SHERIDAN, PHILIP HENRY American soldier, was born at Albany, N.Y., on March 6, 1831. His parents, who had recently migrated from Ireland, moved to Perry county, 0., a year of ter Philip's birth. Obtaining through his own en deavours an appointment to West Point, he graduated in 1853. He had gained some experience in fighting Indians on the frontier when the Civil War began in 1861. A first lieutenant at the time, he was soon promoted to captain, and in the spring of 1862 be came colonel of the 2nd Michigan cavalry under Halleck in Ten nessee. In July he was raised to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers as a result of his skilful conduct in the battle of Booneville (July t). He was in charge of the nth division of the Army of the Ohio under Buell in the battle of Perryville (Oct. 8) ; and under Rosecrans at Stone's river (Dec. 26) he won pro motion to the rank of major general of volunteers. In the sum mer of 1863 he effectively supported Rosecrans in manoeuvring the Confederates under Bragg out of middle Tennessee. Follow ing the latter into northern Georgia in September, Rosecrans met with a signal defeat at Chickamauga (q.v.) on the loth, his army being driven in confusion back to Chattanooga, Tenn. Sheridan's cavalry division, though driven back in the course of the battle, helped to cover the retreat. In the subsequent fighting around Chattanooga (q.v.) Sheridan won considerable distinction, es pecially in his daring and brilliant charge up Missionary ridge (Nov. 25). This attracted the notice of Gen. Grant, who, when he became lieutenant general (March 1864) and assumed com mand of the Army of the Potomac in Virginia, placed Sheridan in charge of his cavalry. In this capacity he proved himself the most able cavalry leader on the Union side. His corps were active in the battles of the Wilderness (q.v.) and Spottylvania Court House (May 5-21). While the latter was still in progress he was sent on a raid toward Richmond, in the course of which he cut the Con federate communications by destroying railroads and cutting telegraph wires. He returned to the main army in time to partici pate in the battle of Cold Harbor (q.v.). Soon afterward he set out upon a raid toward Charlottesville (June 7-26) for the pur pose of co-operating with Gen David Hunter in the Valley.
The success of these expeditions led to his appointment (Aug. 7) to the command of a newly formed Army of the Shenandoah with instructions to clear the Valley of the Confederates This was the greatest opportunity of his military career, and he proved himself fully equal to it. His campaign was brilliant and decisive. He defeated Gen. Early at Winchester (Sept. 19) and again at Fisher's Mill (Sept. 22). Then followed an act concerning which he has often been severely censured. In order to make the region useless to the Confederates, he destroyed all means of subsist ence ; so that one of the most fruitful regions in the South was left in utter desolation with non-combatants on the verge of starvation. At this time Sheridan was given the rank of brigadier
general in the regular army. When a few weeks later (Oct. 19) the main body of his army was thrown into confusion by a sur prise attack from Gen. Early at Cedar Creek, Sheridan, some 20 m. away, made his famous ride, rallied his troops, and turned defeat into victory. He was then commissioned (Nov. 8) major general in the regular army. He made another raid (Feb. 27– March 24) from Winchester to Petersburg, again destroying sup plies and means of communication and defeating Early at Waynes boro. In April he turned Lee's flank at Five Forks and forced him to retreat toward Appomattox where he surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865.
A month later Sheridan was placed in command of an Ameri can force on the Mexican border to watch the struggle between Maximilian, who had been set up as emperor of Mexico by Na poleon III. in 1864, and the Liberals seeking his overthrow. His presence greatly added to the effectiveness of American diplomatic protests to the French Government, thus hastening the collapse of that ill-starred venture. In the spring of 1867 Sheridan was placed in command of the Fifth Military district em bracing Louisiana and Texas and stationed at New Orleans. Him self an advocate of extreme measures in dealing with the con quered South he soon came into conflict with President Johnson who opposed such policies. His unconciliatory measures led to his removal in Sept. 1867. He was then placed in charge of the Department of the Missouri. In the winter of 1868-69 he con ducted a successful campaign against the Indians. In the latter year he was made lieutenant general by President Grant. During the Franco-German war of 1870 he accompanied the headquarters of the German army as the guest of the king of Prussia. In 1883 he was given chief command of the U.S. army, and five years later, shortly before his death, was raised to the rank of general. He died at Nonquitt, Mass., on Aug. 5, 1888.
In physical appearance Gen. Sheridan was short and stout, and rather harsh-featured. To those opposed to his policies, in peace as in war, he seemed gruff and needlessly severe, but to his friends he was kindly. Exceptionally gifted with personal magnetism, he was very popular with his troops. As a military leader he com bined brilliant courage with careful, vigilant tactics. He was a devout Roman Catholic. In 1875 he married Irene, daughter of Gen. D. H. Rucker, U.S.A.