— Ch. 1 · A Short Man With Long Arms —
Philip Sheridan.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 8
Philip Henry Sheridan was born on the 6th of March 1831 in Albany, New York. He grew up in Somerset, Ohio as the third of six children to Irish Catholic immigrants from County Cavan. Abraham Lincoln once described him as a brown, chunky little chap with long arms that allowed him to scratch his ankles without stooping. His height reached only five feet five inches, earning him the nickname Little Phil. As a boy, he worked in a general store and later became head clerk at a dry goods shop. In 1848, he obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy through a nomination from U.S. Congressman Thomas Ritchey. His fourth year at West Point ended with a one-year suspension for fighting classmate William R. Terrill. The previous day, Sheridan had threatened to run Terrill through with a fixed bayonet after a perceived insult on the parade ground. He graduated in 1853 ranked thirty-fourth out of fifty-two cadets.
Rapid Rise Through Battle Lines
In December 1862, Sheridan received promotion to major general effective the 31st of December 1862. This elevation occurred within just six months of his captaincy during the early war period. At the Battle of Booneville on the 1st of July 1862, he held back several regiments of Confederate cavalry under Brigadier General James R. Chalmers. A noisy diversion deflected a large flanking attack while critical intelligence about enemy dispositions emerged. Division commanders including Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans recommended his promotion to brigadier general. They wrote to Halleck that good brigadiers were scarce and Sheridan was worth his weight in gold. The promotion was approved in September but dated effective July 1 as a reward for actions at Booneville. One fellow officer gave him a horse named Rienzi which he rode throughout the Civil War. On the 31st of December 1862, his division held back a Confederate onslaught until ammunition ran out during the first day of the Battle of Stones River. His actions provided time for the Union army to rally at a strong defensive position.Aggressive Raids Against Richmond
Sheridan arrived at Army of the Potomac headquarters on the 5th of April 1864 less than a month before Grant's massive Overland Campaign began. During the Battle of the Wilderness from May 5 to 6, 1864, dense forested terrain prevented any significant cavalry role. Sheridan's troopers failed to clear roads along Plank Road on May 5 and Todd's Tavern between May 6 and May 8. This allowed Confederates to seize critical crossroads before Union infantry could arrive. When Meade quarreled with Sheridan over unperformed duties, Sheridan told Meade he could whip Stuart if given permission. Grant replied that Sheridan generally knew what he was talking about and let him proceed against enemy cavalry. From May 9 through May 24, Sheridan conducted raids toward Richmond challenging Confederate cavalry directly. The raid mortally wounded Confederate commander Major General J.E.B. Stuart at Yellow Tavern on May 11. It also beat Major General Fitzhugh Lee at Meadow Bridge on May 12 but never seriously threatened Richmond itself. Historian Gordon C. Rhea noted that taking his cavalry from Spotsylvania Court House severely handicapped Grant during battles against Lee.Scorched Earth In The Valley
Grant ordered Sheridan to deny the Shenandoah Valley as a productive agricultural region to the Confederacy. He instructed Sheridan to give the enemy no rest and do all damage possible to railroads and crops. Residents referred to this widespread destruction as The Burning which remains controversial today. On the 19th of September 1864, armed with intelligence provided by Quaker teacher Rebecca Wright, Sheridan defeated Jubal Early's much smaller army at Third Winchester. A follow-up victory occurred at Fisher's Hill on September 22. His men sent cavalry as far south as Waynesboro to seize or destroy livestock and provisions while burning barns, mills, factories, and railroads. Over four hundred square miles became uninhabitable due to these operations. One soldier wrote home about setting sixty private homes on fire and seeing women and children turned out of doors in winter. Sergeant William T. Patterson described how the whole country around was wrapped in flames with heavens aglow. Early launched a surprise attack at Cedar Creek on October 19 while Sheridan was ten miles away at Winchester. Hearing distant artillery sounds, he rode aggressively to his command reaching the battlefield about 10:30 a.m. to rally his men.The Final Pursuit To Appomattox
On the 1st of April 1865, Sheridan cut off General Lee's lines of support at Five Forks forcing Lee to evacuate Petersburg. During that battle, he ruined the military career of Major General Gouverneur K. Warren under circumstances later determined unjustified by a court of inquiry convened in 1879. On the 6th of April 1865, his aggressive performance at Sayler's Creek effectively sealed Lee's fate capturing over twenty percent of remaining men. President Lincoln sent Grant a telegram stating if the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender. At Appomattox Court House on the 9th of April 1865, Sheridan blocked Lee's escape forcing surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia later that day. Grant summed up Little Phil's performance saying he believed Sheridan had no superior as a general either living or dead perhaps not an equal. Earlier that year on the 2nd of March 1865, he trapped Early's army at Waynesboro where fifteen hundred soldiers surrendered. His relentless pursuit managed crucial aspects of the Appomattox Campaign for Grant during those final days of war.Military Governor Of The South
Grant appointed Sheridan commander of the Military District of the Southwest on the 17th of May 1865 six days before the Grand Review of Armies parade. Orders required him to defeat Confederate forces in Texas and restore Louisiana to Union control. A white mob broke up the state constitutional convention in New Orleans on the 30th of July 1866 killing thirty-four blacks. Shortly after returning, Sheridan wired Grant calling it an absolute massacre rather than a riot. In March 1867, with Reconstruction barely started, he became military governor of the Fifth Military District covering Texas and Louisiana. He severely limited voter registration for former Confederates ruling only registered voters including black men could serve on juries. An inquiry into the deadly New Orleans riot implicated numerous local officials leading Sheridan to dismiss the mayor of New Orleans and district judge. Following anti-segregation protests railroad leaders met with Sheridan trying to maintain segregated star car systems. He rejected their requests forcing desegregation of New Orleans streetcars. Later he removed Louisiana governor James M. Wells accusing him of being political trickster and dishonest man. He also dismissed Texas governor James W. Throckmorton replacing him with Republican Elisha M. Pease. President Andrew Johnson removed Sheridan within a month stating his rule had been one of absolute tyranny without references to principles of government.Winter Campaigns On The Plains
In the Winter Campaign of 1868-69, Sheridan attacked Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Comanche tribes in their winter quarters taking supplies and livestock. This strategy drove Indians back onto reservations while killing those who resisted. Professional hunters killed over four million bison by 1874 trespassing on Indian reservations. Any quotations attributed to Sheridan celebrating buffalo hunting or appearing before Texas legislature about this matter are almost certainly apocryphal according to historian Dan Flores. There is no evidence the nineteenth-century Texas legislature ever considered bill outlawing hide hunt. These erroneous charges first surfaced in 1907 memoir of buffalo hunter John Cook. Eventually Indians returned to designated reservations as Sheridan's department conducted Red River War Ute War and Great Sioux War of 1876-77 resulting in death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Indian raids subsided during 1870s and were almost over by early 1880s when Sheridan became commanding general entire U.S. Army. A story claiming Comanche chief Tosawi told Sheridan The only good Indians I ever saw were dead appears fictitious with first printed reference appearing more than one hundred years later in 1970.Legacy And Final Honors
On the 1st of November 1883, Sheridan succeeded General William T. Sherman as Commanding General of the U.S. Army holding that position until his death. He was promoted on the 1st of June 1888 shortly before dying to rank of General in Regular Army equivalent to five-star general today. In 1882, Department of Interior granted rights to Yellowstone Park Improvement Company developing park through railroad construction. Sheridan personally organized opposition lobbying Congress for protection including expansion military control reducing development prohibiting leases near attractions. An expedition arranged for President Chester A. Arthur helped pay off lobbying efforts. A rider added to Sundry Civil Bill of 1883 gave supporters almost everything requested. In 1886 after string of ineffectual superintendents, Sheridan ordered 1st U.S. Cavalry into park operated until National Park Service took it over in 1916. Sheridan suffered massive heart attacks two months after sending memoirs publisher in 1888. Although thin in youth he reached weight over two hundred pounds by age fifty-seven. His family moved him from Washington heat to summer cottage Nonquitt enclave Dartmouth Massachusetts where he died the 5th of August 1888 of heart failure.Common questions
When and where was Philip Sheridan born?
Philip Henry Sheridan was born on the 6th of March 1831 in Albany, New York. He grew up in Somerset, Ohio as the third of six children to Irish Catholic immigrants from County Cavan.
What nickname did Philip Sheridan earn due to his height?
His height reached only five feet five inches earning him the nickname Little Phil. Abraham Lincoln once described him as a brown chunky little chap with long arms that allowed him to scratch his ankles without stooping.
How did Philip Sheridan contribute to the end of the Civil War at Appomattox Court House?
At Appomattox Court House on the 9th of April 1865 Philip Sheridan blocked Lee's escape forcing surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia later that day. His aggressive performance at Sayler's Creek on the 6th of April 1865 effectively sealed Lee's fate capturing over twenty percent of remaining men.
Why is Philip Sheridan controversial regarding the destruction of the Shenandoah Valley?
Residents referred to this widespread destruction as The Burning which remains controversial today because he instructed troops to give the enemy no rest and do all damage possible to railroads and crops. Over four hundred square miles became uninhabitable due to these operations while one soldier wrote home about setting sixty private homes on fire.
When did Philip Sheridan die and what was the cause of death?
Philip Sheridan died the 5th of August 1888 of heart failure in Nonquitt enclave Dartmouth Massachusetts. He suffered massive heart attacks two months after sending memoirs publisher in 1888 and had reached weight over two hundred pounds by age fifty-seven.