma jor General of volunteers. In the action at tending the investment of Chattanooga he greatly distinguished himself. He led the assault on Missionary Ridge, and being the first to reach the sum- init drove the enemy from it. In April, 1864, Lieut.. Gen. Grant put him in command of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac. It was in the closing year of the war, in the many severe actions with Gen. Lees desperate army in Virginia, that Gen. Sheridan won the honors that have contributed most to his popular fame as soldier. On the 4th of August, 1864, he was put in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, and soon after of the Middle Military Division. For bravery in rallying his routed forces in an action against Early and turning defeat into victory he was made BrigadierGeneral of the United States army, and in November, 1864, succeeded Gen. Mcclellan as Major General, United States army. His bril- liant service in Virginia forms ad inn portant part of the history of the war, with which every one is familiar.
 March 9, 1865, he started with Gen. Grant army from City Point to strike the final blows against Gen. Lee s army, and pursuing the enemy after the battles at Dinwiddie Court House and Five Forks, compelled their sur render at Appomattox Court House. After the war ho was assigned to the military division of the Southwest, then in succession to that of the Gulf, of Louisiana and Texas, and of Mis- souri. In March, 1883. he was pro- noted to the Lieutsna Generalship, and had charge of the Western and Southwestern Military Divisions, with headauarters at Chicago. While in that command nearly all the important Indian campaigns of recent days were under his direction He rendered great service to the City of Chicago at the time of the terrible fire in October, 1871. by blowing lp 5uiicsngs to check the progress of the flames, providing supplies, tents and blankets, and furn-