Philip Sheridan

Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888), a military man and one of the great generals in the American Civil War. His actions proved decisive for the Union. He pacified the Great Plains. Both as a soldier and private citizen he was instrumental in the development and protection of Yellowstone National Park.

The American Civil War

Sheridan started the Civil War as Chief Quartermaster of the Army of Southwest Missouri. Feeling that he would be a better field commander than a support officer he persisted until he got an appointment as a colonel with the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. A month later he commanded his first forces in combat. At the Battle of Booneville, July 1, 1862, he held back several regiments of General James R. Chalmers' Cavalry. His actions so impressed the commanders that they promoted him to Brigadier General and assigned him command of the 11th Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Ohio. It was just after Booneville that one of his fellow officers gave him the horse, which he named Rienzi, that he would ride throughout the war.

Related Topics:
Civil War - Colonel - Michigan - Volunteer - Cavalry - Battle of Booneville - July 1 - 1862 - Brigadier General - Army of the Ohio

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On October 8, 1862, he again distinguished himself during the Battle of Perryville. He pushed two Arkansas brigades across Bull Run but was ordered back by 3rd Corps commander, Major General Charles Gilbert. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Related Topics:
October 8 - 1862 - Battle of Perryville - Arkansas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On December 31, 1862, the first day of the Battle of Murfreesboro, Sheridan held back the Confederate advance until his ammunition ran out and he was forced to withdraw. For his actions he was promoted to Major General and put in charge of the 2nd Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Cumberland. In six months he had risen from captain to major general.

Related Topics:
December 31 - 1862 - Battle of Murfreesboro - Major General - Army of the Cumberland - Captain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863, Sheridan along with the rest of the army was forced to withdraw after two days of heavy losses.

Related Topics:
Battle of Chickamauga - September 19 - 20 - 1863

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the Siege of Chattanooga, at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863, Sheridan took the initiative and broke through the Confederate lines. General Ulysses S. Grant, newly promoted to be general-in-chief of all the Union armies, decided he wanted Sheridan when he went east. In March, 1864, Grant assigned him to command the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

Related Topics:
Siege of Chattanooga - Battle of Missionary Ridge - November 25 - 1863 - Ulysses S. Grant - March - 1864 - Army of the Potomac

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the Overland Campaign, Sheridan fought at the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5–7, 1864), and Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21, 1864). From May 9–24, 1864, Grant sent him on a raid toward Richmond. The raid was less successful than hoped, although his soldiers managed to kill General J.E.B. Stuart at Yellow Tavern (May 11, 1864). Rejoining the Army of the Potomac, Sheridan's cavalry excelled at Haw's Shop (May 28, 1864). Sheridan seized Cold Harbor (June 1–12, 1864) and withstood a number of assaults until reinforced.

Related Topics:
Overland Campaign - Battle of the Wilderness - May 5 - 7 - 1864 - Spotsylvania Court House - May 8 - 21 - May 9 - 24 - Richmond - J.E.B. Stuart - Yellow Tavern - May 11 - Haw's Shop - May 28 - Cold Harbor - June 1 - 12

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Army of the Shenandoah

All during the war, the Confederacy sent armies out of Virginia through the Shenandoah Valley to threaten Washington, D.C., and raid throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Jubal A. Early, following the same pattern in the Valley Campaigns of 1864, attacked Union forces near Washington and raided several towns in Pennsylvania. In August, 1864, General Grant organized the Army of the Shenandoah. He put Sheridan in charge to drive Early out of the Shenandoah and close it as a route to Washington.

Related Topics:
Virginia - Shenandoah Valley - Washington, D.C. - Maryland - Pennsylvania - Jubal A. Early - Valley Campaigns of 1864 - August - 1864 - Army of the Shenandoah

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sheridan went at it with vigor. He beat Early at Third Winchester and Fisher's Hill. In the final battle, at Cedar Creek, he, by his presence, rallied the troops who were retreating after a surprise attack—Early was defeated. Sheridan ordered total destruction in the Shenandoah—his troops destroyed crops and livestock, seized stores and equipment, and burned what they couldn't remove. In reference to another Confederate army using it to threaten the North, he said "If a crow wants to fly down the Shenandoah, he must carry his provisions with him".

Related Topics:
Third Winchester - Fisher's Hill - Cedar Creek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The destruction presaged the scorched earth tactics of Sherman's March to the Sea through Georgia—deny an army a base from which to operate and bring the effects of war home to the population supporting it.

Related Topics:
Scorched earth - Sherman's March to the Sea - Georgia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Final Drive

Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac in March, 1865. At Waynesboro, March 2, 1865, he trapped the remainder of Early's army and 1500 soldiers surrendered. On April 1, 1865, he cut off General Robert E. Lee's lines of support at Five Forks, forcing Lee to evacuate Peterburg.

Related Topics:
March - 1865 - Waynesboro - March 2 - April 1 - Robert E. Lee - Five Forks - Peterburg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

President Lincoln sent Grant a telegram in April 7, 1865: "Gen. Sheridan says 'If the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.' Let the thing be pressed."

Related Topics:
President - Lincoln - April 7 - 1865

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865, Sheridan blocked Lee's escape, forcing Lee to surrender later that day.

Related Topics:
Appomattox Court House - April 9 - 1865

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~