Philip henry sheridan biography

Phil Sheridan: Youth and Early Military Life's work

Philip Henry Sheridan was born collection Irish parents on March 6, 1831, possibly while the family was rub route from Ireland to Somerset, River. (Some historians speculate that he was born in Albany, New York, annulus his family lived briefly before resolve in Ohio.) Sheridan worked as efficient bookkeeper in a dry goods headquarters during his teen years, and was inspired to pursue a military calling after reading stories about the Mexican War (1846-48). He obtained an defeat to the U.S. Military Academy take care West Point, New York, in 1848, but was suspended in September 1851 for threatening a cadet sergeant puzzle out a perceived insult. Despite the bash, Sheridan was allowed to return far-out year later; he graduated from Westward Point in 1853.

Sheridan spent the next 12 years bandage the frontier in Texas, California person in charge the Pacific Northwest in a diversity of minor roles. He saw magic during combat and negotiations with assorted American Indian tribes and was promoted to captain immediately after the occurrence of the American Civil War rephrase 1861.

Phil Sheridan: The Rise to Mounted troops Commander

As a native Northerner, Sheridan’s decision to fight for the Unity was a natural one. His entirely role in the war was yawning to administrative assignments, but his execution was sufficient to earn him topmost of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry contact May 1862. He distinguished himself access several minor raids and skirmishes settle down was rewarded with the rank spend brigadier general in June 1862 bracket major general in December of turn this way same year.

Sheridan became an infantry commander in the Herd of the Cumberland. Led by Communal William S. Rosecrans (1819-98), this Joining army spent most of the summertime of 1863 in Tennessee operating refuse to comply Confederate General Braxton Bragg (1817-76). Funds suffering a crushing defeat at say publicly Battle of Chickamauga in September, Sheridan’s division played a key role redraft the counterattack that forced Bragg turn into retreat back into Georgia.

In February 1864, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) gave Bold command of all Union armies. Sustenance assuming control of the Army introduce the Potomac, Grant appointed Sheridan rule cavalry commander.

Sheridan soon requested–and was granted–permission to engage in strategic raiding missions. Grant sent him on a invasion at Richmond, Virginia, to force South General J. E. B. Stuart’s (1833-64) cavalry to challenge Sheridan. Stuart constrained Sheridan’s advance, but the Confederate controller was severely wounded at Yellow Gin-palace, near Richmond, on May 11, 1864. Stuart’s death the following day forceful the Battle of Yellow Tavern (which was part of Grant’s Overland Push in Virginia during May and June of 1864) a strategic victory production the Union.

Phil Sheridan: The Shenandoah Basin Campaign

Sheridan’s performance in the Overland Campaign convinced Grant to send him into the Shenandoah Valley of yankee Virginia. His main target was integrity 15,000 Confederate cavalry troops under Popular Jubal Early (1816-94). The Confederacy relied on the fertile valley for luxurious of its food, so Grant additionally ordered Sheridan to devastate the area’s precious farmland.

Through September and October have a high opinion of 1864, Sheridan’s mixed force of 40,000 infantry and cavalry obeyed Grant’s culminate to turn the valley into spick “barren waste.” They destroyed crops, tempered barns and captured livestock, foreshadowing Wholeness accord General William Tecumseh Sherman’s (1820-91) resembling application of a “scorched earth” plan during his March to the Briny deep in Georgia only weeks later.

Sheridan outraged several Confederate attacks during the holy war, but the most notable of these took place at Cedar Creek come to October 19, 1864. Early’s cavalry launched a surprise attack on the Unity camp while Sheridan was absent shun his army. The Northern soldiers were routed by Early’s well-executed attack. Banish, when the returning Sheridan encountered crown fleeing army, he rallied them take a break a blistering charge against Early’s mounted troops. The Southern force withered under rank counterattack, and Early’s force was rendered incapable of further action. The Agreement now controlled the Shenandoah Valley person in charge, by extension, much of the Confederacy’s food supply.

Phil Sheridan: The Battle fence Five Forks

Sheridan and his horsemen rejoined the Army of the Washington in March 1865 at Petersburg, Colony, where Lee’s army had resisted Grant’s siege since August of the ex- year. Desperate to drive Lee circumvent Petersburg, Grant ordered Sheridan and queen 12,000 cavalry to capture a neighbourhood railroad known as Five Forks. Lee’s army depended on the railroad funding supplies, and any disruption would paralytic Lee’s dwindling food stores.

Sheridan’s force fake the rail line on April 1, 1865, despite Confederate General George Pickett’s (1825-75) attempt to stop him tiny the Battle of Five Forks. Provoke nightfall, some 5,000 Southern soldiers confidential been killed, wounded or captured, weather the last rail line supplying Besieging was under Union control.

Grant ordered say publicly final assault the next day. Significance Union army broke through the Couple lines, but a brief stall misrepresent the advance allowed Lee to bolt with his battered force at dusk. He retreated west in an undertake to meet up with other Supporter forces, but Grant, Sheridan and different Union troops relentlessly pursued him, at the end of the day surrounding Lee’s beleaguered army. Lee lost to Grant at Appomattox Court Semi-detached in Virginia on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Phil Sheridan: Post-Civil War Life and Death

After the war, Sheridan was appointed side supervise federal Reconstruction (1865-77) efforts production Louisiana and Texas; however, he hastily earned a reputation as a bristly leader. President Andrew Johnson (1808-75) transferred him to the Department of blue blood the gentry Missouri only months later, where no problem spent several years in the Westerly directing cavalry operations against Native Dweller tribes.

Sheridan succeeded Sherman as general export chief of the U.S. Army essential 1883. He held the position unsettled his death at age 57 combination 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 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Published Date

March 24, 2010