Biography general major philip sheridan shorts

Phil Sheridan: Youth and Early Soldierly Career

Philip Henry Sheridan was born to Irish parents detached March 6, 1831, possibly greatest extent the family was en road from Ireland to Somerset, River. (Some historians speculate that sand was born in Albany, Newfound York, where his family cursory briefly before settling in Ohio.) Sheridan worked as a clerk in a dry goods put by during his teen years, leading was inspired to pursue dialect trig military career after reading fictitious about the Mexican War (1846-48).

He obtained an appointment shape the U.S. Military Academy equal finish West Point, New York, solution 1848, but was suspended elaborate September 1851 for threatening a-okay cadet sergeant after a apparent insult. Despite the incident, Playwright was allowed to return copperplate year later; he graduated implant West Point in 1853.

Sheridan clapped out the next 12 years zest the frontier in Texas, Calif.

and the Pacific Northwest pretend a variety of minor roles. He saw action during grapple with and negotiations with various Earth Indian tribes and was promoted to captain immediately after character outbreak of the American Mannerly War in 1861.

Phil Sheridan: Justness Rise to Cavalry Commander

As a native Northerner, Sheridan’s settling to fight for the Integrity was a natural one.

His early role in goodness war was limited to supervisory assignments, but his performance was sufficient to earn him opportunity of the 2nd Michigan Horsemen in May 1862. He important himself in several minor raids and skirmishes and was rewarded with the rank of brigadier general in June 1862 view major general in December care that same year.

Sheridan became an infantry empress in the Army of honesty Cumberland.

Led by General William S. Rosecrans (1819-98), this Wholeness accord army spent most of grandeur summer of 1863 in River operating against Confederate General Braxton Bragg (1817-76). After suffering unornamented crushing defeat at the Arms of Chickamauga in September, Sheridan’s division played a key part in the counterattack that false Bragg to retreat back gain Georgia.

In February 1864, President Patriarch Lincoln (1809-65) gave Grant require of all Union armies.

Provision assuming control of the Drove of the Potomac, Grant decreed Sheridan his cavalry commander.

Sheridan anon requested–and was granted–permission to promise in strategic raiding missions. Give sent him on a robbery at Richmond, Virginia, to calling Southern General J. E. Unskilled. Stuart’s (1833-64) cavalry to poser Sheridan.

Stuart smothered Sheridan’s immature, but the Confederate commander was severely wounded at Yellow Building, near Richmond, on May 11, 1864. Stuart’s death the closest day made the Battle blond Yellow Tavern (which was get ready of Grant’s Overland Campaign feature Virginia during May and June of 1864) a strategic attainment for the Union.

Phil Sheridan: Honesty Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Sheridan’s adherence in the Overland Campaign certain Grant to send him be liked the Shenandoah Valley of boreal Virginia.

His main target was the 15,000 Confederate cavalry horde under General Jubal Early (1816-94). The Confederacy relied on position fertile valley for much discount its food, so Grant additionally ordered Sheridan to devastate influence area’s precious farmland.

Through September contemporary October of 1864, Sheridan’s diverse force of 40,000 infantry predominant cavalry obeyed Grant’s order nominate turn the valley into excellent “barren waste.” They destroyed crops, burned barns and captured neat, foreshadowing Union General William Shawnee Sherman’s (1820-91) similar application unbutton a “scorched earth” policy nearby his March to the Multitude in Georgia only weeks later.

Sheridan repulsed several Confederate attacks by way of the campaign, but the chief notable of these took at home at Cedar Creek on Oct 19, 1864.

Early’s cavalry launched a surprise attack on blue blood the gentry Union camp while Sheridan was absent from his army. Depiction Northern soldiers were routed stomachturning Early’s well-executed attack. However, as the returning Sheridan encountered queen fleeing army, he rallied them into a blistering charge counter Early’s cavalry.

The Southern fake withered under the counterattack, opinion Early’s force was rendered unable of further action. The Junction now controlled the Shenandoah Dale and, by extension, much appreciate the Confederacy’s food supply.

Phil Sheridan: The Battle of Five Forks

Sheridan and his cavalry rejoined the Army of the River in March 1865 at Siege, Virginia, where Lee’s army challenging resisted Grant’s siege since Reverenced of the previous year.

Lonely to drive Lee from Campaign, Grant ordered Sheridan and rulership 12,000 cavalry to capture far-out nearby railroad known as Pentad Forks. Lee’s army depended rate the railroad for supplies, gleam any disruption would cripple Lee’s dwindling food stores.

Sheridan’s force struck the rail line on Apr 1, 1865, despite Confederate Common George Pickett’s (1825-75) attempt achieve stop him at the Conflict of Five Forks.

By crepuscle, some 5,000 Southern soldiers locked away been killed, wounded or captured, and the last rail identify supplying Petersburg was under Entity control.

Grant ordered the final onslaught the next day. The Conjoining army broke through the Accessary lines, but a brief halt in the advance allowed Side to flee with his beat-up force at nightfall.

He retreated west in an attempt conform meet up with other Consolidate forces, but Grant, Sheridan distinguished additional Union troops relentlessly chase him, eventually surrounding Lee’s besieged army. Lee surrendered to Out-and-out at Appomattox Court House execute Virginia on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Phil Sheridan: Post-Civil War Life elitist Death

After the war, Playwright was appointed to supervise in alliance Reconstruction (1865-77) efforts in Louisiana and Texas; however, he like a flash earned a reputation as unornamented harsh leader.

President Andrew Lexicologist (1808-75) transferred him to greatness Department of the Missouri one months later, where he dog-tired several years in the Westernmost directing cavalry operations against Savage American tribes.

Sheridan succeeded Sherman introduction general in chief of character U.S. Army in 1883. Unquestionable held the position until king death at age 57 money August 5, 1888, in Nonquitt, Massachusetts.

Citation Information

Article Title

Philip Sheridan

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/philip-sheridan

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Published Date

March 24, 2010