San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-08-16
General Sheridan-BiOgraphical.


born in Somerset, Ohio, on March 9,
1881, He was graduated at the mil
itary academy ut West Point in 1858,
and served in frontier duty in Texas
for nearly two years and in Oregon
from 1856 to 1861. At the com.
mencement of the civil war he was
appointed quartermoster of the army
Of Southwestern Missouri, and in
April, 1862, chief quartermaster OF
the western department. In May.
1862, he was appointed colonel ofthe
Second Michigan volunteer cavalry;
was commissioned brigadier general
OF volunteers, July l, 1862, and after
u brief period was put in command
of the Eleventh division Of the army
of Ohio. He commanded division
in the army of the Cumberland, and
at the battle of Stone river, Decem-
ber 81, 1862, saved the army from
rout by his stubborn resistance. For
his gallant conduct he was promoted
to be major general of volunteers. In
April, 1864. he was called to the army
of the Potomac by General Grant,
put in command of the cavalry corps
and within the months of May, June
and July, besides protecting the
flanks of the army and reconnoitering
the enemy's position, was successfully
engaged in eighteen distinct actions.
On August 4. 1864, he was put in
command of the army of the Shenan-
doah, and soon after of the middle
military division where he gained
several successes over General Early,
for which he was made a brigadier-
general of the United States army,
and in November following was made
major-general. He joined General
Grants army at City Point, from
whence he started March 25, 1865,
to strike tho final blow Tor the over
throw of General Lees army of nor
thern Virginia, He fought the bat
tie of Dinwiddie court house March
81, and that of Five Forks, which
necessitated Lees evacuation Of Rich
mond and Petersburg, April 1st. and
as the armv of northern Virginia fled
he constantly attacked and harassed
them and compelled their surrender
at Appomattox court house April 9,
1865 Under new organization OF
the military districts and departments
he was assigned to tho department
of the gulf Aug Is, 1866, and in
March, 1867, to the fifth military dis
trict Louisiana and Texas). Presi'
dent johnson, being displeased with
his administration, transferred him
September IL, 1867, to the depart
ment of the Missouri. where he con-
tinued until March, 1869, when, by
promotion of Sherman, he became
lieutenant general and assumed CON-
mand of the western and southwes-
tern military divisions, with head
quarters at Chicago. In 1870 Sheri-
dan was assigned to observe the mil
itary operations in Europe, and, in
discharge of that duty, accompanied
the military headquarters of William,
king of Prussia, subsequently emper-
or of Germany. He was present at
all the great battles that occurred on
the German advance through the cas-
tern provinces of France, and re-
mained in France until the conclusion
of peace. He had great sympathy
for the French nation in its calami-
ties, and believed that the French
army, properly commanded, would
have been fully equal to the success
ful defence of its country. In 1883,
on the retirement of Gen. w. T. Sher.
man, he succeeded him in command,
and just before his death was promo
ted, in accordance with an act OF con-
gress, to the rank and title of Gener-
al of the Army.