Background
Sheridan, Philip Henry was born on March 6, 1831 in Albany, New York, United States. Son of John and Mary (Meenagh) Sheridan.
Sheridan, Philip Henry was born on March 6, 1831 in Albany, New York, United States. Son of John and Mary (Meenagh) Sheridan.
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1853.
Served in Rio Grande and N.W., 1853-1860. Commissioned captain 13th Infantry, United States Army, S.W. Missouri, 1861, colonel 2d Michigan Cavalry, 1862. Commissioned brigadier general United States Volunteers, 1862, promoted major general (for saving Rosecrans at Stone River), 1862.
Won Battle of Cedar Creek, 1862. Commanded the Twentieth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland at battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, 1863. Given command of cavalry Army of Potomac by General Grant, 1864, participated in battles of Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor.
Raided Confederate supply lines near Richmond, destroyed railroads, 1864. Commanded Army of Shenandoah, destroyed all supplies in Shenandoah Valley on which Confederate Army had depended, in the year 1864. Commissioned major general of the United States Army, 1864.
Led raid from Winchester to Petersburg, destroyed Confederate railroads and depots, inflicted further defeat upon General Early at Waynesboro, 1865. Position of his forces at Battle of Five Forks made possible the turning of Confederate flank, 1865, forced evacuation of Petersburg by Lee’s Army, cut off Confederate retreat at Appomattox. Commander Div of Gulf, 1865-1867.
Military governor 5th Military District (comprised Louisiana and Texas), 1867. Transferred to Department of Missouri by President Johnson because of harshness of his administration, settled hostile Indians on allotted reservations. 1867; promoted Lieutenant general, 1869.
Observed operations in Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871. Commanded Western and Southwestern divisions, 1878. Became commander general United States Army, 1884.
Given rank of general by United States Congress, 1888. Author: Personal Memoirs, 2 vols., 1888.
Served in Rio Grande and N.W., 1853-1860.
Married Irene Rucker, June 3, 1875.