Background
Sherrill was born in Greenville, New York, where he attended the public schools. He married Emily Eldridge, a daughter of Judge Eldridge of Madison County.
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Sherrill was born in Greenville, New York, where he attended the public schools. He married Emily Eldridge, a daughter of Judge Eldridge of Madison County.
He moved to Herkimer County in 1832. The couple moved to Shandaken in 1838, where Sherrill owned a tannery. He entered local politics, holding several political offices.
He served as a major in the State Militia.
He was elected as a Whig to the 30th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1847, to March 3, 1849. Three years later, he moved to Brooklyn, then in 1860 to Geneva, where he had a farm.
During the, he organized the 126th New York Infantry in August 1862 and became its first colonel. Lafayette McLaws"s division during the Maryland Campaign.
He was severely wounded with a gunshot through his lower jaw in fighting on Maryland Heights during the Battle of Harpers Ferry.
Sherrill was captured and later paroled. The wound never healed, but he temporarily rejoined his regiment at Union Mills, Virginia, in October 1862. After a furlough for further recuperation, he returned for duty on January 27, 1863.
He commanded the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps, after Colonel
George L. Willard"s death on July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg. Sherrill, in his first full day commanding the brigade, was positioned near Ziegler"s Grove on Cemetery Ridge, when he was mortally wounded on July 3 by a musket shot in the bowels.
Carried off the field by men of the 39th New York Infantry, he was taken to the XI Corps field hospital, where he died about 8:00 a.m. the next day. His body was sent by the regimental surgeon to Baltimore for embalming.
Lieutenant Colonel James M. Bulletin, 126th New York Infantry, who filed the brigade"s report, giving a detailed account of the artillery barrage on July 3 but not much on the repulse of Pickett"s Charge, places Sherrill"s death at 4 p.m.
He was buried in the Washington Street Cemetery in Geneva, New New York Nearly 10,000 people attended his funeral.
He was mortally wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg defending against Pickett"s Charge. His regiment was among the troops defending Harpers Ferry against Joseph B. Kershaw"s Confederate brigade of Major
He was a member of the New York State Senate (10th Doctorate) in 1854 and 1855.