SHERIDAN, PHILIP HENRY (1831-83). A distinguished American soldier, born at Albany, N. V. He graduated at \Vest Point in 1853. In May, 1862. he w•as appointed colonel of the Second Michigan Cavalry, and participated, with success, in the operations in north Mississippi. In July he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers and given command of the Division and the Army of the Ohio, and on October 8th took a distinguished part in the battle of Perry ville. At the battle of Stone River (or Murfrees boro) he commanded a division of the Army of the Cumberland, and by his stubborn resistance was instrumental in saving the Federal army from being routed. He was appointed major general of volunteers early in 1863, took part in the pursuit of Van Dorn, and aided in the capture of Winchester, Tenn., June 27.
1863. In the battle of Chickamauga he tained his reputation for daring. and later took a conspicuous part in the battles around Chattanooga. where he came under the personal observation of General Grant. In April. 1864, General Sheridan was transferred by General Grant to Virginia and placed in command of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, and during Slay, June, and July, besides protecting the flanks of the army and reconnoitring the enemy's position, was engaged in eighteen different actions, including the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvauia Court House, and Cold Harbor. llis reputation for dash and daring was further increased by a raid lasting from the 9th to the 25th of Slay, in which he destroyed the railroad communications of the Confederates. captured Beaver Dam, and at the battle of Yellow Tavern defeated the Confed erates under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart (q.v.), who was killed in the action.
In August. 1864. General Sheridan was placed in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, which was soon constituted the Middle Military Division. With this command he defeated Gen eral Early at Opequan Creek. Fisher's Hill. and Cedar Creek (October 19, and captured 5000 of his men and several gulls. His dashing
ride of twenty miles from Winchester to Cedar Creek (q.v.), to save his army from defeat, was one of the most brilliant exploits of his career. On September 10th Sheridan was made briga dier-general in the Regular Army, and in No vember was promoted to the rank of major-gen eral. Au act for which Sheridan has been widely censured was his terrible devastation of the Shenandoah Valley as a means of weakening the resources of the enemy. During the re mainder of the war lie continued to serve under Grant in Virginia, doing great service as a raider and destroyer of bridges, railroads, etc. He fought the battles of Waynesboro, March 1, 1865; Dinwiddie Court House, March 31st; and Five Forks, April 1st. which compelled Lee to evacuate Richmond and Petersburg, in all of which he displayed his usual military skill and courage. He participated in various minor ac tions, and was present at the surrender of Lee. In July. 1865, he received the thanks of Congress. At the close of the war he assumed command of the Department of the Gulf, and upon the in auguration of the reconstruction policy was ap pointed commander of the Fifth _Military Dis trict (Louisiana and Texas), where he was known for his stern and vigorous enforcement of the reconstruction acts. With the election of General Grant to the Presidency and the pro motion of General Sherman to be commander of the Army, Sheridan was raised to the rank of lieutenant-general. In 1870 he visited Europe to witness the Franco-Prussian War, and later commanded military divisions in the West and Southwest. During the political disturbances of 1875 in Louisiana, he was sent to New Or leans to maintain peace and order, in which capacity he maintained his reputation for severity and rigor as a military ruler. Upon the retire ment of Genera] Sherman in 1883. he succeeded to the chief command of the Army. He died at Nonquitt, Mass., August 5, 1888. He pub lished Personal Memoirs (New York, 188S),