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THE X-jIIF'IG 
 
 OF 
 
 GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN. 
 
 >■ • • • ' i 
 
 NEW YORl£ : 
 
 r. R. DAWLEY, PUBLISHEK, 
 
 13 & 15 3?ark How. 
 € ^ 6> / Cheapest P. blither in the Country. 
 
A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE IN THE KAKDS 0£ EV2EIY HOUSEKEEPZ?. 
 
 THE AMERICAN LADIES' 
 
 it 
 
 BY MRS. T. J.. CROWEN. 
 A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE HOUSEWIFE. 
 
 560 Pa-es, bound in Cloth. -Price. Sl.75. 
 Mailed Postpaid. 
 
 OPIHIOIJS OP TEE PI&33S. 
 
 This Book is compiled by a person of practical knowledge of the 
 subject who was engaged eight years in collecting information on the 
 i| subject of the work and in reducing to practice the recipes obtained. 
 The book comprehends a vast variety of directions respecting the var- 
 ious methods of plain and fancy cooking many of which have never 
 before been made public. The labors of the author have been employed 
 in a field in which no one who labors will labor in vain. — N. Y. Evening 
 rost. 
 
 We recommend this Book to every Lady, whether housekeeper or 
 j not. All should be familiar with domestic affairs, or they are not really 
 accomplished. This is a, finisher of education. — N. Y. Journal 
 
 One of the best works we have seen. — Christian Enquirer. 
 
 Those who wish to be initiated in the system of boiling, roasting, 
 baking and stewing, with the making of all kinds of Pastry, cannot do 
 better than procure a copy of "The American Ladies' Cookery Book." 
 The directions are ample and the descriptions various. — N. Y. Ledger. 
 
 The American Ladies' Cookery Book is a most useful publication. 
 -Phila. Enquirer. 
 
 We might give hundreds of similar notices from the Press, if we }i 
 choose. This Book may be had of all Booksellers or it will be sent by 
 i( M»il, postpaid on receipt of Price. 
 
 T. R. DAWLEY, Publisher, 
 
 13 & 15 Park Row, New York. 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, 
 
 v 
 
 THE 
 
 HERO OF THE SHENANDOAH, 
 
 BY 
 JULIAN K. LARKE, 
 
 Author of " General Grant and his Campaigns," etc., etc. 
 
 I 1 
 
 -> -z- 
 
 s NEW YORK : 
 T. R. TDATWTL, JL Y, PUBLISHLE, 
 Nos. 13 and 15 Park Row. 
 

 ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OP CONGRESS, IN THE TEAR 18G4, B\ 
 
 IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED 
 STATES, FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. 
 
 2-7 i> 
 
 7y s 
 
 T. R. Dawley, Steam Book, Job, and Newspaper Printer, Electro- 
 
 typer, Stereotyper, and Publisher. — Nos. 13 and 15 Park Row, 
 
 New York. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The war of the Rebellion has not only developed the 
 resources of the country, but also the genius of her sons. 
 Sheridan, perhaps, but for it, would have even now been 
 hidden in the wild regions of the Far West, and never 
 have been known further than as a daring rider, an In- 
 dian fighter, and a pacificator of the savages. He has not 
 sought promotion through political influence, but has 
 trusted to his sword to gain him the high opinion of his 
 fellow countrymen. Although at first in a position where 
 he could gain but little glory, he did his duty without a 
 murmur ; and when his peculiar genius was discovered he 
 made no vain boasting, or sought popularity by truckling 
 to others. He has gained the love of his men by his gal- 
 lantry in the field, and the nobleness of his nature. He 
 has never ordered his command to go to any position where 
 he has been afraid to trust himself; and in all his engage- 
 ments he has always been in the field directing the move- 
 ments of his troops in person. It has often been said by 
 those who have served under him that his presence was 
 
4 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "worth ten thousand men;" and certainly on the event- 
 ful October 19 — the most eventful day in the history of 
 the campaign of the Shenandoah Valley — his arrival on 
 the field turned a morning of disaster into a day of glori- 
 ous victory. 
 
 The author of this little volume has long watched the 
 career of the gallant soldier — "little Phil. Sheridan" — 
 and is therefore able to place before the public a correct, 
 although brief life of the. 
 
 " Hero op the Shenandoah." 
 
 J. K. L. 
 
 New York, 1864. 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 sheridan's early days. 
 
 His birth and birthplace. — Daring and dangerous feat of horsemanship. — 
 " Nary afraid." — At school. — Admitted into West Point. — Studies. — The 
 mental and physical duties of a cadet. — Graduates. — Class cornpanioas, etc. 
 
 Philip Henry Sheridan, the heroic commander of the 
 Shenandoah Valley, was born of comparitively poor 
 parents, during the year 1831. It has been a matter of 
 dispute as to the actual place of his birth, some persons 
 giving the credit to Perry County, Ohio, while others have 
 located it elsewhere ; and it is understood that the subject 
 of this dispute is not quite certain himself as to the exact 
 locality where he first saw the light. The official army re- 
 gisters place it in Massachusetts, and some disputants 
 " down Easters" have quarrelled upon the question as to 
 the part of the State that is entitled to the honor of being 
 the birthplace of that gallant officer. Enough however 
 is known of him to settle the point that he was 
 born in the United States, that he has fought and 
 won in the service of the United States, and that he has 
 defeated the enemies of his country ; and this is also enough 
 to entitle him to the fullest respect of every one possessing 
 
18 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the slightest spark of American feeling, without taking 
 any further pains to enquire into the question as to the 
 'exact spot of his birth. 
 
 Sheridan, or as he is better known " Phil Sheridan," 
 was certainly a resident of Ohio during his very early days ; 
 as one little incident occurred in that state to fix that 
 point with certainty. When about five years old, he was 
 placed by some older boys, in fun, on the back of a spirited 
 horse found grazing in the field, near where he resided. 
 The horse was started of at a run ; but the animal getting 
 frightened at something it had either seen or heard, or per- 
 haps both, dashed along at break-neck pace over rails and 
 fences, and without bit or bridle. Every one thought the 
 child would have been killed ; but to the surprise of all, 
 the horse, after a run of many miles, arrived at the stable 
 of a hotel, where it had when with its owner been in the 
 habit of stopping. Its sides were flecked with foam, and 
 the animal was exhausted with fatigue — but the child was 
 still on its back. The bystanders hardly knew what to 
 make of the circumstance, and asked the child whence 
 he came ; to which question the boy at once returned a 
 correct answer, but was not believed as the distance was 
 so great. The hotel-keeper said he knew the horse well ; 
 but at the moment could not then tell who was the owner. 
 The stable-keeper, however, soon settled that question ; 
 and on his asserting that the owner lived at the place 
 named by the child, the little fellow's story was at last 
 believed, and he was made the hero of the occasion. 
 
 The adventure became the subject of village wonder ; 
 and the room of the hotel, that evening, was the scene of 
 a large assemblage of farmers, and others, who had gath- 
 ered together to hear the story repeated ; and to see the 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 19 
 
 child who had ridden such an immense distance, without a 
 saddle or bridle. One good natured old farmer inquired 
 where the boy had " learned to ride." 
 
 "I never was learned" replied Phil. 
 
 " Are you sure no one ever taught you to sit on a horse V* 
 inquired the farmer. 
 
 " Oh ! Yes," said the child ; " Bill Seymour told me to 
 hold on with my knees, and I did." 
 
 " Were you not scared ?" 
 
 " Nary a bit," said Phil, " I wanted to go on farther, 
 but the horse wouldn't go." 
 
 «• Well" said the farmer " I should think you ought to 
 have been tired, as the horse certainly was. Are you not 
 sore V 
 
 " Kinder rather," said Phil. •' But I will be all right 
 to-morrow and then I'll ride back home." 
 
 " Do you know your way ?" 
 
 " No ; but the horse seemed to know his way here ; and 
 I suppose he will find it back again.'' 
 
 " Well" said the farmer to his companions, " that boy 
 has got courage enough to be an Indian cavalry hunter." 
 
 Next morning the little fellow was sick and sore; the 
 ride having galled him very much. He however did not 
 seem to mind his soreness and wanted to go home, but the 
 farmers refused to let him leave until he was free from 
 pain. Meantime, the owner of the horse found out where 
 the animal was, and went to claim him. When told of the 
 adventure he said. 
 
 " It is a wonder the boy was not thrown. The horse 
 has nearly unseated me several times and I am said to be 
 far from a poor rider. Although I feel vexed at having 
 had to travel so far after my horse, I will see the boy who 
 
20 THE LIFE OP 
 
 rode him all this distance in so short a time, and without 
 a saddle." 
 
 He saw and conversed with Phil ; and left with the 
 impression that there was more grit in the boy than had 
 yet developed itself. 
 
 The remainder of the boyhood days of Phil Sheridan 
 was not marked by any very important events. He gained 
 his education at the ordinary schools of that part of the 
 country ; and alter a time through the influence of some 
 friends obtained an admittance into the United States Mil- 
 itary Academy as a cadet. 
 
 Young Sheridan entered the Institution at West Point 
 during the year 1848. At that time it was difficult for any 
 except the son or relation of a soldier who had served in 
 the Mexican War to obtain an entry in that school of mili- 
 tary science. He was at once examined by a competant 
 surgeon, and subjected to a rigid and scrutinizing physical 
 examination. He was declared sound in health and body, 
 and capable of bearing a great amount of physical fatigue ; 
 and was therefore considered as a fit subject for admission 
 into the Academy as a student of the military art. Col- 
 onel Henry Brewerton was the superintendant of the Mil- 
 itary Academy at the time of Sheridan's initiation. 
 
 From the conversations of General Sheridan's classmates, 
 it is ascertained that " little Phil" did not give any remark- 
 able signs of brilliancy while at the military academy ; 
 being rather of the dull but retaining order of students. 
 He was a long time before he succeeded in getting out of 
 the fourth class, in which he was engaged in the study of 
 mathematics, English grammer, including etymological and 
 and rhetorical exercises, composition, declamation, geog- 
 raphy of the United States and the French language. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 21 
 
 He was also taught the use of small arms, and the drill of 
 an infantry soldier ; and during the summer months per- 
 formed the part of a private of the infantry battalionn in 
 the camp of the academy. 
 
 During the summer of 1850, Cadet Sheridan advanced 
 one grade in the academy and was trasferred to the third 
 class, in which he began the study of higher mathematics, 
 under the tuition of Lieut. Sam. Jones, since Major-Gen- 
 eral of the rebel army ; French under Professor Agnel, 
 and drawing under Professor Weir, in addition to the un- 
 learned studies of the fourth class He also began to 
 drill in the preliminary duties of a private of cavalry under 
 Lieutenant James M. Hawes of that branch of the service, 
 and spent sixteen weeks in the school of horsemanship, or 
 riding school of the military academy. In this branch of 
 education he progressed with : rpidity, although he was 
 not so fortunate with his other studies. He however con- 
 quered them all in due time. 
 
 "While serving with the infantry batallion during this 
 classical year, he obtained the selection of his services as 
 corporal, and performed the duties of the position with 
 credit. During the summer of 1851, he entered the sec- 
 ond class of instruction in the adademy. 
 
 The studies of a cadet increase as he advances in the 
 academy, and if he is desirous of becoming an adept, he 
 has a great deal to learn. When Sheridan therefore en- 
 tered the second class, he found he had a severe task for the 
 next classical year, which usually lasts from July 1 to June 
 30, instead of beginning and ending with the year. From 
 September 1851 to June 1852, he had to cultivate his 
 mind in the study of natural and experimental philosophy, 
 in the mysteries of chemistry, and in the art of drawing. 
 
22 THE LIFE OP 
 
 He had also to train his body and develop his frame by 
 daily exercise in the school of gymnasium, and also to re- 
 ceive practical instruction in the more difficult and dan- 
 gerous branches of horsemanship, such as being able to 
 keep his seat when his horse becomers estive from the effect 
 of a sudden report of artillery or musketry, and other sim- 
 ilar exercises. 
 
 While encamped during the summer months Cadet 
 Sheridan was well drilled in infantry and artillery tactics, 
 and while away with the battallion was selected as one of 
 company sergeants. He at this time learned the method 
 of properly keeping the company rolls and the other 
 minutiae of documentary routine necessary in the after life 
 of an officer, and without the knowledge of which no offi- 
 cer should feel himself perfect in his military study. It is 
 not only necessary that a regimental commandant should 
 receive the papers from his subordinates, but it is also es- 
 sential that he should know whether the papers are cor- 
 rectly made out, and in due form. 
 
 During July 1852, Cadet Sheridan passed into the first 
 and concluding class of instruction of the military acad- 
 emy. It is in this class that the young soldier is developed, 
 that the cadet demonstrates whether he is fitted lor the 
 position of an officer, by being able to command himself 
 and thus show that he is capable of commanding others. 
 Many a good subordinate has fallen through when he is 
 first invested with the rank of a commander, and similar 
 events have occurred to young cadets when first decorated 
 with the epaulet or shoulder strap. In this part of his 
 studies Sheridan is said to have passed through with 
 credit. 
 
 The young cadet's studies arc somewhat laborious in 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 23 
 
 passing through the first class, and Sheridan's pursuit of 
 knowledge was no lighter than those of his classmates. Dur- 
 ing the time between July 1 and September 1 1851, he re- 
 ceived practical lessons in the field in the sciences of civil 
 and military engineering ; and from the latter date to April 
 1, 1853, he devoted his time to the more theoretical part 
 of that branch of military art. On April 1, 1852, he re- 
 sumed the practical part of the research, and continued 
 thus employed until May 15. Although progressing fa- 
 vorably, Sheridan displayed no great amount of dashing 
 brilliancy in this study, engineering not being his partic- 
 ular forte. 
 
 Sheridan, however, during the winter of 1852-3 devot- 
 ed himself to the perfection of his horsemanship, and left 
 the riding school at the end of the term with credit and 
 the approval of his instructors. 
 
 His other studies consisted of ethics, constitutional, in- 
 ternational, and military law, mineralogy, geology, and 
 the mastery of the Spanish language. His more warlike 
 instruction consisted of gunnery, ordnance and cavalry 
 tactics. It is said that Sheridan at the academy was more 
 proficient in the practical portion of a soldier's duty, than 
 in the classical ; but at the same time he is far from being 
 uncultivated in his mind. 
 
 On the 30th of June 1853, Philip Henry Sheridan 
 graduated from the military academy in company with 
 Major- General James B. McPherson, who was killed at 
 Atlanta, July 22d, 1854; Brigadier-General William R. 
 Terrill who fell at the battle of Perrysville October 8, 
 1864; Brigadier- General Joshua W. Sill, under Sheridan, 
 killed during the famous battle of " Stone River," Tenn- 
 essee, December, 1862 ; Major-General JohnM. Schofield. 
 
24 THE LIFE OP 
 
 who commanded the twenty-third corps at Atlanta July, 
 1864 and subsequently; Brigadier-General Robert C. Ty- 
 ler, commanding artilery Division during the Virginia cam- 
 paign of 18G4, and other fine officers of the United States 
 army. The Rebel General John B. Hood was also a class- 
 mate of Sheridan. 
 
 It is true that the subject of ths biography did not carry 
 the honors with him when he graduated ; but he passed 
 his examination with credit, and was declared perfect in 
 horsemanship and in the practical knowledge of the use of 
 the rifled musket, the field-piece, light and heavy artillery, 
 mortars, siege and sea-coast guns, small sword, sabre and 
 bayonet. He was also declared fairly proficient in the 
 construction of field works, and the fabrication of all mu- 
 nitions and material of war. 
 
 With these qualifications Cadet Sheridan entered the 
 army of the United States. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SHERIDAN IN THE REGULAR ARMY. 
 
 Brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry — Texas — Adventure with the 
 Indians — Transferred to another Regiment — Distinguished among the 
 Indians — Restores peaceful Relations — Complimented — The Rebellion — 
 Promotion — Ordered to Missouri — Chief Quartermaster — On General 
 Halleclc's Staff. Sfc. 
 
 Cadet Sheridan, as soon as he had graduated, entered 
 the regular army of the United States as a brevet second 
 lieutenant of infantry, and was attached to the first regi- 
 ment — the same regiment that has produced Generals 
 Abercrombie, Russell, Plummer, Paul, Heintzleman, Mow- 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 25 
 
 er, Hagman, and others of the Union army ; Generals Mar- 
 maduke, Heth, Armistead, Barton, Pegram, &c, of the rebel 
 service. The commission of brevet second lieutenant was 
 dated from July I, 1853, and the young officer was at once 
 ordered to join his regiment then serving in Texas, He 
 started at once for that State, and took his position in his 
 company, at Fort Duncan, during the following fall. 
 
 From that time until the spring of 1855, the young 
 lieutenant was engaged in service against the Indians, and 
 many a hair-breadth escape was experienced by him while 
 camping in that region. The following is one of the in- 
 cidents of that campaign : 
 
 A small party of Apaches, a wild tribe of Indians, came 
 down upon the country which the garrison of Fort Dun- 
 can protected. The soldiers were at the time unaware of 
 the approach of the savages, and three of them, including 
 Sheridan, were caught a short distance from the fort. The 
 Apache chief had been mounted on a fiery steed, apparent- 
 ly as untamed as his rider ; and had but just alighted 
 when the horrid war-whoop was sounded, followed by the 
 chief's tomahawk flying close to Sheridan's head, and. bury- 
 ing itself in a tree. There was no time for reflection or 
 hesitation. Springing up quickly, Sheridan jumped upon 
 the bare back of the Indian steed, and calling on his com- 
 panions to protect themselves with their rifles for a few 
 moments, dashed like the whirlwind amid a shower of mis- 
 sies for the fort, where he speedily gave the alarm. 
 " Boot and saddle " was sounded and several troopers 
 quickly followed the daring lieutenant, who had secured 
 his pistols without taking time to dismount, and had started 
 off again to the rescue of the two men he had left behind. 
 He was the first to reach the spot ; arrived before Indians 
 
26 THE LIFE OP 
 
 had recovered from their surprise, and with his pistols shot 
 the Apache chief dead. Tomahawks and other weapons 
 were hurled at him, but by his rapid movements of the 
 horse, he avoided them all. By this time the troopers ar- 
 rived, and the savages were nearly all slain; those who 
 escaped carrying with them serious wounds. The troopers 
 returned to the fort with the young lieutenant and his two 
 companions, and the prowess of the dashing fellow become 
 the subject of conversation for some time. Sheridan would 
 have been entitled to distinction for the brilliancy of the 
 whole affair, had not the commandant of the fort declared 
 he was guilty of a breach of discipline in being away from 
 his command. As this charge had only been made for the 
 purpose of depriving Sheridan of his well earned honors, 
 and as it had been preferred by a Southerner — since a 
 rebel officer — it was endorsed by the Secretary of War, 
 Jefferson Davis ; and the incident would have been buried 
 in oblivion had not his prowess during the war of the re- 
 bellion caused some of the troopers, who had participated 
 in the adventure, to talk about it since their return North 
 from the captivity to which the treachery of the recreant 
 Ganeral Twiggs had doomed them by his surrender of the 
 forces in Texas to the rebel authorities. 
 
 Finding that he was likely to be made the victim of 
 another, and perhaps worse piece of bad faith, on the part 
 of those who held higher rank than he, young Sheridan 
 obtained the influence of some persons at the national cap- 
 ital to have him transferred to another department ; and 
 during the spring of 1855 he was promoted to the full 
 rank of second lieutenant, and was assigned to a company 
 of the Fourth Infantry regiment then serving in Oregon 
 Territory. His commission was dated from November 22, 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 27 
 
 1854 ; and he at once set sail for New York, to await the 
 departure 01 a vessel bound for the Pacific Coast. 
 
 It will, perhaps, be remembered that in the regiment to 
 which Sheridan was transferred, the now renowned Gen- 
 eral Grant had served as lieutenant and captain, and from 
 which he had resigned the service- during the previous 
 July This coincidence may be considered somewhat 
 carious when the after connection between those two offi- 
 cers is brought to mind. 
 
 On the arrival of Lieutenant Sheridan at New York, it 
 was found necessary to delay the departure of the officers 
 for the Pacific Coast until a party of recruits could be 
 found ; he was therefore placed in command of Fort Wood, 
 one of the defences of New York harbor, and he held this 
 command during the months of May and June, 1855. 
 
 During July 1855, the recruits having been got togeth- 
 er, the party embarked for San Francisco, and, after a 
 voyage, devoid of any extraordinary incident, duly arrived 
 at that port. On the arrival of Lieutenant Sheridan at 
 that place, he was selected to command the escort which 
 accompanied Lieutenant Robert S. Williamson, of the To- 
 pographical Engineer Corps of the United States Army, on 
 the expedition set apart for a survey of a route for a pro- 
 posed branch of the Pacific railroad to connect San Fran- 
 cisco with the Columbia River of Oregon. This expedition 
 was deemed one, not only of importance in a commercial 
 sense, but also likely to develop a great amount of hidden 
 science, as the country selected to be surveyed had hereto- 
 fore never been trodden by any one from the East. The 
 military party was accompanied by a large number of liter- 
 ary and scientific gentlemen, and the result of the explora- 
 tion was of great value, as it elicited much interesting and 
 
28 THE LIFE OF 
 
 valuable information concerning the geography, topo- 
 graphy and natural history of this part of the United 
 States. The reports of the officer in charge and of some 
 of his civil companions have since been published in a vol- 
 ume, by order of the Congress of the United States. 
 
 On the arrival of the exploring party at Vancouver, 
 Washington Territory, Lieutenant Sheridan was detached 
 from Lieutenant Williamson's escort, and ordered to re- 
 port to Major Gabriel J. Rains, of his own regiment — the 
 Fourth U. S. Infantry. That officer was one of those, who 
 while serving in the West, threw up his connection with 
 the army of the country, joined the rebels, and afterwards 
 became a Brigadier-General in the enemy's ranks, serving 
 under General Sterling Price, in the rebel movements in 
 Missouri, at the commencement of the civil war. 
 
 Major Rains, having heard of Lieutenant Sheridan's skill 
 in horsemanship, ordered him to accompany a party of 
 dragoons, and attach himself to an expedition to be made 
 under the major's supervision into the Yakima County, for 
 the purpose of putting down a warlike demonstration 
 made by the Indians of that name. Sheridan succeeded in 
 the expedition, and in the fall of 1855 returned to the 
 Dalles of the Columbia, where he went into winter quar- 
 ters. 
 
 During the following spring the expedition was reor- 
 ganized to put down the Yakina Indians, and Lieutenant 
 Sheridan led his command against them while they occu- 
 pied the banks and neighboring country of the Columbia 
 River. On the 28th of April, 1856, he met the Indians in 
 force at the cascades of that river, and after a brilliant 
 engagement with the savages entirely defeated their war- 
 riors, and drove them from their chosen position. For his 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 29 
 
 gallant conduct in this engagement he was specially men- 
 tioned in general orders. 
 
 Lieutenant Sheridan was, during the following May, or- 
 dered to take the entire command of the Indian reserva- 
 tion. He held this command during the whole of the sum- 
 mer, and became very friendly with the savages of that 
 region, gaining both their esteem and confidence. It being 
 found by the military authorities that he had more weight 
 with and power over the savages than any other officer, it 
 was decided he should winter in their midst, and he was 
 directed to select a post on the Fakima reservation, and 
 located the same in the Seletz valley during the month of 
 September, 1856. 
 
 The winter passed away very agreably, as far as the 
 relations existing between Lieutenant Sheridan and the 
 Indians. A difficulty had arisen between the United 
 States authorities and the Coquillo Indians ; and Lieutenant 
 Sheridan was selected to settle the affair amicably, if 
 possible. He met the chiefs in council on Yakima Bay, 
 and so adjusted the trouble that peaceful relations were 
 soon restored. When the settlement was reported at 
 Washington, the General-in-Chief, Lieutenant General 
 Scott, complimented Lieutenant Sheridan very highly for 
 his meritouous conduct. 
 
 Lieutenant Sheridan was next ordered to establish a 
 military post on the Indian Reservation ; and during the 
 summer and fall of 1857, superintended the building of the 
 post at Yamhill, since known by the name of Fort Yamhill. 
 
 During the next three years, Lieutenant Sheridan re- 
 sided ameng his Indian friends and served under Captain 
 D. A. Russell, of the United States Infantry, each year 
 adding to his popularity with t hem. 
 
30 THE LIFE OP 
 
 A change however took place in 1861 in the affairs of 
 the nation. The Southern officers of the United States 
 army threw up their commissions and entered into the 
 ranks of the rebels, and this made vacancies in the lineal 
 roll of army officers. To fill one of these vacancies 
 Sheridan was, at the beginning of 1861, promoted to the 
 rank of First Lieutenant of Infantry, and ordered to re- 
 turn to the East. Subsequently on the increase of the 
 regular infantry of the United States Army from ten to 
 nineteen regiments, Lieutenant Sheridan was promoted to 
 the rank of Captain, with a commission dating from May 
 14, 1861, and assigned to the Thirteenth Regiment of In- 
 fantry. 
 
 During September 1861, Captain Sheridan was ordered 
 to join his regiment at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, 
 Missouri. Soon after he had reported at that place he was 
 appointed, by the War Department, the President of a 
 Military Commission, to audit the claims arising from the 
 operations of the army during the campaign in Missouri, 
 at the commencement of the rebellion ; and in his conduct 
 of the inquiry he obtained both the satisfaction of the Go- 
 vernment and the majority of the claimants. 
 
 On the 24th of December, 1861, Captain Sheridan was 
 appointed the chief quartermaster and commissary of the 
 army that was being organized for the campaigns in the 
 Southwestern part of Missouri. The region of the country 
 through which that army had to operate was entirely des- 
 titute of supplies ; and the means of transportation were 
 also very limited. Captain Sheridan had therefore to 
 organize the transportation, and to supply the army with 
 the greater part of the subsistence, during the entire cam- 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 31 
 
 paign, which ended with the battle of Pea Ridge, March 7 
 and 8, 1862. 
 
 During March 1862, Captain Sheridan was ordered to 
 leave the army of South Western Missouri and report at 
 St. Louis. The battle of Sbiloh shortly after caused 
 General Halleck to remove his head-quarters to the field, 
 in the vicinity of Corinth ; and about the latter part of 
 April 1862, Captain Sheridan was ordered to report at 
 that General's head-quarters in the field. Upon his arrival 
 at that place he was appointed the Chief Quartermaster of 
 the entire united armies — 16 divisions— and was placed on 
 General Halleck's staff, with a special staff rank of Major, 
 to date from May 10, 1862. 
 
 After occupying this position for a short time, he was se- 
 lected to command a cavalry regiment in the field ; his 
 superior officers being of opinion that his services could 
 be better employed in that capacity than as a staff officer. 
 
 CHAPTER HI- 
 SHERIDAN AS A CAVALRY COLONEL. 
 
 Colonel of Volunteers. — Expedition to Boonesville. — Destruction of rail '„ 
 road track and material. — Pursuit of Beauregard and fight. — Affair at 
 Donaldson 1 s Corners. — Commander of brigade. — Battle near Boonesville. 
 — Defeats and routs four times his own force. — Promoted Sfc. 
 
 On the 27th of May, 1862, Captain Sheridan was selected 
 and commissioned as the Colonel of the Second Regiment 
 of Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, and. was assigned to the 
 army then operating around Corinth. Next day bis regiment 
 was attached to the cavalry expedition under Colonel 
 
32 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Elliott of the Second Iowa cavalry ; and started off to cut 
 the roads leading from Corinth to the South, with the 
 hope of stopping they rebels should the attempt to escape in 
 that direction. 
 
 The route taken by the cavalry in the advance was by 
 way of Iuka, Eastport and Fulton, thence along the Tus- 
 cumbia and Jacinto road to Cartersville, thence to Padens 
 and Boonesville, where it arrived on May 30, 1862. On 
 its arrival at the last named place the troopers commenced 
 destroying the track both North and South of the town, 
 blew up one culvert, burned the depot, locomotives and a 
 train of twenty-six cars loaded with supplies, destroyed a 
 quantity of arms, including artillery and small arms, burned 
 a quantity of army clothing and ammunition, and captured 
 a number of prisoners belonging to the rear of the retreat- 
 ing rebel army from Corinth. So desolate had become the 
 country through which the cavalry had to operate, that 
 Sheridan's men had to live on meat alone, and even that, 
 such as it was had to be gathered from the country around. 
 The cavalry, having to travel rapidly, could not take any 
 wagons with them ; and therefore could collect neither food 
 nor forage. A few sheep were, however, found, and dis- 
 tributed among the troopers ; but the animals being badly 
 fed, their flesh was poor and tough. The prisoners cap- 
 tured were mostly infantry ; and Colonel Sheridan and 
 Elliott, on consultation, finding that if the rebels were taken 
 with the cavalry, there would be a great deal of trouble 
 in properly guarding them, decided to disarm them and 
 then let them go. 
 
 The rebel leaders had laid a plan to capture the whole 
 cavalry command on their return ; but Colonel Sheridan, 
 on ascertaining the movement, decided to take another 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 33 
 
 route, and thus escaped the snare. After making a circuit 
 of nearly a hundred miles, the cavalry rejoined the main 
 army at Corinth. 
 
 It was during this campaign that General Grant was 
 first made aware, by personal observation, of what calibre 
 the gallant soldier Sheridan was made. 
 
 When the cavalry command reported at Corinth they 
 were ordered to join that part of the army sent in pursuit 
 of Beauregard's retreating rebels. The infantry had at 
 this time reached Boonesville in the heat of the pursuit ; 
 and the cavalry started forward to form a junction with it 
 at that place. 
 
 Colonel Sheridan's regiment formed part of the cavalry 
 force of Colonel Elliott, at the time when it made its re- 
 connoissance to Blackland. When Sheridan arrived at 
 that place, he encountered the left wing of the rebel forces, 
 and as his regiment was in the advance, it met the shock of 
 the conflict arising therefrom. With a courage and gallantry 
 for which he had always been noticed, he boldly resisted 
 and repelled the attack of two regiments of infantry, two 
 regiments of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, belonging 
 to the enemy ; in the end bringing away with him the guns 
 of Powell's rebel battery. He then fell back upon the 
 main force near Boonesville. This affair was among the 
 most gallant of the campaign. 
 
 On the 6th of June, 1862, Colonel Sheridan led a 
 cavalry reconnoissance farther to the South than Boones- 
 ville ; and when at Donaldson's Cross Roads, about mid- 
 way between that place and Baldwin, he was met by a 
 force of rebel cavalry under the notorious Forrest. An 
 engagement consequently ensued, and the rebels were sig- 
 nally defeated. 
 
34 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Colonel Sheridan on the 8th of June, taking command 
 of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa cavalry regi- 
 ments, started in pursuit of the enemy who were reported 
 to be evacuating their position at Twenty-mile Creek, with 
 the intention of falling back to Tupelo, The pursuit was 
 very successful, and Sheridan captured the town of Bald- 
 win. The retreating rebels were next driven to Guntown, 
 where they were forced to form in line of battle, with in- 
 fantry, artillery and cavalry, to resist the impetuous 
 onset of Sheridan's nieu, who had learned to imitate the 
 dashing mode of riding adopted by their leader. 
 
 While engaged with these forces, Colonel Sheridan re- 
 ceived an order to fall back to Booneville, and thence ac- 
 companied the main army back to Corinth. 
 
 The forces of the armies operating in this region were 
 next re-organized after their Corinth campaign, prepara- 
 tory to new operations ; and on June 11, 1862, Colonel 
 Sheridan was placed in command of the second brigade of 
 the Cavalry Division of the Army of the Mississippi. 
 
 On June 26, Colonel Sheridan was ordered to take up a 
 position at Boonesville ; and with his brigade watch the ope- 
 rations of the rebels at a point twenty miles in advance of 
 the main army, at the same time covering its front. The 
 whole of the troops then operating in this part of the 
 country were under the command of Major General 
 Grant ; who, doubtless, then found a good opportunity 
 of studying the character of the man, since placed by him 
 in such an important command as the one held by the 
 gallant Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. 
 
 On the 1st of July, 1862, while in position near Boones- 
 ville, Colonel Sheridan's command then consisting of only 
 two regiments of cavalry, was attacked by nine regiments 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 35 
 
 of the rebel cavalry under General Chalmers. The rebel 
 force numbered between five thousand and six thousand 
 well mounted men ; and after skirmishing with them some 
 time, Sheridan fell back towards his camp, which was 
 situated on the edge of a swamp, and in such a position 
 that he could for some time defy any attempt to capture 
 his command by a direct attack on the front of his camp. 
 The rebels, however, began to surround the position ; and 
 Sheridan determined to have recourse to strategy to help 
 himself out of his uncomfortable condition. Selecting ninety 
 of his best men, he armed them with revolving carbines 
 and sabres, and sent them around to the rear of the enemy, 
 to attack them at a given time, while he would make a 
 simultaneous charge in front. The distance to be travelled 
 was four miles ; and the plan worked admirably. The 
 ninety men suddenly came upon the rear of the enemy ; 
 their approach not having been noticed until they were 
 close upon the rebels, who naturally supposed they were 
 the advance of a large force. It could scarcely be con- 
 ceived that so small a body of troops would dare make an 
 attack upon nearly six thousand well organized cavalry, 
 unless it was pretty certain that the movement could 
 speedily be well supported. 
 
 The ninety men made the attack with great vigor, 
 emptying their carbines first at close quarters, and then 
 charging with their sabres upon the astonished foe. Before 
 the enemy could recover from the surprise of this attack 
 upon his rear, Colonel Sheridan led his remaining force 
 in a gallant and spirited charge upon the rebels in their 
 front. The double attack caused a complete panic in the 
 rebel lines, and the six thousand men under the dreaded 
 General Chalmers were routed and driven in confusion 
 
36 THE LIFE OF 
 
 from the field by less than one-fourth of their number. 
 They rushed away completely panic-stricken ; nor did 
 they stop in their precipitous flight until they had arrived 
 at Knight's Mills, a village about twenty miles distant. 
 
 The road by which the rebels had retreated, presented 
 a complete picture of disorder ; and gave a plain evidence 
 of the hasty manner with which they had conducted their 
 flight. On both sides of the road-way were arms, knap- 
 sacks, canteens, coats, and many other of the articles which 
 form the complete equipments of the soldier in the field. 
 
 This gallant and brilliant operation was duly reported to 
 the War Department by General Grant, with a recommen- 
 dation that Colonel Sheridan should be promoted for 
 the part he had taken in the affair. The President there- 
 fore appointed Colonel Sheridan a Brigadier-General of 
 Volunteers, with rank and commission dating from July 1 , 
 1862, the day on which he, with two small regiments of 
 cavalry, defeated and routed six thousand of the enemy. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SHERIDAN AS A BRIGADIER GENERAL. 
 
 Dash upon the rebel herds. — Faulkner's rebel cavalry defeated. — Trans- 
 ferred to Kentucky. — Defence of Louisville. — Chaplin's Hills. — Pursuit of 
 Bragg. — Under Rosecrans. — Gallantry at Murfreesboro. — Saves the entire 
 army. — Promoted Spc. 
 
 Another object General Grant had in view when order- 
 ing General Sheridan to hold the position at Boonesville 
 was to command the outskirts of the region or country in 
 which the rebels were operating. It appears that they, at 
 this time, had only one stream from which to supply the water 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 37 
 
 for their live stock ; and this water course was known by 
 the name of the Twenty-mile Creek. General Sheridan there- 
 fore from his post at Boonesville would frequently make 
 sudden dashes in that direction, and in some of these expe- 
 ditions he succeeded in capturing large quantities of stock 
 belonging to the rebel armies. 
 
 One incident relative to one of these expeditions may be 
 stated. It is as follows : — 
 
 On one occasion General Sheridan determined to make 
 a dash upon the rebels, at a time when he knew they would 
 be at the creek, with their stock. Gathering together a good 
 force of cavalry, consisting of the Second Michigan, Second 
 Iowa, and Seventh Kansas volunteer cavalry regiments, 
 he placed himself at their head ; and with the assistance 
 of two companies of infantry from the Thirty-sixth Illinois 
 Volunteers, and Hiscock's battery of light artillery, he ad- 
 vanced towards the Twenty-mile Creek. He soon discov- 
 ered that the rebels had part of their live stock on the 
 banks of that stream, and with an impetuous dash he came 
 down into the midst of the herd of cattle, stampeded a 
 large number, and captured over three hundred head. The 
 whole herd was driven off in one direction or the other ; 
 and the drovers were prevented by the fire from the mus- 
 kets of the infantry from making any attempt to keep the 
 animals together, in any available number. During the 
 month of August 18G2, General Sheridan's forces were 
 attacked by a body of rebel cavalry under Colonel Faulk- 
 ner, near Rienzi, Mississippi ; but after a smart engage- 
 ment the rebels were defeated and ran away, with General 
 Sheridan's forces in hot pursuit. The Union troops fol- 
 lowed the enemy until he arrived within a few miles of 
 Ripley ; but before the rebel troops could take refuge 
 
38 THE LIFE OP 
 
 therein, Sheridan overtook them, and by a brilliant charge 
 dispersed the whole force and captured a number of pris- 
 oners, with their arms and equipments. 
 
 General Sheridan was ordered by General Grant to 
 keep a sharp look-out upon the movements of the rebel 
 forces in his front and on his flank ; and by a system of 
 careful reconnoissances was enabled to inform that officer of 
 the attempt of the rebel army to invade the North, es- 
 pecially those states that bordered on the Ohio river. When 
 General Grant was definitely informed of the movement of 
 General Bragg's rebel forces through Eastern Tennessee, 
 en route for the Ohio, he detached a portion of his forces 
 to send to the assistance of the army in Kentucky. Among 
 those thus sent was General Sheridan and his old regiment, 
 the Second Mighigan cavalry ; the troops traveling by 
 way of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to their new desti- 
 nation. 
 
 The transfer of General Sheridan from the department 
 of the Tennessee to that of the Ohio, was for the purpose 
 of giving him an increased command ; and on his arrival 
 at Louisville, Kentucky, he found an order assigning him 
 to the command of the Third Division of the Army of the 
 Ohio, which was to be attached to the body of troops that 
 had been operating in Tennessee and which was then under 
 the command of General Don Carlos Buell. He assumed 
 the charge of this division, which consisted of two regiments 
 of infantry, one of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery, 
 — on the 20th day of September 1862. 
 
 About this time it was reported that the rebel army 
 under General Bragg was approaching Louisville — it hav- 
 ing already been in the State for some time — and to Gen- 
 eral Sheridan was assigned the duty of defending the city. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SIIErjDAN, 39 
 
 In a single night, with the division above specified, he con- 
 structed the famous line of rifle-pits which defended the 
 city from the railroad depot to the vicinity of Portland. 
 This series of works placed Louisville out of the danger of 
 being taken by any sudden dash or surprise of the enemy. 
 At this time the city and military district was under the 
 military charge of General William Nelson. 
 
 On the 25th of September General Buel, with the ad- 
 vance of the Army of the Ohio, arrived as Louisville and 
 that officer at once assumed chief command. He ordered 
 the defences to be strongly manned ; the guard to be dou- 
 bled, and the strictest military law carried out. The 
 Union troops were shortly after reinforced, and additional 
 general officers ordered to report to General Buel ; after 
 which General Sheridan's division, was attached to the 
 main army oi the Ohio. 
 
 The rebel army under General Bragg advanced rapidly 
 through the State of Kentucky ; and every inducement 
 was offered by that officer to the Kentuckians to join the 
 Confederate cause. A governor, Richard Haines — said 
 to have been elected by that portion of the people of 
 Kentucky who had been turned out of the State by the 
 U. S. forces, was brought along by the army, to be in- 
 augurated in the State Capital ; and the rebel troops were 
 to be present, for the purpose of forcibly carrying out the 
 ceremony, preventing any interference from the opposi- 
 tion, and to fire a salute on the occasion of his inaugu. 
 ration. 
 
 When the Army of the Ohio was reorganized for the 
 Kentucky campaign of 1862, General Sheridan was as- 
 signed to the command of the Eleventh Division and as- 
 sumed the same on the 1st day of October. On the 2d of 
 
40 THE LIFE OP 
 
 that month General Bragg, the rebel commander, issued an 
 order embracing the programme for the inauguration of the 
 would-be Governor Haines ; but on his arrival at Frank- 
 fort, the Kentucky State capital, he found the Stat e 
 archives had been removed, and he therefore changed the 
 place of inauguration to Lexington. The ceremony took 
 place on October 4th, but before it was fairly over, an 
 alarm was given of the approach of the Union troops, 
 whereupon the rebels evacuated the town, burning all the 
 bridges behind them. 
 
 Under the command of Generals Buel and Thomas, the 
 Army of the Ohio, to which General Sheridan was attach- 
 ed, moved forward about the beginning of October, from 
 Louisville toward the rebel position. On the 6th of the 
 month, a large portion of his force occupied Bardstown, 
 and began pushing on toward the line taken by the rebels, 
 who evidently gave signs of an intention to retreat. The 
 pursuit was gaining on the rebel columns, which were very 
 heavily laden and somewhat embarrassed by the amount 
 of plunder they had collected, when on the morning of the 
 8th of October the rebels made a stand for the double pur- 
 pose of checking the pursuit and allowing their trains to 
 get some amount of headway. While in front of Perry- 
 ville, that morning, General Sheridan was ordered to take 
 up a position on the heights, to the east of a stream known 
 as Doctor's Creek, for the purpose of securing the water of 
 the same for the use of the men and animals of General 
 Bud's army. He succeeded in gaining the heights of 
 Chaplin's Hills early in the morning, and was there at- 
 tacked by the brigade under General Lydell. After a 
 sharp fight, he succeeded in repulsing the rebel force, using 
 only two of his regiments for that purpose. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SIIECIDAN. 41 
 
 At about two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, 
 General Sheridan's command was attacked by a large 
 force of the enemy under General Hardee; but so inspired 
 had the Union troops become by the conduct of their leader, 
 that they resisted the onset with great bravery, and finally 
 repulsed the foe quite handsomely. 
 
 Again, after a very short interval, the enemy rushed to 
 the attack upon the troops that defended the heights; but 
 Sheridan seemed invincible, for he held his ground with a 
 determination that deserved nothing but success. The 
 rebels were again repulsed, and this time were driven at 
 the point of the bayonet from the open ground in his front. 
 
 It may appear strange why the enemy should have so 
 concentrated their attacks upon the forces under Sheridan ; 
 but the heights he held formed the key to the whole posi- 
 tion ; and that fact, alone, gives a very good reason why 
 the rebels should have used such desparate energy to drive 
 the Union troops therefrom. 
 
 After Sheridan had thus repulsed the repeated attacks 
 of the enemy, he perceived that they had, and were still 
 gaining some advantage on the left of the Union line. 
 Knowing the result of such a movement, Sheridan deter- 
 mined to check it, and directing his artillery fire upon the 
 advancing foe, he drove them from the open ground upon 
 which they had taken a position. For a time the contest 
 raged here with great fury ; the enemy charging over the 
 ground with fixed bayonets, with an appareent intention to 
 carry the position at all hazards ; but Sheridan opened up- 
 on them such a murderous fire, that they had to fall back 
 in great disorder, leaving their dead and wounded in large 
 numbers lying on the ground in' front of their batteries. 
 
 In this engagemeat General Sheridan's loss was over 
 
42 THE LIFE OF 
 
 four hundred killed and wounded, so severe bad been the 
 conflict; and were it not for the splendid generalship of 
 that officer in providing a sheltered position for his troopsj 
 his losses would have been far greater, as the rebel on- 
 slaught was desparate in the extreme. 
 
 After the battle of Perryville, the rebel army under 
 General Bragg, continued its retreat through Kentucky 
 into Tennessee, with General Buel's columns in close pur- 
 suit. Notwithstanding the vigor with which the Union 
 troops pushed on to the border, the rebels by their intimate 
 knowledge of the country, managed to elude their pursuers, 
 and escape without again being compelled to fight. 
 
 On the 30th of October, 1862, General Buel was re- 
 lieved by General Rosecrans, and the troops who had 
 served under the former commander were transferred to 
 the latter, who was in future to operate in the department 
 of the Cumberland, which then embraced the State of 
 Tennessee, west of the Tennessee river, northern Alabama 
 and Georgia. 
 
 During the early part of November, General Sheridan 
 was placed in command of one of the divisions of General 
 Alexander McDowell McCook's right wing of the Army of 
 the Cumberland, and organized it preparatory to a new 
 campaign in Tennessee. In that capacity General Sheri- 
 dan operated in the neighborhood of Nashville, until, on 
 December 26, 1862, a general advance was ordered in the 
 direction of Murfreesboro', where General Bragg had es- 
 tablished his headquarters. 
 
 Frem the 26th of December, 1862, to the 4th of Janu- 
 ary, 1863, the Army of the Cumberland, or at the least, 
 some portion of it, was engaged in a continual skirmish 
 with the enemy, interspersed with more serious fighting. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 43 
 
 During the whole of this interval, which terminated with 
 the flight of Bragg from Murfreesboro', and the occupation 
 of the place by the Union troops, Sheridan was ever present 
 with his command, displaying great activity and ability- 
 It was owing to the skilful handling of his men during the 
 battle of Stone River that much of the victory is indebted. 
 
 The morning of December 26, 1862, was dark and 
 dreary, and amid the rain, which fell in a continuous 
 stream, Sheridan's division left his camp and advanced by 
 the direct road on Nolensville. The advance of Sheri- 
 dan's command met the enemy about two miles beyond the 
 picket line, and thence to Nolensville the head of the line 
 was constantly engaged in a skirmish. The enemy's forces 
 occupying the town were driven out, although they were 
 therein some strength; but it appears from subsequent 
 events they did not wish then to bring on a general en- 
 gagement, and therefore fell back to Knob Gap, which 
 commands the Nolensville and Triune Pike road. From 
 this important position the rebels were driven before 
 night, and the defile and hills were occupied by the Union 
 forces. 
 
 Next morning by dawn the troops of General Sheridan's 
 division were ready to march, but it had rained during the 
 whole of the preceding day and night, and a dense fog 
 covered the surrounding country, hiding everything from 
 view, and retarding the military operations. The column, 
 however, moved forward ; but had not gone more than 
 two miles before they came upon the enemy in force — in- 
 fantry, cavalry and artillery. In such a fog it was impos- 
 sible to distinguish friends from foes ; besides which the 
 Union troops were comparatively unacqnainted with the 
 country, while the enemy was thoroughly conversant with 
 
44 THE LIFE OF 
 
 every lane and bye-path. Sheridan having ascertained 
 that Hardee's rebel corps was then awaiting his coming 
 in regular line of battle, deemed it advisable to reccommend 
 that the march should be delayed until the fog had lifted. 
 His advice was at once taken and the column halted. 
 
 When the fog arose in the afternoon the troops again 
 pressed forward, driving the enemy's cavalry before them ; 
 but on nearing Triune it was ascertained that the rebels 
 had retired. They had, however, left a battery, sup- 
 ported by cavalry, to check the advance of Sheridan's 
 forces at the crossing of Wilson's Creek, but a strategic 
 movement drove the rebels from the village of Triune, 
 their battery and cavalry retreating at a hard gallop 
 down the Eagleville road. Sheridan's division then went 
 into camp near the village. 
 
 During Sunday there was no advance ; but on Monday, 
 Dec. 29, 1862, Sheridan's division inarched along the 
 Balle Jack road en route to Murfreesboro', arriving at 
 Wilkerson's Cross Road, five miles from the town, during 
 that evening. The march had been a horrible and weari- 
 some one, as the roads were very bad, and had not been 
 improved by the recent rains. That night the troops en- 
 camped in line of battle, Sheridan occupying the left of 
 the pike road. The corps to which Sheridan belonged 
 was then concentrated in this vicinity, while the other 
 corps of the Army of the Cumberland were ordered to 
 their proper positions as it was expected that Bragg 
 would give battle in that vicinity 
 
 On the morning of December 30th, the whole army was 
 placed in line of battle, Sheridan's division having the 
 left of the right wing, his left joining the right of the cen- 
 tre of the army* By this arrangement the various divi- 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 45 
 
 sions formed a continuous line, with the extreme left rest- 
 ing on Stone River ; and the right, extending far into the 
 country, resting on the high wooded ground near Wilker- 
 son's Cross Roads. By this arrangement the rebel en- 
 trenchments and the Union line were nearly parallel. 
 Thus on the night of December 30th, 1SG2, the army of 
 the Cumberland was drawn up before Murfreesboro', 
 ready to commence the strife. 
 
 It is not the intention of the author of this biography 
 to enter into the details of the battles in which General 
 Sheridan has been engaged as a subordinate officer, but 
 merely to set forth the individual part performed by him 
 during those particular contests. 
 
 During the night of December 30th, the enemy, fore- 
 stalling the Union Chief-General's plan, massed upon the 
 right of his line, and early the next morning pressing 
 rapidly forward, doubled up the two divisions that were 
 on Sheridan's right. These divisions having given way, 
 the rebels made their attack upon Sheridan, with re 
 doubled fury, in the hope of also breaking him up. But 
 here the enemy found its first successful resistance. With 
 a determined front Sheridan met the hostile assault, but 
 his supports being gone, his troops were exposed to attack 
 on front, flank and rear. Twice the gallant soldiers, of 
 the gallant Sheridan's division, hurled back the over- 
 whelming masses of the enemy, changing front on two 
 distinct occasions in the very faces of the foe. But no one 
 division could, for ever, repulse and effectually keep back 
 the continuous assaults of an army twenty times its size, 
 especially when so exposed as circumstances had caused 
 Sheridan's to become. But even when this division was 
 outflanked and nearly surrounded ; when every brigade 
 
46 TIIE LIFE OF 
 
 commander had bit the dust and almost every regimental 
 leader had been injured, the men retired from the field in 
 good order. This speaks volumes for the discipline of 
 Sheridan's command. 
 
 The original plan of battle had now to be abandoned, 
 and the contest was continued on the left and centre. 
 Before the close of the day the enemy, victorious in the 
 morning, were repulsed, and Sheridan's command was 
 brought into a new position. But the battle was not over. 
 A conference of generals took place that night at the com- 
 manding general's head-quarters, and the three brigade 
 commanders of Sheridan's division were absent — they were 
 dead. Sheridan alone had lost seventy-two officers during 
 the day's operations; but although the prospect looked 
 dreary, as was also the weather, not one of the generals 
 advised a retreat. 
 
 During the night a change of position took place, 
 Sheridan still holding an important place in the line ; and 
 New Year's Day opened with the army of the Cumberland 
 reformed, with reduced ranks, truly, but with a stronger 
 position. 
 
 The following day saw another attack upon the Union 
 line ; but so well was the rebel advance repulsed, that ere 
 midnight of Saturday, January 3, 1S63, after a week's 
 fighting, the grand army of Bragg, which had started at 
 the beginning of the movement with the full confidence of 
 completely using up Rosecrans and his army, driving it to 
 Nashville, and then besieging and capturing the entire 
 force, was hastily falling back through Murfreesboro' in 
 confusion, amid a pelting storm, with panic-stricken civil- 
 ians mixed up in the ranks with the troops, the baggae- 
 trains and farmers' wagons jumbling against each other on 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 47 
 
 the roadway. The rebel retreat was all but a rout, and 
 after resting on the Sunday, Murfreesboro' was occupied, 
 on the Monday by the centre wing of the army. 
 
 For his gallant conduct during this most eventful battle 
 the name of General Sheridan was sent forward by 
 General Rosccrans for promotion. In his official report 
 he thus speaks of him and his connection with the battle of 
 Stone River : — " Sheridan after sustaining four successive 
 attacks, gradually swung his right round southeasterly 
 to a northwestern direction, repulsing the enemy four 
 times," and in speaking of his withdrawal from the battle- 
 field says : — " Having exhausted his ammunition, and 
 being heavily pressed, after desperate fighting he fell back 
 from the position held at the commencement, through the 
 Cedar woods, in which it joined Rosseau's division, and 
 there met the advancing enemy, and checked his move- 
 ments. 
 
 The President being fully convinced that Sheridan was 
 fully entitled to the Major-General's commission, so 
 earnestly recommended by General Rosecrans, sent in his 
 name to the Senate, with that appointment to date from 
 December 31, 1862, in honour of his great achievement on 
 that day in the battle of Stone River. During the follow- 
 ing executive session the appointment was confirmed, and 
 Philip H. Sheridan became a Major-General of Volun- 
 teers. 
 
48 THE LIFE OP 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SHERIDAN, AS A MAJOR GENERAL, TO CHICKAMAUGA 
 
 Successful adventure — lleeonnoitering Expedition — Incidents at a review 
 — The advance through Tennessee — Occupation of Shelbyville and Winches- 
 tei — Crossing the Mountains and Tennessee river — Chattanooga flanked — 
 Battle of Chickamanga SfC. 
 
 After the occupation of Murfreesboro', but little wag 
 done by the army of the Cumberland during that winter 
 except in the way of reorganization. General Sheridan 
 during the interval, however, commanded a little expedition, 
 which was of value, and was fair a success. 
 
 While the battle of Spring Hill was being fought, during 
 the early part of March 1863, General Sheridan with his 
 division, and a force of cavalry about eight hundred strong 
 under Colonel Minty, started on a scouting expedition. 
 The cavalry drove the enemy out of Rover and Union- 
 ville, and continued in close pursuit to within five miles 
 of Shelbyville, when the pickets of the enemy were met. 
 During this brilliant dash, over fifty prisoners, several 
 wagons, nearly fifty mules, a number of tents, and two 
 wagon loads of commissary stores were taken, with a loss 
 of only one man wounded on the Union side. 
 
 On the morning of March 5, the cavalry rejoined the 
 main column under General Sheridan at Eagleville, taking 
 the captured property with them. The whole force the 
 next morning moved towards Triune ; and the day after 
 went in the direction of Unionville. After advancing four 
 miles beyond Eagleville, the order was given to return to 
 Triune, and thence proceed to Franklin, where the force 
 arrived on March 8. The next morning the command 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 49 
 
 marched out on the pike, which led to Carter's Creek, in 
 order to form a junction with a co-operating division which 
 was moving in another direction towards Thompson's 
 Station. When about six miles out, a force of rebels was 
 met ; and after a short engagement they were driven to 
 within a mile and a half of Thompson's Station, where the 
 rebels met another force of about seven hundred Union 
 cavalry. Declining, however, to fight, the rebels fled ; but 
 were followed closely by the cavalry. 
 
 "When the rebels arrived at Thompson's Station, they 
 were reinforced by a pretty full regiment, and after a short 
 but sharp contest, the whole brigade was driven from the 
 field by the Union cavalry, leaving five dead and thirteen 
 prisoners in Sheridan's hands. The division then went into 
 camp for the night at Springfield ; and the next day 
 made another advance, forming the junction with the co- 
 operating division at Rutherford's Creek— the bridges over 
 which had been burned by the enemy. 
 
 During the next day the creek was forded above the 
 point of junction, although Forrest's command attempted to 
 dispute the passage ; but the rebels were finally driven off 
 to the woods, and the crossing effected. The rebel cavalry 
 then dismounted and advanced in line of battle with colors 
 flying &c. ; but perceiving they were likely to be surround- 
 ed, and captured, they speedily remounted and fell back. 
 The attempt to deceive Sheridan had proved a failure. 
 During their retreat, the rebels were closely pursued by 
 the Union cavalry, who chased them five miles on a run. 
 
 After discovering the position of the enemy on Duck 
 River, the expedition returned to Murfreesboro', where it 
 arrived on March 14 : the whole loss during the interval 
 
50 THE LIFE OP 
 
 of time it occupied in its transaction being but five killed 
 and five wounded. 
 
 Nothing important occurred with General Sheridan's com- 
 mand for the next two months — his time being principally 
 employed in reviewing his troops, organising his division 
 and other duties, preparatory to a grand forward move- 
 ment. An incident occurred at one of these reviews, 
 which will show the manner in which General Sheridan 
 looked after the drill and discipline of his command- 
 When ever he was out reviewing his troops, he was sure 
 to be welcomed with a cheer from the men, and which he 
 readily acknowledged with a salute and a smile. It was 
 always remarked that during these reviews, he not only 
 took in at a glance the general appearance of the whole 
 division ; but he closely scanned each man in the line, 
 noticing in an instant the most simple thing that appeared 
 out of place in his dress or accoutrements. If he espied any- 
 thing wrong he would not blame the men in public, but 
 would censure the officer. The following is an instance in 
 kind : — 
 
 At one of the reviews during May 1863, he noticed a 
 private, whose knapsack was in any position but the 
 right one, and called him from the ranks, calling at the 
 same time for his captain, who approached. 
 
 " Captain" said Sheridan, " I am very sorry to see you 
 do not know how to strap a knapsack on a soldiers back." 
 
 " But I did not do it, general," was the captaiu's very 
 natural reply. 
 
 " Oh ! you did'nt," returned Sheridan. « Well, hereafter 
 you had better do it yourself, or see it is correctly done by 
 the private. I have nothing more to say to him ; but I 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 51 
 
 shall hold you responsible, sir, for the appearance of your 
 men." 
 
 " But if I cannot make them attend to these matters ? ' 
 inquired the officer. 
 
 " Then if you can't" said Sheridan, ' you had better 
 leave the service," and away the general rode along the 
 line. The lesson was not lost upon the negligent captain- 
 Shortly before the command had received the order to 
 advance, the inspection of the troops was a little more 
 rigid ; and each man had to appear on parade in heavy 
 marching order. One day Sheridan noticed a private 
 without his canteen, although he had everything else in 
 its proper place. 
 
 " Ah ! here is a good soldier," said Sheridan, " all 
 right ; first rate. But there is one little thing lacking. 
 He has good clothes, and good arms. He can march, and 
 drill ; can fight and eat. But he don't drink. That's 
 queer ; and I fear he won't hold out on a pinch. March 
 all clay in the heat and dust ; yet don't want to drink. 
 Rather afraid something will break. I think you had better 
 have canteens, boys ; and if filled, they would be no 
 worse," and Sheridan rode along. 
 
 On the 23rd of June, 1863, the orders were issued for f 
 the Army of the Cumberland to make a forward movement 
 during the next day ; the advance to commence marching 
 by day break. Sheridan's division was ready by sunrise, 
 and was to have had the advance ; but owing to his not 
 receiving marching orders in time, his troops did not get 
 on to the Shelby villc road before seven o'clock in the 
 morning. It however marched to the position chosen for 
 that night's bivouac in the woods, which lined both sides of 
 the road. 
 
52 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Next morning the rain came down in torrents, and amid 
 the storm the command pushed along the road. Nine miles 
 from Murfreesboro' the rebel pickets were met and driven 
 in by the Union skirmishers. Shortly after the mounted 
 infantry took possession of Hoover's Gap, and by holding 
 it saved the lives of a large portion of the command, dur- 
 ing the main advance. 
 
 While Hoover's Gap was being taken possession of, a 
 part of Sheridan's division, and the others belonging to 
 that corps to which he was attached, were engaged in 
 driving the rebels from Liberty Gap and the adjoining 
 hills. In this object they succeeded admirably ; the rebels 
 conducting their retreat with great precipitancy, leaving 
 their tents, baggage and supplies in the hands of the Union 
 troops. 
 
 The next day an engagement occurred between three 
 brigades of the Union troops, and a division of the rebels, 
 resulting in the routing of the latter. 
 
 Meantime Sheridan's division occupied Shelbyville> 
 which had been evacuated in consequence of the flank 
 movements. The captured gaps were the keys to the rebel 
 positions, and their loss caused the enemy to retreat ; and 
 on the 1st of July Sheridan was marching on the road 
 between Shelbyville and Winchester, in full pursuit of the 
 rebels. 
 
 On the morning of July 2, Sheridan crossed at the 
 mouth of Rock Creek, below the enemy's position on the 
 right, and thus flanked the road to Winchester and the 
 mountains. During July 3, Winchester, Dechard and 
 Cowan were occupied, Sheridan occupying the first named 
 of the three. 
 
 The rebels retreated in a body on the morning of July 4, 
 
PHILIP IIENRY SHERIDAN, 53 
 
 in the direction of Chattanooga, from the vicinity of the 
 line of the Duck River ; the various flank movements of 
 the Army of the Cumberland having made such retro- 
 gression a necessity. 
 
 The mountain march of Sheridan's division was devoid 
 of any general interest, although many little incidents oc- 
 curred which were worthy of special note among the offi- 
 cers of that command 
 
 By a feint movement a small force of Union troops, was 
 brought in front of Chattanooga, on the north side of the 
 Tennessee river, and there engaged the attention of the 
 rebel forces ; the other portions of the main army crossing 
 that stream below the line of that city. Sheridan's divis- 
 ion crossed at Bridgeport, and moved by way of Trenton 
 to Winston's Gap of Lookout Mountain near Mission 
 Ridge. By this means he flanked the position at Lookout 
 Mountain and got in the rear of the rebels, in the neighbor- 
 hood of the Chickamauga Valley. The remainder of the 
 Army of the Cumberland had crossed the Tennessee river 
 at several other different points. 
 
 The passage of the river was effected about the begin- 
 ing of September, and by the 6th of the month the Union 
 troops were in the rear of Bragg's position at Chattanooga. 
 On that General ascertaining the fact, through his scouts 
 and cavalry, orders were given for the immediate evacua- 
 tion of Chattanoooga by the rebel forces. On the 8th of 
 September, the last of the rebels left that place, and 
 the Union troops occupied it shortly after noon on 
 September 9. 1863. 
 
 Chattanooga having been thus gained, the great object 
 was to prevent its again falling into the hands of the enemy j 
 
54 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and the best means of securing that object was considered 
 by the commanding General to be the advance of the whole 
 army into the Chickamauga Valley. The rebels had re- 
 treated to La Fayette, at which point they concentrated 
 all the forces they could gather together, with the inten- 
 tention of driving the Army of the Cumberland from that 
 part of the country, and retaking possession of Chatta- 
 nooga. 
 
 On September 12, General Sheridan's forces, during a 
 reconnoissance, ascertained the route taken by the rebels 
 in their retreat, and, further, that they were being rein- 
 forced from all parts of the Confederacy. The Pigeon 
 Mountain and other heights were full of rebel encamp- 
 ments. The armies that had been driven from Vicksburg 
 had already joined Bragg, and even troops from Charleston 
 and Virginia had been added to his ranks. 
 
 Shortly after, General Bragg having announced to his 
 troops his intention of moving upon Chattanooga, the Union 
 forces were somewhat better concentrated for the purpose of 
 resisting such an advance and on September 17, Sheridan 
 occupied a position at thefoot of Steven's Gap, on the line 
 of the widow Glenn's house. 
 
 Next day, September 18, the cavalry ascertained that 
 the rebels were approaching ; but their main body had moved 
 to the left. Demonstrations were made by the rebels along 
 the line of the Chickamauga, a large force was sent to the 
 northwest, and a general engagement was early expected. 
 Certain dispositions were then made by the Union troops; 
 and at about ten o'clock of the morning of the 19th of Sep- 
 tember the leadiug brigade became engaged. 
 
 Again it is not necessary to enter into the details of this 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 55 
 
 battle ; but merely confine this narrative to the part taken 
 therein by General Sheridan. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 19th of September Sheridan's di- 
 vision was sent to the support of the line, near Wood's and 
 Davis's divisions, and arrived opportunely to save Wood 
 from disaster ; and the rebel tide of victory was suddenly 
 stayed at that quarter of the battle field. Previous to this, 
 however, the onslaught of the enemy had been so fierce that 
 even the stubborn men of Sheridan's command were swept 
 away by it; although they retreated in tolerable order ? 
 and by a quick movement eventually succeeded in getting 
 to the aid of General Thomas, — Wood's divisiod being 
 then under that officer's command. 
 
 The official accounts of the battle of Chickamauga, like 
 the battle itself, are so confused, that it is difficult to get 
 the movements of a clear insight into any one single division 
 but from those documents it is plain to be seen that among 
 the troops that had been swept away with the impetuous rush 
 of the foe, Sheridan's division was the first to rally, and 
 marched to the support of Thomas, who at this time gallantly 
 held his ground against the repeated onslaughts of the vic- 
 torious rebels. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL SHERIDAN AT CHATTANOOGA. 
 
 Change of command — Battles in front of Chattanooga — Mission Ridge — 
 Sheridan's coolness and bravery — " A horse, a horse — " Sheridan's iron steed 
 — Chase of the rebels-Relief of Knocville, <5 - c. 
 
 The reverse at Chickamauga resulted in a change in th 
 military commands of the South West. The corps to 
 
56 THE LIFE OP 
 
 which Sheridan had been attached had been nearly an- 
 nihilated ; and when the official reports came in, with the 
 exception of a few instances, the reverse was considered 
 entirely blameable upon the higher commanders of the 
 troops and their laxity of discipline. Among the few com- 
 manders who were exempted from this blame was General 
 Sheridan. The reverse was also considered so disgrace- 
 ful that the President punished those organizations — 
 whose ranks had been so completely broken without a loss 
 to warrant the same, or without even the power in the 
 commanders to rally the forces and again bring them into 
 the fight — by striking the numbers of those two corps from 
 the army of the United States. The remnants of the com- 
 mands were placed in other organizations ; there if possible 
 to retrieve their name. 
 
 Sheridan's division was however placed entire into the 
 New Fourth Corps, which had been organized under 
 General Gordon Granger ; and the commander, as a re- 
 ward for his bravery and discipline, still retained his posi- 
 tion at its head. The ranks were recruited and strength- 
 ened ; and Sheridan's division began once more to have 
 a proud position in the line. 
 
 Previous, however, to this reorganization, the command 
 was shut up in Chattanooga, and had to endure the horrors 
 of partial starvation. In this, General Sheridan took part 
 with his men. If they lacked food, so did he ; and what- 
 ever they had to bear, so did Sheridan take his share of 
 the suffering. Whatever rations could be obtained, the 
 men had an equal appropriation with the officers ; and as 
 far as it was in the power of the division general, a pri- 
 vate was not allowed to suffer, that an officer might be able 
 indulge in luxuries. No wonder he is loved by his men. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 57 
 
 The change in the chief military commander brought also 
 a change in the situation of affairs. General Grant was 
 placed at the head of the armies of the " Military Division 
 of the Mississippi," and the reorganization of the commands 
 at once took place. General Sheridan's division, under 
 this reorganization, became a portion of General Thomas' 
 Army of the Cumberland. 
 
 Passing over the unimportant interval between the arrival 
 of General Grant at Chattanooga at the end of October, 
 and the renewal of hostilities in November, we come at 
 * once upon the battles of Chattanooga. 
 
 At the commencement of these battles, General Sheri- 
 dan's division was selected with other forces and drawn up 
 in line of battle as a reserve to be used in case of necessity, 
 should the primary movement of General Wood bring on a 
 general engagement. But the rebels were so taken by 
 surprise, that for a time his services were not needed. 
 After a while, however, it became neccessary to Support 
 General Wood, and General Sheridan's division was 
 moved forward to protect his right, and went into position 
 in echelon without fighting. This was on the 23rd of 
 November, the first day of the Chattanooga battles. 
 S During the second day the operations of Sheridan's 
 forces were somewhat limited. But Wednesday came, and 
 with it the grand attack upon the centre — the " battle of 
 Mission Ridge." The order had been given to the com- 
 mander of the corps, in which was Sheridian's division, to 
 take the Ridge. Six guns were to be fired as the signal 
 of attack — the corps commander superintended their dis- 
 charge. When the sixth report sounded, it appeared as if 
 the whole line sprung suddenly into life — so apathetic had 
 they before appeared. But now the scene was changed. 
 
58 THE LIFE OP 
 
 The men were ready for work ; and Sheridian's division 
 was to be seen moving onward through the valley to meet 
 cither death or glory. They pushed along, leaving nothing 
 behind. There were no stragglers from that division. 
 There was no reservation in that battle. 
 
 The skirmishers went on in front, and Sheridan's main 
 column was close behind. It was war in earnest ; but had 
 it been a review, the men could not have advanced with 
 more steadiness. The enemy's fire burst out upon them 
 from the rifle pits, which were planted along the hillstde 
 from base to summit of Mission Ridge ; and thirty field* 
 pieces — Parrotts and Napoleons — opened along the crest. 
 Grape, canister, shot and shell, came from that hill side ; 
 and yet up with Sheridan's men, the dead and dying 
 ornamenting the ground with blue patches. 
 
 Over the heads of the ascending columns the heavy mis- 
 siles from the forts in the rear were sent flying with fear- 
 ful speed. Shells burst here and there ; and although they 
 came from the guns of the Union, the troops of the Union 
 still pressed forward, nearing the danger at every stop. 
 They had passed through the woods ; and now they went 
 over the rough and rolling ground, like a sheet of fire over 
 a western prairie. The rebel guns burst forth ; but on 
 went Sheridan. The enemy had concentrated their fire on 
 his advancing forces ; but still he delayed not. The dis- 
 charges were now terrific. Each cannon belched forth its 
 grape and canister, its round shot, shell and schrapnel ; 
 but still on pushed Sheridian. The rifle pits sent forth 
 the contents of the rifles and the muskets held in the hands 
 of a desperate foe ; but still onward went Sheridan. Over 
 towards the old field of strife ; over towards the Chicka- 
 mau^a battle field ; over to the place were even he had 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 59 
 
 not been able to hold his own, did Sheridan urge on his 
 gallant companions. 
 
 " Let us redeem our name, boys" shouted Sheridan. 
 41 Let the Fourth Corps, show that the men of the old 
 Twentieth are still alive and can fight. Remember Chicka- 
 mauga." 
 
 Loudly went up the cheers, and onward went Sheridan 
 and his men. Where ? Up the hills ; the hill that even 
 on a sharp bracing day, in the time of perfect peace, it 
 would be an effort to climb. But up they went, steadily 
 and gradually, in the face of a storm of iron and lead : in 
 the face of their bitterest enemies. " Could they reach the 
 top." They had carried the works at the base ; the order 
 had been given to take the rifle pits, and the command had 
 been obeyed ; and the order was now to carry the crest, 
 batteries and all. Sheridan led and it was done. 
 
 But what had he to conquer to gain that position ? The 
 great guns of the enemy lined the crest ; and as the troops 
 advanced the dull fringe of the hills kindled, as it were, 
 with the flash of the heavy artillery. As the fierce cannon 
 belched forth their deadly contents, the crest of the ridge 
 became covered with clouds of white smoke, and the thirty 
 cannon had now increased to eighty. What is hell to 
 face. 
 
 The corps commmander, General Granger, sent his aids 
 with the order " Take the Ridge if you can." An eye 
 witness thus describes Sheridan's «jConduct during the ad- 
 vance : " The men had already set out without the order 
 and Sheridan — « little Phil' — you may easily look down 
 upon him without climbing a tree, and see one of the most 
 gallant leaders of the age if you do — rode to and fro, 
 along the first line of rifle pits, as calmly as a chess player. 
 
60 THE LIFE OP 
 
 An aid dashed up with the order. ' Avery,' said Sheridan, 
 'that flask.' Quietly filling the pewter cup, Sheridan 
 looked up to the battery that frowned above him, by 
 Bragg's headquarters, shook his cap amid the storm of 
 everything that kills, when you could hardly hold up your 
 hand without catching a bullet in it, and with a ' how 
 are you' tossed of the cup. 
 
 ♦' The blue cross battle flag of the rebels fluttered a 
 response to the cool salute, and the next instant the bat- 
 tery let fly its six guns, showering Sheridan with earth. Al- 
 luding to that compliment with anything but a blank car- 
 tridge, Sheridan said to a by-stander in his usual quiet 
 way, " I think that damned ungenerous." Then wheeling 
 toward his men he cheered them to the charge, and made 
 at the hill like a bold riding hunter ; the men followed out 
 of their rifle pits, and into the tempest, and were soon seen 
 struggling up the steep, as if inspired and immortal. 
 
 " And now occurred one of the most startling episodes 
 of the war. The plan of storming this mountain was dif- 
 ferent from what many may picture it. The men dashed 
 out a little way, and then slackened ; then crept up, hand 
 over hand, loading and firing, and wavering and halting, 
 from the first line of works to the second. On approach- 
 ing this they burst into a charge with a cheer, and went 
 over it. Sheets of flame baptized them ; plunging shots 
 tore away comrades on the right and left ; it was no longer 
 shoulder to shoulder, it was God, for us all. Under trunks 
 of trees, among rocks, stumbling over the dead, struggling 
 with the living, facing the steady fire ' of eight thousand 
 infantry poured down upon their heads like the historic 
 curse from the heavens, they wrestled with the Ridge. 
 Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes went by ; but it was like a 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHEPJDAN. 61 
 
 reluctant century. The batteries rolled out like a drum, 
 and the hill swayed up like a wall before the troops at an 
 angle of forty-five degrees. But Sheridan's men clambered 
 on, steadily, up, upward still. Up they went, each regi- 
 ment like an inverted V, with its colors at the point. The 
 regimental flag led the way ; and on it appeared the glo- 
 rious words of " Stone River" " Chickamauga." There 
 were fifteen of these flags ; and part of that number al- 
 ways lowered in salute as the commander, Sheridan, passed 
 by. Up moved those glorious banners, sometimes fluttering, 
 sometimes faltering, sometimes falling. Three times one 
 of them was brought to the ground as three color sergeants 
 kissed the dust in the mortal embrace of death ; but the 
 immortal flag rose again, and on and upward flew the men. 
 It was a race for the crest, each regiment trying to plant 
 its own flag first on the summit of the Ridge. But the 
 crest was gained and not only one, but many flags were 
 thrown to the mountain breeze. Sheridan was the first to 
 ride up to the heavy guns left behind by Bragg and Breck- 
 inridge. 
 
 "Victory. The hill was carried ; and the gallant com- 
 mander rode along amid the ranks of the men with tears in 
 his eyes, and a smile on his lips. " Soldiers" said he " you 
 ought to be court-martialed every one of you." I order- 
 ed you to take the rifle-pits and you scaled the mountains. 
 The gallant Sheridan — the daring rider — was ready, for his 
 rowels were at his horse's sides, to dash down the Ridge 
 with a " view hallo" after the rebels, as if he were about 
 to chase a hare or a fox. 
 
 •' The fighting continued after the crest was gained, and 
 in the midst, the horse of the brave Sheridan was killed 
 
62 THE LIFE OP 
 
 under him. What was he now to do ? He could not like 
 Richard III. call for ' another horse' as he had no king- 
 dom to give for one. He therefore mounted the first thing 
 he came to, and that was a rebel gun. In the excitement 
 he did not seem to have discovered his error, until he saw 
 some of his men getting ahead of him. 
 
 " With the receding flight and swift pursuit the battle 
 died away in murmurs ; far down into the valley of the 
 Chickamauga. Sheridan had found another horse, and was 
 with his command, spurring after the enemy in his usual 
 dare devil style." 
 
 Although night was approaching and a general pursuit 
 could not then be safely carried out, General Sheridan 
 still pushed forward after the rebels. He followed them 
 with determination until he reached Mission Mills, at 
 which place he halted for the night, and was then with- 
 drawn; other troops having been specially assigned to 
 the duty of continuing the chase after the broken columns 
 of the defeated and dispirited rebels. 
 
 Shortly after, General Sheridan's division joined the 
 the forces that under the chief command of General Sher- 
 man moved north for the relief of Knoxville, where it re- 
 mained for a short time, after which the command rejoined 
 the Army of the Cumberland in the vicinity of Chatta- 
 nooga. 
 
 During the following February (1864) General Sheridan 
 was placed in command of two divisions of troops and or- 
 dered to reinforce the troops at Knoxville, preparatory to 
 a movement to drive the rebels from East Tennessee, 
 where they had wintered. The operations in that quarter 
 were more of a desultory character and scarcely entitled 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 63 
 
 to the name of a campaign ; although the troops in that 
 region were subjected to a great amount of military duty, 
 and had to perform some hard marching. 
 
 The promotion of General Grant to the rank of Lieu- 
 tenant General, and his appointment to the command of 
 all the Armies of the United States, led to a complete re- 
 organization of all the troops throughout the country ; and 
 the General-in-chief, during his visit to the West, in 
 March 1864 for that purpose, previous to his taking the 
 personal command of the troops in Virginia, summoned the 
 principal generals in that part of the country to a special 
 conference. At this conference General Sheridan was 
 present ; after which he was ordered to report at the Na- 
 tional Capital. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SHERIDAN A CAVALRY LEADER— VIRGINIA RAID. 
 
 Appointed to Command the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac — Guards 
 the Army Trains — Sheridan's first Maid — Recaptures over three hundred 
 Prisoners — Dastroys the rebel Communications — Pierces the defences of 
 Richmond — Causes the death of Jeb Stuart— Arrivee at the James, Sfc. 
 
 At the beginning' of April, 1864, General Sheridan was 
 appointed to the command of the cavalry corps of the Army 
 of the Potomac, thereby relieving Major-General Pleasan- 
 ton who was ordered to report in Missouri, where he was 
 to act as second in command to General Rosecrans. 
 
 General Sheridan soon reported at the headquarters of 
 the forces in Virgiua, and at once commenced a system of 
 concentration and reorganization of the cavalry serving 
 
64 THE LIFE OP 
 
 with the Army of the Potomac. His daring example and 
 splendid system of discipline was soon apparent in the 
 esprit du corps of the command, and by the number of 
 brilliant rcconnoissances that were made previous to the 
 advance of that army across the Rappahannock. 
 
 No event of any great note took place until the begin- 
 ning of May, 1864. The command had been divided into 
 three divisions, and placed under he charge of generals 
 who were reputed to be of dashing disposition and fearless 
 riders ; and every encouragement was given to the men to 
 induce them to display an extra amount of ability and 
 courage when engaged on special expeditions. To each 
 division was attached two batteries of light, or flying ar- 
 tillery, making altogether about thirty guns to the entire 
 force. 
 
 At the beginning of May, 1864, the Army of the Poto- 
 mac commenced a forward movement. Sheridan's cavalry 
 had reconnoitered the roads to be taken by the troops, 
 and at daylight on May 4, part of the forces crossed the 
 Rappahannock. The second division made the passage of- 
 the river at Ely's Ford in front of the Second Corps, and 
 the third division crossed at Germanna Ford at the head 
 of the Fifth Corps, while the first division, dividing itself 
 into three parts, followed by different routes during that 
 afternoon. 
 
 General Sheridan crossed the Rappahannock early in 
 the day and spent the night at Wilderness Tavern, where 
 a council of war was held the next morning between Gen- 
 erals Grant, Meade and himself, as to future operations. 
 
 On the morning of May 5, General Sheridan sent off a 
 party of troopers on a reconnoissancc in the direction of 
 Fredericksburg, and a dash was made through the town ; 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN, 65 
 
 but the position of the rebels being ascertained the small 
 reconnoitering command returned before night. 
 
 On the same day, the third cavalry division patrolled 
 the roads leading to Fredericksburg in order to prevent 
 the enemy from cutting oft' the approach of the (roups to 
 that place, which General Grant had designed should be 
 used as a base of supplies. One part of this command 
 met the rebels at Craig's Church, and a light ensued, while 
 the other part engaged the foe at Parker's Store and de- 
 tainned them at that point for five hours. This operation 
 was of value to General Grant in the movements which 
 followed. 
 
 The next day was principally employed in concentrating 
 the cavalry for future movements as a more independent 
 command. 
 
 On Saturday, May 7, the Union cavalry arrived at 
 Todd's Tavern, where it met the rebel cavalry in some 
 force. The first division was principally engaged — the 
 regulars attached to it being dismounted and fighting on 
 foot, as the conflict took place in the midst of a dense 
 forest of pine. The cavalry with their short carbines, 
 were far from equal to the enemy, whose force mainly e< in- 
 sisted of infantry, armed with the long range Enfield rifle 
 But in spite of this great disadvantage the men, under the 
 inspiring influence of Sheridan, fought the rebels with 
 vigor and determination. The third division was also 
 engaged on the left of the Second Corps, protecting the 
 trains of the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 From official reports it appears that up to this time Gen- 
 eral Meade held General hheridanand his cavalry respon- 
 sible for the safety of the trains and the supplies contained 
 in them. At about four o'clock in the afternoon of May 
 
66 THE LIFE OF 
 
 7, General Sheridan moved his headquarters out of Chan- 
 cellorsville to Aldrick's' about two miles on the Freder- 
 icksburg Plank road. He then went to the scene of ac- 
 tion, a distance of four miles, and remained on the field 
 cheering on his men and directing movements until dark- 
 ness came on and found liim still master of the position. 
 
 Next morning at dawn, Sheridan was informed that the 
 rebel infantry had left Grant's front, and he was ordered 
 to find out their whereabouts. He therefore dispatched 
 two divisions in the direction of Spottsylvacia Court 
 House, near which place they came upon the rear guard 
 of the. enemy and drove it through the town. It was his 
 intention to pursue their wagon trains ; but the woods that 
 lined the roads being filled with rebel riflemen, the plan 
 was abandoned. The cavalry, however, dismounted and 
 engaged the rebels until the Union infantry arrived and 
 relieved them. 
 
 The whole of that afternoon the cavalry was engaged 
 in looking after the supply trains, and escorting the am- 
 bulance train with the wounded from the Wilderness bat- 
 tle-fields to Frederickbsurg. General Sheridan, however, 
 his command well in hand covering the trains near A.1- 
 drich's and Chanccllorsvillc. This position was held by 
 the cavalry at dark on May 8. 
 
 On Monday, May 9, General Meade relieved General 
 Sheridan and his command from the duty of guarding tho 
 trains of the Union army; and he was ordered to select 
 the best mounted portion of his command, and start off 
 on an expedition to the rear of Lee's rebel army, and cut 
 off his communications and supplies. General Sheridan 
 was allowed full discretion with regard to the plan he 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 67 
 
 might adopt to accomplish the intent of the order, and he 
 at once started on his expedition. 
 
 General Sheridan had, during the few days the cavalry 
 had been operating south of the Rappahannock, shown to 
 the men what sort of a leader he was ; and by his manners 
 and confidence, he had also secured the respect and esteem 
 of the officers serving under him. He therefore started 
 with great hopes of final suceess. 
 
 Having selected that -portion of his command whose 
 horses were in bad order, and those who were entirely dis- 
 mounted, to stay behind and guard the trains, he placed 
 himself at the head of the remaining force, to which had 
 been attached the light artillery and ammunition train, 
 and prepared to move at daylight the next morning. 
 
 To secure success, it is necessary that a commander 
 should be perfectly satisfied with his troops ; and on being 
 asked whether he felt thus with his new command, he re- 
 plied, 
 
 " Perfectly, perfectly. They have already dons splen- 
 didly. I could have wished for nothing better." 
 
 Having selected his staff officers for the occasion, and 
 assigned to those who were to stay behind their special 
 duties, he made a final inspection of his command. Every 
 pound of forage was issued, making but little over one 
 day's feed. The men took with them three days' rations 
 of coffee, sugar, hard tack and salt in their haversacks ; 
 and no train was allowed to accompany the expedition 
 with the exception of two ambulances and the ammunition 
 wagons. Everything else had to be carried on pack mules, 
 and in this light order the start was made. 
 
 Early on Monday morning, May 9th, the column moved 
 towards Fredericksburg, nearing which place it turned off 
 
68 THE LIFE OF 
 
 towards the right on the road to Childsburg. The course 
 of travel was thence to be southerly. 
 
 At the time when the expedition started, the weather 
 was clear and bright ; but the roads were dry and dusty 
 The tell-tale cloud of dust hung over the troops for an ex- 
 tent of ten miles, and though Sheridan avoided the enemy's 
 lines, this dark cloud betrayed the movement to the caval- 
 ry scouts of the opposing hostile forces. This caused the 
 rebels to send a force after Sheridan's cavalry ; but by his 
 having a good and strong rear guard the rebels were not 
 able to retard his movement or interfere with his opera- 
 tions. While en route the advance captured a few prison- 
 ers, who, unaware of the movement, had just arrived at 
 Childsburg, by the train from Richmond, on their way to 
 the front of the rebel army. 
 
 Having delayed a short time for rest, Sheridan's column 
 pushed on, and crossed the north Anna river by the fords, 
 at dusk, at a point about two miles from Beaver Dam Sta- 
 tion. The advance was marching forward to reach that 
 place, when on nearing that station they fell in with a 
 rebel provost guard who were taking to the railroad over 
 three hundred Union prisoners, captured the previous day 
 during the battle before Spottsylvania, to be shipped for 
 Richmond. Sheridan's cavalry took the guard by surprise, 
 as they had no knowledge of any of the Union forces being 
 in the vicinity, and they at once left the prisoners and 
 made their best efforts to save themselves. Sheridan had 
 just arrived in time, for had he been but twenty minutes 
 later, the prisoners would have been aboard the train that 
 was in waiting at the station, and would have been on their 
 road for the rebel capital. The prisoners received the 
 cavalry with shoats of joy, and it did not take long to 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. G9 
 
 destroy the train of cars, locomotive &c, and to burn the 
 depot and other buildings, with their contents, consisting of 
 hundred of thousands of rations of bacon, flour, meal, and 
 other supplies for Lee's army. Had Sheridan accomplished 
 nothing more thau this, the expedition would have been far 
 from a failure. 
 
 That night the column encamped in two parts on either 
 . side of the North Anna River. Supperless the men threw 
 themselves on the ground with only their blankets for their 
 covering. Not a tent was to be seen ; but wearied as they 
 all were with a march of thirty-five miles, the men slept 
 soundly, and in a very short time not a sign of life was to 
 be seen, except the slow and quiet movement of the sen- 
 tinels. 
 
 Next morning, at break of day, all were astir, Just as 
 the command was preparing for a hearty breakfast they 
 were startled by a shell dropping in their midst. A. few 
 moments were sufficient to mount and move forward. The 
 place was scarcely safe. The guns that were threatening 
 the column were speedily silenced, and after a change of 
 front the march was re-commenced. A hostile force fol- 
 lowed the cavalry, and the march had to be made slowly 
 and carefully, the rear skirmishing part of the time. 
 
 During Tuesday, May 10, Sheridan passed across Little 
 River, then rested for u time at Negrofoot, after which he 
 crossed the South Anna river by the Ground Squirrel 
 bridge. Having destroyed this bridge the expeditionary 
 forces went into camp at Goodall's tavern — Sheridan mak- 
 ing that house his headquarters. He was, however, not al- 
 lowed quiet possession, as about midnight, the rebel sharp- 
 shooters riddled the old structure with rifle balls, and the 
 
70 THE LIFE OP 
 
 General was compelled to take up his sleeping quarters 
 in the woods, which he did without alarming the camp. 
 
 In the morning before daybreak a part of the command 
 was detached for a side movement to Ashland Station 
 when a large quantity of property, trains and railway 
 track was destroyed. After a sharp fight this force rejoin- 
 ed the main column. 
 
 Another portion of the command pushed forward for 
 Glenn Allen Station, which is situated within eight miles 
 of the rebel Capital. There the track was also destroyed 
 for some distance. At a house in this vicinity, General 
 Sheridan established his headquarters for a short time. 
 
 The column had again changed front and the troops that 
 were in the advance moved forward two miles in the direc- 
 tion of Yellow Tavern. At the cross roads at this point 
 Stuart's Cavalry had taken up a position, and at half past 
 one in the afternoon the two hostile forces met, and a con- 
 flict ensued. A fight took place in the woods, the Union 
 Cavalry dismounting, and charging upon the enemy through 
 the trees. The rebels had planted a gun to annoy the men 
 who were thus fighting on foot ; when, by a well directed 
 shot from one of the batteries, the gun was upset and af- 
 terwards captured. During this engagement, General 
 Stuart, one of the Cavalry officers in the rebel army re- 
 ceived his death wound from the hands of a private in the 
 Union ranks, to whom General Sheridan awarded all the 
 honor when the fact was discovered. 
 
 Before daylight the next morning, May 12, General 
 Sheridan ordered a reconnoissance to be made, during 
 which a rebel courier was captured ; from whose dispatches 
 it was gathered that the expedition had created quite a 
 panic in Richmond. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 71 
 
 A portion of the expedition also passed the outer line of 
 the Richmond defences before daybreak, and even pene- 
 trated to the second line without being discovered; but 
 daylight showing to the rebels that such was the case, they 
 poured upon them a volley from the batteries which armed 
 the works. Not being prepared at that moment to assault 
 the fortifications, the command withdrew ; and getting 
 the artillery within range opened fire upon them, and 
 kept them employed. 
 
 Meanwhile the advance moved forward to Meadow 
 Bridge over the Chickahominy river, where the enemy wa s 
 again met — they having constructed defences to command 
 the same. The rebels had destroyed the bridge, and the 
 Union troops had to cross by the railroad bridge under 
 firefrom the rebel works. The crossing was, however, effect- 
 ed, and a charge was made upon the works ; to gain which 
 about half a mile of swampy ground had to be traversed. 
 The rebels offered a determined resistance ; but the defences 
 were finally carried in a gallant style and the enemy 
 driven out of sight. 
 
 While all this was going on, another force of the enemy 
 made a dash upon the rear guard of Sheridan's column. 
 The rebels had obtained the range of the position, and 
 shells were flying about in great fury. The contest lasted 
 for over two hours ; and Sheridan soon discovered that 
 his command had been surrounded. Now was the time 
 for Sheridan to display that ability which had marked 
 his successes in the West ; which had gained him his single 
 star before Corinth, and his double star at " Stone River." 
 He had been very cool throughout the whole expedition ; 
 but now he had become cooler. To retreat would be 
 fatal ; and to proceed could be no worse. He therefore 
 
72 THE LTFE OP 
 
 determined to cross the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, 
 and ordered it to be reconstructed for that purpose. In 
 this operation he succeeded, although during the whole 
 time he was under fire. He kept the rebels engaged on 
 both sides of the river and gave them so effectual a casti- 
 gation that when he was ready to cross, not one of his op- 
 ponents dared to follow him. 
 
 General Sheridan had located his headquarters at a 
 brick house, on the heights overlooking the crossing, 
 whence he could see the operations of all his command. 
 He observed that one part of his forces was being slowly 
 pressed back; he saw that the troops guarding his rear 
 were sharply engaged, while another portion was still 
 fighting at Mechanicsville, on the left front, with the 
 forces that had been driven from both sides of the Chick- 
 ahominy river. The pioneers, also, were still engaged re- 
 pairing Meadow Bridge, for the passage of the artillery and 
 train. 
 
 This was the most trying moment for General Sheridan, 
 and served to develop his fighting qualities. His com- 
 mand was apparently surrounded by the enemy ; the shells 
 from whose forces were flying thickly among the ammuni- 
 tion trains that were parked in the centre. At any mo- 
 ment a shell bursting might have exploded the whole train, 
 and have hurled death and destruction on every side. 
 The slightest excitement would have caused a serious 
 panic. 
 
 But at this moment Sheridan was cool ; he was standing 
 under a tree, in the midst of a drenching rain, smoking a 
 segar. He had just opened some of his artillery upon the 
 advancing rebel infantry, and was watching the effect of 
 the fire* 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 73 
 
 Seeing that the men of one of his divisions still fell back 
 he ordered up the ammunition train of another part of his 
 command, and supplied them with fresh cartridges. He 
 then placed himself at their head. 
 
 " Boys " said he" you see those fellows yonder ? We 
 are going to knock hell out of them. They are green sol- 
 diers from Richmond. They are not veterans. You have 
 fought them well to-day ; but we have got to whip them. 
 We can do it and we will.' 5 
 
 The address was received with a rousing cheer, and a 
 dashing charge, which sent the rebels flying back to their 
 works. Meanwhile the artillery opened upon them, adding 
 greatly to their demoralization. Under cover of this 
 charge the train crossed the bridge safely ; not a gun-car- 
 riage, caisson, or wagon being lost. The enemy was 
 soundly beaten. 
 
 During this part of the contest, a heavy storm broke 
 over the command ; and for a time it was difficult to dis- 
 tinguish between the reports of the artillery and the roll- 
 i ng of the thunder. 
 
 Having crossed the river Sheridan led the way to Me- 
 chanicsville, when he rested for a short time, after which 
 he proceeded to Coal Harbor, driving the rebel forces be- 
 fore him and capturing several prisoners. Before night 
 the command went into camp near Gaines' Mills. 
 
 The march during the next day was undisturbed, and the 
 wearied expeditionary forces pushed on to Bottom's Bridge, 
 where they went into camp. 
 
 After having rested for a short time Sheridan pushed on 
 still further, and reached the James River, where he re- 
 ported to General Butler commanding the Department. 
 
74 THE LIFE OF 
 
 He also opened communication Avith Yorktown, thence 
 with Washington. 
 
 This expedition was among the most successful of the 
 cavalry operations of the war. The whole march was 
 made through the enemy's country, with his forces contin- 
 ually hanging upon the skirts of the Union troops; thus 
 causing continual skirmishing either front or rear, and 
 oftimes on both at the same time. The results were very 
 beneficial to the Union cause, and will always be known 
 under the designation of " Sheridan's expedition." 
 
 The Richmond journals in giving an account of the ex- 
 pedition indirectly acknowledged the great amount of 
 panic that existed in that city while Sheridan was thunder- 
 ing away at its defences, 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Sheridan's second cavalry expedition. 
 
 Retracing his steps. — Affairs at Matadequin Creek. — Coal Harbor. — 
 Bottom 1 s Bridge captured. — Start upon a second grand raid. — Contest at 
 Trevilan Station — Destruction of the railroad. — Return to join Grant. — 
 Jones' Bridge. — St. Mary's Church. — Rea?n , s Station — Contest near Mai' 
 vern Hill frc. 
 
 After resting and obtaining two or three day's rations 
 of forage and commissary supplies at Haxall's Landing } 
 on the James River, General Sheridan, and his forces, 
 moved back towards Richmond. Two of the divisions 
 marched by way of Gaines' Mill; but, although the rebels 
 occupied the vicinity and ford, they had received such a 
 lesson from Sheridan, during the advance, that they did 
 not wish to oppose his passage on the return. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 75 
 
 Another portion of his command moved towards Hanove r 
 Court House, where a body of rebel infantry was found 
 guarding the railroad bridge across the South Anna River. 
 After having destroyed a culvert, and done some other 
 damage to the railroads, this body of troops retraced their 
 steps to the White House, on the Pamunky River, where 
 General Sheridan has located his headquarters, on account 
 of its ready water communication with Fortress Monroe, 
 from which point he was to receive his supplies. 
 
 While at the White House the command repaired the 
 railroad bridge across the Pamunky ; after which the 
 troops crossed that steam, and encamped on the opposite 
 bank. 
 
 Meantime that portion of the command, that had been 
 left behind to guard the trains, had also been employed 
 with the main army, during its movement through the coun- 
 try north of Richmond. 
 
 On May 30, the headquarters of General Sheridan was 
 removed from the White House to the house formerly 
 owned by E. G. Ruffin — the command encamping on the 
 surrounding plantation. Shortly after retiring to rest, the 
 General was aroused by the sound of firing in the front — 
 half a mile distant. The skirmishing arose from the rebels 
 attempting to establish a picket line along Matadequin 
 Creek to which General Sheridan's pickets objected. It 
 was, in itself, but a small affair ; but the cavalry were now 
 aroused, and the enemy received notice to quit. 
 
 The rebels were next driven through the woods, after 
 which Sheridan's cavalry were dismounted, and on foot 
 pressed them through the woods, and across the ravine 
 and creek ; thence the rebels were driven over the hill 
 
76 THE LIFE OP 
 
 into the next wood. Sheridan directed the movement, and 
 it was a pretty sight. 
 
 As the rebels were flying up the hill Sheridan ordered a 
 battery to open upon them ; and the winged missiles added 
 slightly to the haste of the retreating forces. 
 
 Having reached the woods the enemy made another 
 stand, reinforced by the reserves who had joined those that 
 had retreated. Sheridan's men, however, would not give 
 way ; but contested the ground foot by foot until the con 
 tending forces were but eight rods apart. 
 
 Sheridan at this time occupied a prominent position on 
 an eminence by the side of one of his batteries and directed 
 the fire of the guns. He also ordered up one of his brig- 
 ades, armed with seven-shooter rifles. This force dis- 
 mounted, and charged upon the rebels at a double-quick; 
 and in less than fifteen minutes the crack, crack of their 
 pieces could be heard in the woods, as the rebels fled pre- 
 cipitately before them, leaving their dead and dying on 
 the ground. 
 
 Sheridan's troopers followed the dispirited foe for full 
 four miles, and rested on the ground for the night. 
 
 Next day, May 31, a part of his forces pushed on in the 
 direction of Cold Harbor, and in the afternoon met the 
 rebel cavalry under Fitz Hugh Lee, whose men had now 
 become further strengthened by additional reinforcements. 
 Another desperate encounter ensued, and General Sheri- 
 dan rushed to the front to supervise the movement. This 
 contest resulted in the temporary occupation of Cold Har- 
 bor, and the defeat of Fitz Hugh Lee's noted cavalry. 
 
 During all these contests General Sheridan remained on 
 
PHILIP IIENRY SHERIDAN. 77 
 
 the field, although several miles distant from his head- 
 quarters, and directed all operations in person. 
 
 Meanwhile another portion of Sheridan's comtnan;; oper- 
 ated on the right of Grant's main army: and on the same 
 day defeated Wade Hampton's rebel cavalry in the vicinity 
 of Hanover. 
 
 As soon as the position had been gained at Cold Har- 
 bor, entrenchments were thrown up to protect the troops, 
 they having been ordered to hold the place until relieved 
 by the infantry. Cold Harbor was held during the whole 
 night, and the cavalry were, the next morning attacked in 
 force by the enemy's infantry. Without flinching, the 
 brave troopers received the onslaught in gallant style, and 
 still held the position, repulsing every attempt on the part 
 of the rebels to take the place. During one of the assaults, 
 the regulars captured sixty prisoners in one lot. 
 
 The heroism displayed by the troopers on this occasion 
 plainly showed that even the short time Sheridan had held 
 command, had been enough to instil into them the daring 
 courage of t their leader. All stood at their posts, dis- 
 mounted as they were, fighting infantry who were armed 
 with long range rifled muskets, while they only carried the 
 short cavalry carbine. Sheridan had told them to hold 
 the position, and they knew well that if he said so, it 
 was of importance that his command should be obeyed; 
 so they determined to succeed or perish. At about one 
 o'clock in the afternoon of June 1, the infantry came up 
 and relieved the cavalry, not only of their duty, but of 
 their really dangerous position. 
 
 On the morning of June 2, General Sheridan advanced 
 part of his force as far as Barker's Mills, on the Chicka- 
 homminy, for the purpose of extending the left wing of the 
 
78 THE LIFE OP 
 
 main army with which it was now co-operating. On ar- 
 riving at the mills, it was found that the enemy was posted 
 on the heights across the swamp, with a battery command- 
 ing the road. Sheridan's light artillery soon engaged the 
 rebel battery ; meanwhile the troopers attempted to cross 
 the swamp to Flank the heights. The swamp, however, 
 proved to be impassible except by the road. 
 
 Towards evening, General Sheridan extended his lines 
 further to the south, and occupied Bottom's bridge across 
 the Chickahhminy ; thus holding a position about mid- 
 way between the York River and the James. This move- 
 ment he superintended in person ; the object being to 
 guard the flanks of Grant's main army, which had then 
 arrived on the banks of the Chickahominy river. 
 
 Having completed the object of these movements Gen- 
 eral Sheridan was again selected to take charge of another 
 grand cavalry expedition into the heart of the rebel lines. 
 He therefore concentrated the forces to be thus employed, 
 at Newcastle, a little village on ihe banks of the Pamunky 
 River, and started on his second great raid on the morning 
 of June 8, 1864. Crossing the Pamunky, by the Newcas- 
 tle ford, he marched without opposition to Ayletts, near 
 the Mattapony River, and having passed through that 
 place, his command encamped for the night on the banks 
 of Herring Creek, a small stream that emptied its waters 
 into that river. 
 
 Next morning he resumed his march, and passing along 
 the left bank of the Mattapony River through the unim- 
 portant villages of Dexter and Lanesville, thence taking a 
 westerly direction, still guided to some extent by the water 
 course, lie crossed the Richmond and Potomac railroad 
 at Chesterfield station. Having damaged the railroad to 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 70 
 
 some extent, lie next pushed through the village of Ches- 
 terfield, and encamped about midway between the Polecat 
 and North Anna rivers. 
 
 The march was again resumed the next day, and after 
 passing a point known as Cedar forks, he marched along 
 the turnpike to Childsburg. llaving passed through this 
 village, the route now taken was to New Market, from 
 which point he turned northerly to Mount Pleasant, and 
 encamped for the night at a point near where Young's 
 bridge crosses the E. N. E. Creek. 
 
 These three days' operations had been devoid of particu- 
 lar adventure. The country had been stripped of every- 
 thing by the retreating army of General Lee, and scarce- 
 ly a man "was to bo seen anywhere ; all able to bear arms 
 having been impressed into the rebel ranks. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 18th of June, the expedi- 
 tionary forces renewed their onward march, this time 
 taking a more southerly direction and passing a house 
 known as Andrews' Tavern, at the juncture of three or 
 four country roads. From this point they advanced and 
 crossed both branches of the North Anna river, and then 
 encamped at Buch Childs, a little village about three miles 
 to the north of Trevilan station of the Richmond and Gor- 
 dansvillc railroad. It had been General Sheridan's inten- 
 tion to have broken the railroad at this station, and then 
 by marching through Mechanicsville, cut the Gordansville 
 and Charlottesville railroad at a point near Lindsay's 
 house, thence to march on Charlottesville. His plans 
 were however frustrated, on his discovering when lie ar- 
 rived at Buch Childs that the rebel cavalry were in his 
 immediate front. 
 
 General Sheridan on finding this to be the case at once 
 
80 THE LIFE OF 
 
 began to make preparations to attack the rebel force. 
 He sent a portion of his troops round by a country road to 
 the rear of the rebel cavalry, while he attacked them on 
 the front. The attack was made on the morning of June 
 1 1 , and after an obstinate contest the rebels were driven 
 from a successive line of breastworks through an almost 
 impassible forest back on Trevilan station. 
 
 When the rebels found the other Union force in their 
 rear, they broke into a complete rout, leaving all the dead 
 and nearly all the wounded in the hands of Sheridan's 
 troopers. At this point General Sheridan captured twenty 
 officers, live hundred men and three hundred horses. 
 
 These operations occupied the whole of the day on 
 June 11, and that night General Sheridan had his head- 
 quarters at Trevilan Station. 
 
 The work of destruction commenced the next morning. 
 The track was torn up from Trevilan Station to Louisa 
 Court House. Never was a railroad more completely de- 
 stroyed. Every tie and timber was burned, and every 
 rail twisted and bent into such shapes as to be totally un- 
 serviceable. The destruction of the railroad occupied 
 from daybreak until three o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 By this time the rebels had concentrated in some force 
 at Gordonsville — reinforcements having been sent to that 
 place during the night. They next advanced their troops 
 to a distance of about four miles from the town, and there 
 began the construction of rifle-pits to resist the movemens 
 of General Sheridan's men. 
 
 Determined to know the strength of the rebel position, 
 Sheridan sent a part of his force in the direction of Gor- 
 donsville : but when the Union troops reached the defencet 
 they found them too strong to be assailed with the wea- 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 81 
 
 pons they at that time had, therefore no general assault 
 was made. 
 
 On the extreme right, however, the regulars assaulted 
 and carried the enemy's works twice, and was as many 
 times driven from them by the superior weapons of the rebel 
 infantry. The contest continued until dark, when General 
 Sheridan withdrew his forces, as he found his ammunition 
 was getting short ; and fearful, perhaps, if the engage- 
 ment were renewed it might result disastrously to his com- 
 mand. 
 
 During these two days the animals of Sheridan's forces 
 were without forage, as the country was stripped of every- 
 thing except a very inferior kind of grazing ; and even this 
 was, at times, inaccessible to his troops. 
 
 Finding that the rebels had been greatly reinforced, 
 General Sheridan determined to withdraw his command ; 
 and brought off nearly all his wounded in his ambulances. 
 
 During the contest, which was one of the most brilliant 
 cavalry engagements of the war, one of Sheridan's regi- 
 ments clashed down the Gordonsvillo road, and captured 
 about fifteen hundred horses and eight hundred men ; but 
 on attempting to return they were surrounded by infantry 
 and compelled to surrender not only their captures but 
 themselves. 
 
 General Sheridan had been with the centre during the 
 whole reconnoissance which preceded his withdrawal, and 
 having satisfied himself that farther progress in the then 
 condition of his command — with exhausted supplies and 
 short ammunition, a large number of prisoners to guard 
 and his wounded to protect — was impracticable, especially 
 with fortifications, manned by infantry armed with long 
 
82 THE LIFE OP 
 
 range rifles, in his front, he decided on the best course to 
 adopt — with draw. 
 
 He therefore returned to Trevilan Station, ordered sup- 
 per, and invited his generals to take tea and toast with 
 him ; at the same time giving directions about the trans- 
 portation of his wounded. He detailed the special 
 surgeons to stay behind with those who were too much in- 
 jured to be moved ; perfected his order of march, and de- 
 cided upon the route he intended to take, with as much 
 coolness and absence of excitement as if he were about to 
 pursue the enemy instead of withdrawing from his front. 
 He then partook of his tea, and lighting a cigar, smoked 
 it while his orders were being carried out. 
 
 About nine o'clock, that evening, Sheridan commenced 
 the withdrawal of his men from a position which had been 
 confronted by nearly all the cavalry of the rebel army in 
 Virginia ; but it was nearly midnight before the whole of 
 the trains had moved. Before leaving, however, Sheridan 
 ordered forty rounds of canister to be fired at the enemy's 
 position ; and when the rebels attempted to take the gun 
 by a dash, he ordered a charge to be made by the cavalry, 
 and a full round of canister to be poured into the ranks of 
 the advancing foe. This caused the rebels to fall back, 
 and the gun was saved. 
 
 At midnight, after seeing to the wounded, the command 
 began its return march ; moving towards Carpenter's ford 
 on the road to Spottsylvania Court House. By the time 
 the last of the forces had cleared Trevilan Station, day 
 had dawned. 
 
 On June 13, Sheridan's forces marched about fifteen 
 miles to Troyman's store without even the slightest opposi- 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 83 
 
 tion. The clouds of dust that hovered over the command 
 during this day might have been seen for miles. 
 
 The march was continued during the next day, and the 
 men encamped within three miles of Todd's Tavern, a 
 place noted during the contests in the vicinity of Spottsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 The next day was spent in inspecting the strong works 
 of Spottsylvania Court House which the rebels had con- 
 structed. They were now deserted, and although line 
 upon line of these works had been built to prevent the 
 Union army from advancing upon Richmond from the 
 north, they had been rendered quite useless by Grant's 
 " left flank " operations. 
 
 On Wednesday evening, General Sheridan established 
 his headquarters at Guiney's Station on the Richmond and 
 Fredericksburg Railroad, and there went into camp, after 
 an attempt had been made to open communication with the 
 main army. The despatch bearers and their escorts after 
 several slight adventures got through and arrived safely at 
 Fortress Monroe en route to the headquarters of the Army 
 of the Potomac. 
 
 From Guiney's Station Sheridan's troops were transport- 
 ed to the White House on the Pamunky river, whence 
 they were to march to join General Grant on the James 
 river. While en route to the James, they were attacked 
 on June 23, at Jones' Bridge over the Chickahominy. 
 After passing the latter they, on June 24, were again at- 
 tacked near St. Mary's Church by the enemy who had 
 made, what was considered ample arrangements to capture 
 Sheridan's guns, trains and the greater part of his com- 
 mand. The rebels fell upon the rear guard of Sheridan, 
 and at first threw it into confusion ; but the men imme- 
 
84 THE LIFE OP 
 
 diately rallied to cover the movement of the train, and 
 held the enemy's infantry and cavalry in check, until the 
 balance of the command could be brought to their support, 
 when a general battle ensued between Sheridan's cavalry ? 
 mounted and dismounted, and the three arms of the ser- 
 vice belonging to the rebels. Sheridan merely acted on 
 the defensive ; but by a judicious use of canister at short 
 range was enabled to repel some of the most desperate as- 
 saults that could possibly have been made. His light ar- 
 tillery was brought into play with some amount of skill ; 
 and as the fighting was at short range, the grape and 
 canister were used with terrible effect. At the end of the 
 conflict Sheridan succeeded in beating off his assailants 
 and resumed his march without loss of a gun or a wagon. 
 
 Sheridan crossed the James river during the afternoon 
 and night of June 25, at a point about five miles above 
 Fort Powhatan where the river is very narrow, and the 
 land so situated as to be commanded by the gunboats. A 
 pontoon bridge was thrown across, protected on either 
 side by the gunboats ; and the whole cavalry train passed 
 over, making a line of march twenty miles in length, tw 
 abreast. 
 
 To accomplish a river passage, with the enemy in his 
 rear, required great skill and coolness on the part of Gen- 
 eral Sheridan and the officiers and men under his command ; 
 but with the aid of the gunboats the work was acomplished 
 without loss. 
 
 Thus ended the second great cavalry expedition under 
 the gallant Sheridan. 
 
 About the end of June, it having been found that the 
 enemy was about to. flank the Union position before Peters- 
 burg, by occupying Ream's station of the Weldon Railroad, 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHEPJDAN, 85 
 
 General Sheridan pushed forward to the relief of the 
 troops at that point. 
 
 Meantime another portion of his command, but acting 
 independently, made a gallant dash upon the lines of rail- 
 road leading to Petersburg, and after a number of fights 
 succeeded in cutting them pretty effectually. 
 
 Sheridan's cavalry next was engaged in operations with 
 the Army of the Potomac, and during the latter part of 
 July 1864, participated in the movement under General 
 Hancock on the north side of the James river. On the 
 night of the 27th of July, the command was at Deep Bot- 
 tom, south of the river, and next morning was in position 
 on the right and left of the line, on the north side, ad- 
 vancing in the direction of Richmond. 
 
 The principal roads to the rebel capital on that side of 
 the river are the New Market, Long Bridge, Central, and 
 Charles City roads, and along these paths the cavalry op- 
 erated. The advance had already driven in the rebel 
 cavalry, when on the morning of the 28th of July, the 
 enemy emerged from the woods in heavy line of battle and 
 with a solid column, banners flying, and attacked the thin 
 line of dismounted cavalry with great vigor. 
 
 Sheridan's men defended themselves finely, and boldly 
 opposed the attack, resisting the onslaught with great 
 stubbornness. They held their ground againt great odds 
 for some time ; but finding they were in danger of being 
 surrounded, they withdrew. The rebels came on in masses, 
 and although several spirited charges were made into their 
 ranks, the columns of the enemy were so strong that it was 
 impossible to break them. 
 
 The fight was of short duration, as the cavalry was op- 
 posed to a largely superior force ol infantry ; but notwith- 
 
86 THE LIFE OF 
 
 standing this disadvantage the rebel loss was the heavier 
 during the affair. 
 
 The cavalry were finally relieved at about five o'clock 
 in the evening by a strong body of infantry. 
 
 General Sheridan was present and personally directed 
 the movements of his special forces. The battle took 
 place about three miles from Malvern Hill, and while the 
 contest was in progress the gunboats in the river engaged 
 the rebels, thereby creating a division with their hundred 
 pounder shells. 
 
 Meanwhile the rebels were invading Maryland and 
 Pennsylvania by way of the Shenandoah Valley, and this 
 led to a complete change in the position and command of 
 General Sheridan. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SHERIDAN AS COMMANDER OF A MILITARY DIVISION. 
 
 Change of Command and its vast Extent — The Rebel Invasion checked — 
 Partial Advance up the Shenandoah Valley — Sheridan's Activity — His 
 Cavalry join him — Affairs at South Royal — Withdrawal, §~c. 
 
 The invasion of the North was very sudden and serious, 
 and it was found that in the then condition of the various 
 United States military departments along the Potomac 
 river, the question of priority of rank would often inter- 
 fere with military movements, to resist the invasion, and 
 would damage the best laid plan of campaign. It was 
 therefore decided to unite all the departments north of 
 the Rappahannock, and south of the line of the Department 
 of the East into one grand military division under the name 
 of the " Middle Military Division." This command em- 
 
 v 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 87 
 
 braced all the country heretofore comprising the four inde- 
 pendent departments known under the names of the 
 " Middle Department," the " Department of Washington," 
 the " Department of the Susquehanna," and the " Depart- 
 ment of West Virginia ;" thus giving to one man the con- 
 trol over all the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, 
 Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, the eastern shore of 
 Virginia, the district along the Potomac river, Virginia 
 to the Rappahannock river, the Shenandoah Valley, and 
 the city of Washington and vicinity. It also included all 
 the troops then in that vast territory and all that might 
 afterward be brought into it for service therein. It will 
 thus be seen that the command was a very important one. 
 
 On the 7th of August, 1864, the President, under the 
 advice of the General-in-chief, appointed to that command 
 Major General Philip H. Sheridan. This appointment 
 gave each departmental chief officer his separate command, 
 without interference with any of the others ; but at the 
 same time made General Sheridan responsible for their 
 individual action — they having to take their orders from 
 him. 
 
 General Sheridan who had been ordered to report to 
 Washington before the appointment was officially announed, 
 was ready to enter upon his new command at once ; there- 
 fore on the same day he assumed the important position, 
 and located his headquarters at Harpers Ferry. 
 
 The assignment of such an officer to this comprehensive 
 command gave universal satisfaction to the loyal of the 
 country ; although it was expressed by many that the 
 Shenandoah was the hardest door to keep closed, and that 
 Sheridan's new position was not likely to be most easy of 
 the military commands of the United States. Sheridan 
 
88 THE LIFE OP 
 
 was, however, known to be a man of tireless energy, un- 
 surpassed courage and fine ability. He had been tried in 
 many difficult positions, to all of which trials he had 
 proved himself fully equal ; and the selection of such an 
 officer for the arduous duty of concentrating and reorgan- 
 izing the scattered forces in the " military division," pro- 
 tecting its territory from invasion, and administering its 
 affairs, was considered not only a compliment to General 
 Sheridan, but also evinced the wisdom of the President 
 and the General-in-chief. 
 
 In a very short time a change was to be observed in the 
 condition of affairs. Orders were at once sent to the com- 
 manders of departments, and through them to the gene- 
 rals in the field, for a concentration of their troops to- 
 wards the Shenandoah valley, as the principal rebel force 
 was operating in that vicinity, the other scattered rebel 
 bands being of such a minor character that they would 
 succumb when the main column was defeated. 
 
 General Sheridan in the meantime determined to pre- 
 vent the enemy who were in " the valley " from again 
 crossing the Potomac in any number or concentrated force, 
 sufficient to do injury to the campaign then in contempla- 
 tion, and with that object he made his dispositions of the 
 troops under his immediate command. 
 
 Expecting a prompt advance upon his forces, the rebel 
 General Early withdrew from the immediate vicinity of 
 Harper's Ferry and the line of the Potomac river, for the 
 purpose of drawing General Sheridan up the valley. But 
 Sheridan was not ready, nor would he move until he was, 
 A premature operation might defeat the whole campaign ; 
 and Sheridan was not of such a rash disposition as to risk 
 the ruin of his future reputation for a little present glory. 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 89 
 
 General Grant had informed him of what he desired to be 
 accomplished by the Shenandoah Campaign ; and General 
 Sheridan was ready to carry out that desire, and made his 
 plans accordingly. 
 
 As the rebels retired General Sheridan, of course, gar- 
 risoned all the important positions, and began to secure 
 proper commuuications between his headquarters and his 
 advanced posts. Having placed reliable men over those 
 garrisons, and having properly supplied them with stores 
 and provisions he began making feints of an advance for 
 the purpose of feeling the enemy's strength and position. 
 
 During these movements General Sheridan removed 
 his headquarters to the field, directing in person all the 
 necessary movements of his troops. He flanked the rebel 
 position on many occasions, and his forces often skirmished 
 with the enemy, but always avoided a general engagement, 
 failed. 
 
 General Sheridan succeeded in reaching Winchester on 
 August 12, and his command was then engaged in driving 
 the_ rebels beyond that point of the valley. The guerillas 
 and partizan troops tried to interfere with Sheridan's com- 
 munications with the Potomac river ; but with the excep- 
 tion of a few isolated and unimportant instances generally 
 
 As the Union advance cavalry dashed through Win- 
 chester the rebels retired with great precipitancy, tlie 
 troops following them in their usual dashing style. The 
 retreat was, however, intended to draw the Union troops 
 further, onward, and the advance was therefore ordered 
 by General Sheridan to halt until he had properly secured 
 the positions then obtained. 
 
 On the afternoon of August 16, the rebels attacked the 
 advanced position held by a portion of General Sheridan's 
 
90 THE LIFE OP 
 
 cavalry in the vicinity of Front Royal ; and after a very 
 handsome cavalry fight the enemy were badly beaten, 
 losing two stand of colors, twenty-four officers, and two 
 hundred and seventy-six men captured. 
 
 It may be necessary here to show how the positions at 
 Front Royal had been thus gained by Sheridan's forces. 
 The cavalry that had for months had been under his com- 
 mand around Richmond, was ordered up to join him in the 
 Shenandoah Valley, and left the James River on August 
 5, arriving at Harper's Ferry on August 8. These mount- 
 ed forces advanced up the valley by way of the village of 
 Charlestown, and on August 9, General Torbert who had 
 commanded the First Division of Sheridan's forces south 
 of the Rappahannock was placed by General Sheridan in 
 command of all the cavalry in the " Middle Military Divi- 
 sion." By the 11th of August the cavalry marched out to 
 Winchester via Middletown and met the rebels in force 
 near Opequan Creek. A sharp contest ensued, but a gen- 
 eral engagement was avoided ; although the position 
 gained was obstinately held. 
 
 On the morning of Friday, August 12, the cavalry was 
 again in motion. The rebels had retreated daring the 
 night ; and Sheridan after massing the command beyond 
 the town ordered an advance which was made on the 
 Strasburg road. The troopers followed the pike as far 
 as Cedar Creek, skirmishing the greater part of the way 
 with the rear guard of the retreating rebels. 
 
 Shortly after this the cavalry pushed along the Manasses 
 Gap railroad to Front Royal where the rebels were met, 
 engaged and defeated. 
 
 After this engagement General Sheridan withdrow from 
 his advanced position to await the attack of the rebels 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 91 
 
 and the arrival of the forces he had ordered into the 
 Valley. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 sheridan's shenandoah campaign. 
 
 Sheridan's strategy. — Skirmishing. — Advance. — The grand movement. — 
 Battle of the Opequan.— Battle of Fisher's Hill. — Pursuit up the valley. — 
 Honor to Sheridan and promotion, 8fc. 
 
 The rebels having given evident signs of returning to 
 the lower part of the Shenandoah Valley, General Sher- 
 idan was determined to adopt the plan of falling back in 
 order to draw the rebels onward to the position he wished 
 to get them into before he brought on a general engage- 
 ment. He therefore made but a slight resistance to their 
 advance, and skirmishes occurred continually along the 
 front. 
 
 Meanwhile the troops that had been operating in West- 
 ern Virginia, were brought into " the valley" and those 
 that had been engaged in Maryland during the times the 
 rebels were in that state were also added to the forces per- 
 sonally under General Sheridan. 
 
 A sharp engagement took place on Sunday, August 21, 
 between the forces from Western Virginia and the rebels 
 then in the valley, at a place about two mile beyond Char- 
 lestown. 
 
 General Sheridan, after skirmishing for some time, on 
 the 25th of August sent a cavalry reconnoissance up the 
 valley to find out the rebel position ; at the same time 
 sending an infantry force for the same purpose in another 
 direction. After some amount of skirmishing the command 
 returned with some valuable information. 
 
92 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Next day, the rebels, expecting an attack left General 
 Sheridan's front and fell back during the night of August 28 
 to Smithfield. Their retirement was not without loss, 
 as during a skirmish over a hundred prisoners were cap- 
 tured besides a greater number killed and wounded. 
 
 Finding the enemy had left his front, General Sheridan 
 began to move his entire force forward in order to prevent 
 the rebels from joining the army under General Lee at 
 Richmond. The threat to advance, he calculated would 
 be likely to prevent the valley from being left entirely un- 
 guarded by the rebels ; and to keep a proper guard over 
 it, with such a force as Sheridan's advancing, would re- 
 quire a large body of men. 
 
 General Sheridan's main army reached Charlestown on 
 August 28. It had been supposed by many that the sudden 
 movement of the enemy was for the purpose of concentra- 
 tion and massing on the right of Sheridan's forces, so as to 
 cross into Maryland when he had advanced up the valley. 
 General Sheridan had, however, provided for such a con- 
 tingency ; and on the day preceding the movement, he sent 
 a cavalry force to reconnoitre in that region. This re- 
 sulted in an unimportant skirmish ; but gave General Sher- 
 idan the assurance that his flanks were perfectly safe. 
 
 Meantime the main army under Sheridan advanced up 
 the valley, the front being occasionally engaged in sharp 
 fighting with the rebels. On August 31, a sharp contest 
 took place ; after which, General Sheridan to allure the 
 rebels onward, gave orders for his forces to fall back. The 
 main army, however, continued to occupy Charlestown as 
 a base of operations. 
 
 The advance up the valley, as Sheridan expected caused 
 the enemy, who was supposed to be in full retreat upon 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 93 
 
 Richmond, to suddenly make a stand ; and to appear in full 
 front before Sheridan's advance, as if desirous of bringing 
 on a general engagement. But Sheridan was not ready. 
 He had however so disposed of his forces that a movement 
 either way would have been disastrous to the rebels es- 
 pecially if they should have commenced it. 
 
 General Sheridan still continued his cavalry reconnois- 
 sances in all directions, and the skirmishes became more 
 frequent as the time passed on. But as General Sheridan 
 still refused to bring on a general engagement the rebel 
 General Jubal A. Early, thought he would make another 
 advance, and, if possible, flank General Sheridan and get 
 into Maryland. 
 
 On September 12, General Early issued a very lengthy 
 general or^er to his troops, peremptorily forbidding strag- 
 gling and depredations upon the inhabitants of the Shenan- 
 doah Valley. The object of his order was to obtain favor 
 from the people, and the document was therefore pretty 
 generally circulated. 
 
 The rebels then commenced their advance and by Sep- 
 tember 16, occupied Berry ville. Now came the time for 
 General Sheridan to act; his forces had all been properly 
 located, and he was ready to move. General Grant had 
 paid him a visit, and had seen how matters stood ; he 
 had also told him that the movement would, now coincide 
 with his general plan of battle, and said, he would aid 
 him from below Petersburgh. He did so effectually, by 
 preventing Lee from sending Early any reinforcements. 
 
 The general movement commenced on September 18, 
 1864, on which day the cavalry under Geneaal Sheridan 
 met and defeated the rebels at Darksville. This action 
 had been brought on by the rebels making an advance. 
 
94 THE LIFE OP 
 
 They were, however, so strongly resisted that a fight en- 
 sued, and the foe was driven hastily in the direction of 
 Winchester, followed rapidly by the Union cavalry. 
 Meanwhile the infantry under General Sheridan had driven 
 ,the rebels from Berryville, and the enemy, falling back, 
 concentrated their full strength at Winchester, the cavalry 
 from Darksville joining the rebel infantry from Berryville 
 at that point. 
 
 General Sheridan's infantry forces then advanced upon 
 Winchester from the East, while his cavalry rushed up the 
 valley from the North. The infantry consisted of the Sixth, 
 Eighth and Nineteenth Corps, and the cavalry of the 
 forces that had been sent him from the James river and 
 those that had been operating in Western Virginia. 
 
 On September 19, General Sheridan engaged General 
 Early at the Opequan Creek, before Winchester, and a 
 battle lasted from early morning until five in the evening. 
 With the rising of the sun came the sound of artillery 
 caused by the contest between the opposing cavalry forces 
 on the banks of the creek. The infantry forces broke 
 camp at five o'clock in the morning, and moved slowly in 
 the rear of that part of the cavalry which had been select- 
 ed as the advance of Sheridan's main army — to act inde- 
 pendently of those forces engaged at Darksville, &c. 
 
 Shortly after sunrise the advanced infantry and skirmish 
 line of the rebels were driven back to their main position, 
 west of the Opequan, and Sheridan's cavalry was ordered 
 to reconnoitre and find a ford for the infantry to make the 
 passage of the Creek. In the meantime General Sheridan 
 formed his line of battle to cross the stream. 
 
 As soon as the rebels had taken up a position west of 
 the creek, they opened fire upon the woods through which 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 95 
 
 Sheridan had ordered the line of march, but the men press- 
 ed on in spite of this and all other obstacles. 
 
 The Opequan creek has an irregular width. On the 
 front occupied by Sheridan's troops it was from thirty to 
 one hundred feet wide, and from three inches to five feet 
 deep. At the juncture of the Winchester and Berryville 
 pikes the water is quite shallow. This was the point 
 designated for the main portion of the troops to cross. 
 This ford is commanded from the side the rebels occupied 
 by several delivitous hills, the inclination facing the creek 
 being in pasturage, the summits and back of them being 
 sparsely wooded— just enough for shade and protection 
 from shells. To the rebel right of these fields are heavy 
 woods, in which were massed large bodies of the enemy's 
 infantry. On the inclinations of the hills were the ene- 
 my's rifle pits and detached works constructed of fence 
 rails. There were also in some parts of the rebel battle- 
 front natural defences, in the shape of rocks, hillocks, &c, 
 behind which the rebels secreted themselves, awaiting the 
 onset. The rebel artillery occupied eligible positions on 
 the summit of the hills and at points commanding the 
 roads. Some of these batteries kept up a heavy cannon- 
 ade as Sheridan's troops approached the creek, while others 
 were carefully masked with shrubbery and limbs of trees. 
 The order was given to advance, and was readily obey- 
 ed—the cavalry leading the way. They crossed the 
 creek gallantly under the fire from the rebel works. The 
 infantry next crossed and took up the line of battle, which 
 they found nearly parellel with the creek. The engage- 
 ment then commenced. 
 
 In this position of things the scene, as viewed from an 
 eminence, was grand, and beyond description. It almost 
 
96 THE LIFE OF 
 
 appeared madness for Sheridan's troops to attempt to gain 
 the rebel position ; but yet they struggled on nobly. 
 
 During the early part of the day the success was far from 
 being promising to the Union cause — but little progress 
 being made by Sheridan's troops in the front. A flank 
 movement was therefore ordered, and gallantly carried 
 out on the right in spite of all obstacles. The rebels were 
 driven from the shelter of the houses and barns which they 
 occupied and from their defences, and were chased through 
 cornfields, woods and over hills, until they reformed to 
 make another stand. 
 
 On other points of the field the fighting was desperate ; 
 but this side movement proving a success, turned the for- 
 tunes of the day as well as the rebels' flank, and the artil- 
 lery were brought into play, and poured grape and canis- 
 ter into the ranks of the opposing troops. 
 
 At last the enemy was forced into an open field where 
 the rebels made their final stand. There was a slight 
 lull, while the lines of battle were. being being arranged; 
 but it was only temporary, and both sides opened fire 
 with great fury. It was cavalry fighting cavalry, infantry 
 against infantry, and artillery firing at artillery. The 
 The superior determination and generalship of Sheridan, 
 however decided the day, and victory perched on his ban- 
 ners long before the sun set. The enemy was beaten at 
 all points, and the field was left in Sheridan's possession 
 with a large number of prisoners, five thousand stand of 
 arms, eleven battle-flags and several pieces of artillery. 
 The rebels also left their killed and wounded, and a large 
 quantity of the latter were placed in hospital at Winches- 
 ter. 
 
 During the battle before Winchester the rebels lost in 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN, 97 
 
 killed no less than four generals while Sheridan lost Gen- 
 eral D. A. Russell. It is rather a curious coincidence that 
 General Russell should be killed under the command of 
 the man who four years previous had been a second lieu- 
 tenant under him in Oregon — he being then a captain. 
 But such is the chances of war. 
 
 Next morning General Sheridan pushed southward 
 through Kearnstown, which he occupied before noon, with 
 his cavalry still ahead. 
 
 The retreating rebels were closely pressed by Sheridan, 
 and a portion of their cavalry which had fallen back by 
 way of Front Royal was pursued and severely punished. 
 The main army of the rebels went up the valley to their 
 defences at Fisher's Hill, where they resolved to make 
 another stand. Before Sheridan could overtake them 
 they were enabled to establish a line across the whole of 
 that part of the Strasburg valley ; with their right on the 
 North fork of the Shenandoah, and their left extending 
 westward to North Mountain. The position seemed almost 
 impregnable to any one but a leader of the calibre of Gen- 
 eral Sheridan. 
 
 Arrangements were made for a general attack upon the 
 rebel position ; but finding the front too strong, General 
 Sheridan ordered one of his infantry corps to make a 
 flank movement on the left of the rebel position. The 
 corps succeeded in the movement ; and attacking the rebels 
 with great fury, doubled up their wing, carrying every- 
 thing before them and causing great confusion in their 
 ranks. 
 
 Whlie this movement was being carried out the two 
 other corps attacked the rebel position in front; and 
 in the midst of their confusion succeeded in carrying the 
 
98 THE LIFE OP 
 
 works. The rebels broke and ran in disorder, and Sher- 
 idan captured eighteen pieces of artillery, several caissons 
 and a large number of artillery horses, &c. 
 
 A pursuit was ordered, and had it not been for the 
 darkness, would have resulted in the entire annihilation of 
 the rebel forces. As it was the men escaped only in a 
 routed condition ; and took refuge in the mountain — each 
 man for himself. 
 
 The victory was considered of the greatest importance 
 to the Union Cause ; and at noon on the 26th of Septem- 
 ber, national salutes were fired from all the United States 
 military positions, from theAtlantic to the Pacific, in honor 
 of the event. 
 
 To General Sheridan was awarded the honor of the 
 victorious campaign ; and as a reward for his gallant con- 
 duct, the President appointed him to the Brigadier Gen- 
 eralship of the Regular Army, made vacant by the death 
 of General McPherson. To wear the star of so glorious 
 a predecessor was indeed an honor ; but it is at the same 
 time one that will never be disgraced by " little Phil 
 Sheridan." 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign — continued. 
 
 Operations at the head of the valley — The work of destruction — 
 " The Valley " laid waste — The Cause — General Sheridan falling 
 back — The battle of Cedar Creek — Grant's approval — The President's let- 
 ter of thanks, Sfc. 
 
 V After the battle of Fisher's Hill. General Sheridan 
 pushed Early's forces as rapidly and closely through New 
 Market, at the same time sending cavalry around on his 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 99 
 
 flanks, that he gave up the valley without further fighting, 
 and crossed the mountains. The pursuit was kept up to 
 Port Republic, and as he advanced, Sheridan overtook the 
 rebel wagon train and destroyed it. 
 
 Sheridan's cavalry, under General Torbert, then ad- 
 vanced still farther up the valley, and entered Staunton 
 on September 26 ; and as this place had been an import- 
 ant depot of supplies for the rebels, the destruction of its 
 power of doing further mischief was deemed necessary. 
 All the storehouses, machine shops, and other government 
 buildings were destroyed ; besides, a large quantity of sad- 
 dles, small arms, hard bread, and other military supplies 
 in store at that place. 
 
 The Union Cavalry then proceeded to Waynesboro, 
 another station of the railroad, leading to Richmond, and 
 destroyed seven miles of the track between that place and 
 Staunton. The iron bridge over the Shenandoah, the de- 
 pot buildings, the government tannery and a quantity of 
 stores were also destroyed. 
 
 During the advance up the valley General Sheridan 
 burned everything that could be of value to the rebels, 
 and having for the time cleared the regino of rebel forces, 
 he ordered his cavalry to fall back to his main position 
 The destruction of the grain and forage was even a more 
 terrible blow to the rebel cause than the losses in the 
 battles. All the grain and forage that had been in store 
 in the vicinity of Staunton was intended for the use of 
 Early's forces ; while all that gathered in the " lower 
 valley " was to have been shipped to Richmond for the use 
 of Lee's army. As the country was richly supplied, the 
 I033 would be comparatively great. 
 
 General Sheridan then took up his headquarters and es- 
 
100 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tablished them at Harrisonburg. He then opened up his 
 communications with his rear and with the exception of a 
 few interruptions from guerrillas, his trains went through 
 from his stationary headquarters at Harper's Ferry to his 
 general headquarters in the field. 
 
 About the beginning of October, the rebel cavalry and 
 guerrillas began again to operate on General Sheridan's 
 front and along the line of his communications. These 
 guerrillas became very troublesome and at last it was neces- 
 sary to adopt a very stringent line of conduct towards 
 them. The murder of Lieutenant Meigs, one of the Staff 
 officers of the valley under General Sheridan, by the guer- 
 rillas, decided this measure at once. For this act every 
 house within an area of five miles was burned to the 
 ground. 
 
 It was now decided by Sheridan to withdraw his army 
 from the advanced position he held, and on October 6, he 
 commenced moving back his advanced posts from Port Re- 
 public, Mount Crawford, Bridgewater and Harrisonburg 
 and concentrating them at Woodstock. The grain and 
 forage in advance of these points had been destroyed while 
 the forces remained. 
 
 In moving back, the whole country from the Blue Ridge 
 to the North Mountain was rendered untenable to a rebel 
 army. During the time he had occupied the ground, Gen- 
 eral Sheridan had caused the destruction of a large 
 amount of rebel property including over two thousand 
 barns filled with wheat and hay, and farming implements, 
 and over seventy mills filled with wheat and flour. He 
 also drove in front of the army four herd of stock ; be- 
 sides distributing among the troops not less than three 
 thousand sheep for food. The destruction embraced the 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHErJDAN. 101 
 
 Luray Valley and Little Fort Valley, as -well as the main 
 Shenandoah Valley. A large number of horses were also 
 taken away by both the armies during the retreat and 
 falling back. 
 
 The cause of this immense destruction was the contin- 
 ued action of the people in the valley to bushwhack small 
 parties of the Union troops while holding protection 
 papers from the generals oi the same command. It was 
 also in obedience to an order from General Grant to lay 
 the entire valley waste, in consequence of this treacherous 
 mode of warfare. 
 
 During the next two days Sheridan continued to fall 
 back steadily, but was not followed by the enemy till late 
 on October 8. On that day the rebel cavalry, under Gen- 
 eral Rosser, an officer much thought of at the South, began 
 to operate in General Sheridan's rear ; but that command- 
 er being determined that the enemy should not take him 
 at a disadvantage, faced his pursuer and offered battle, 
 directing his own cavalry forces to attack the foe by day- 
 light the next morning. The attack was finely and 
 handsomely made — one division charging along the Stras- 
 burg pike, while another dashed over the " back road." 
 By this movement the rebels instead of Sheridan were 
 taken at a disadvantage, and severely beaten, and the two 
 Union divisions together captured eleven pieces of artil- 
 lery, several caissons, a battery forge, forty-seven wagons 
 and over three hundred prisoners. Among the wagons 
 were those belonging to the headquarters of the rebel gen- 
 erals. The rebel cavalry soon broke and ran after the 
 charge was made, and was followed for twenty-six miles 
 by the Union cavalry at what Sheridan calls " on the 
 jump." The chase was continued through Mount Jack- 
 
102 THE LIFE OP 
 
 son and across the south of the Shenandoah. This cap- 
 ture of artillery made thirty-six pieces taken by Sheridan 
 from September 20 to October 8, 1864. 
 
 General Sheridan then fell back to Strasburg, where he 
 established his temporary headquarters and entrenched his 
 command. A portion of his cavalry, however, still held 
 Front Royal, thus giving him the control of the Luray 
 Valley. 
 
 Quiet was somewhat restored in the vicinity of General 
 Sheridan's camp, and the troops began to look for rest; 
 but in this they were disappointed ; for early on the morn- 
 ing of October 12, the rebels appeared on their front along 
 the hills and in the woods south of Cedar Creek. General 
 Sheridan, with his usual caution, ordered a watch to be 
 kept upon the movements of the enemy, and disposed his 
 troops in accordance with the information gained. 
 
 Shortly after noon on the 12th, the enemy suddenly open 
 a heavy and rapid artillery fire upon the front of General 
 Sheridan's line, to which fire his artillery repaid shot for 
 shot. Sheridan then ordered forward a part of his in- 
 fantry, and a sharp engagement ensued — the opposing 
 infantry having been concealed in the wooded hills. For 
 three hours this conflict of musketry continued ; but short- 
 ly after the cavalry was brought into the engagement, and 
 by night the enemy was driven back. 
 
 The object of the rebel attack was to turn the Union 
 flank in the opposite direction to the place of contest, but 
 Sheridan had provided for the contingency, and succeeded 
 in defeating their purpose. 
 
 About this time General Sheridan paid a flying visit to 
 all his various outposts, making a complete circuit of his 
 command. Meanwhile a portion of his cavalry was em- 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 103 
 
 ployed in a raid over all the Luray Valley from Front 
 Royal to Sperryville on the extreme left of Sheridam's 
 line ; and during this expedition the whole country was 
 laid waste by fire in consequence of the inhabitants har- 
 boring guerillas and bushwhackers, who had been operat- 
 ing along the line of the Manasses Gap railroad, murder- 
 ing the employees and other non-combatants. The result 
 of this expedition was the capture of six thousand five hun- 
 dred head of cattle, and five hundred horses ; the destruc- 
 tion of thirty-two large flouring mills, thirty distilleries, 
 four blast furnaces and over fifty barns. 
 
 The main object Sheridan had in holding Front Royal 
 was to open the communication between the headquarters 
 of the " Department of Washington," which was a portion 
 of his command, and his field headquarters in the Shenan- 
 doah Valley, by way of the Manasses Gap Railroaid ; thus 
 giving to him a line of railway for the transportation of 
 supplies, &c. This object was effected on October 15, 
 after which General Sheridan paid a flying visit to the 
 National Capital* 
 
 While General Sheridan was thus absent from the 
 field the enemy, on the morning of October 19 — 
 the anniversary of the surrender of Yorktown — made 
 an attack before daylight upon the Union forces located 
 east of Cedar Creek, near Middletown, massing on the left 
 of the Union line. Advancing quitely in solid columns, 
 they drove in the pickets and fell at once upon the slum- 
 bering camp ; pressing onward over every obstacle. The 
 suddenness of the attack and its success bewildered the 
 Union troops and their left was turned without opposition 
 Arrangements were made to got the supply trains out of 
 the reach of the attacking forces, and they were safely 
 
104 THE LIFE OF 
 
 taken to Winchester ; and the Union troops left their 
 camp and began a retreat with the rebels in close purs uit 
 "In fact" says Sheridan in his official dispatch "most of 
 the line was driven in confusion, with a loss of twenty 
 pieces of artillery." 
 
 It appears that the rebels were in the full belief that 
 the Army of the Valley had been depleted to reinforce 
 Grant; and that Sheridan, of whose absence they had been 
 made aware, had also gone with the troops thus transferred. 
 Their success of the morning seemed to confirm the belief 
 General Sheridan, however, at the time of attack, was at 
 Winchester, where he had arrived from Washington during 
 the previous evening. As soon as he had ascertained that a 
 conflict was in progress, he mounted his horse, and rode 
 from Winchester to the scene of strife, at a hard trot. 
 He- arrived on the field at about eleven o'clock in the 
 morning, with his horse flecked with foam and bathed in 
 perspiration. The escort came up some time after, and 
 when jeered by the soldiers for not keeping up, they replied 
 that "the devil might keep up, but they could not." 
 
 While passing along the road the commanding General 
 was loudly cheered by his men ; when, raising his cap, he 
 Said it was all right, and that he wanted them to go back 
 to their old quarters, for he had intended, before sunset, 
 to make his headquarters at the same place he left them 
 when he went away. 
 
 The word ran along the line that the General had ar- 
 rived ; and the wildest enthusiasm was the immediate re- 
 sult. Men who had been engaged in a demoralizing re- 
 treat, at once turned and faced the foe ; and the chaotic 
 mass began soon to assume an appearance of order. Fear 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 105 
 
 had changed to confidence, for the General had said " it 
 was all right," and the men believed him. 
 
 General Sheridan proceeded to form his line of battle 
 about a mile north of Middletown the rebel line having 
 been formed on the outskirts of the place. Sheridan 
 then assumed the personal command of his forces; and 
 when the corps were formed in line of battle, he rode 
 through the ranks from end to end. Every man received 
 him with the wildest enthusiasm, and occasionally he would 
 rein up his horse to inform the men of his intention to take 
 them back to their old quarters boforc nightfall ; to which 
 he was answered by such wild cheers, that, if he wanted 
 the assurance, must have made it a matter of certainty 
 that his men would follow wherever he led. 
 
 About half past one, General Sheridan renewed the con- 
 flict by driving the rebels before him — the Union lines 
 advancing slowly but surely. The cavalry on the left of 
 the line had been dismounted and assigned to duty as 
 light infantry, inflicting great loss on the rebels with their 
 carbines and light artillery pieces. The engagement, 
 soon became pretty general, each hour making it more 
 favorable to the Union cause. The eventful and decisive 
 charge, however, took place at about four o'clock in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 The lines had been formed partly in open field and part- 
 ly under the cover of woods — the majority of the force be- 
 ing concealed. At four o'clock the signal was given, and 
 the lines commenced to move forward. More than half 
 the distance was traversed and scarcely a shot was fired. 
 Then suddenly the rebel batteries opened with terrible 
 effect on the advancing lines ; but mingling with the roar 
 of the artillery, and the din of exploding shells was now 
 
106 THE LIFE OP 
 
 heard the roll of musketry. The firing was constant and 
 rapid, and although Sheridan's lines wavered under the 
 withering fire of the artillery, they did not give way or fall 
 back. On, on they went ; and when within a short dis- 
 tance of the rebel lines the last grand rush was made. The 
 Union troops were soon in the rebel midst, and the day was 
 won. The enemy broke into a rapid retreat, rushing 
 through the streets of Middletown in wild disorder, leav- 
 ing behind guns, colors and small arms. 
 
 General Sheridan at once ordered up the cavalry to con- 
 tinue the pursuit, and the substantial fruits of the victory 
 could be then seen in the shape of forty-three pieces of 
 artillery and a large number of wagons and ambulances, 
 besides about three thousand prisoners. 
 
 The pursuit of the enemy continued until the next day, 
 through the country to Mount Jackson, which point the 
 rebels reached without an organized regiment of the whole 
 army. The victorious forces of the morning became a 
 routed rabble before night — fourteen miles of the road 
 along the line of retreat being covered with small arms, 
 and other equipments thrown away by the panic-stricken 
 enemy. 
 
 General Sheridan, as he promised, re-established his 
 headquarters at Cedar Creek before night. The official 
 reports give as the result of the engagement, the capture 
 of forty-eight pieces of artillery, over three hundred 
 wagons captured or destroyed, and ten battle-flags, besides 
 prisoners. 
 
 " The accident of the morning," says Sheridan, " turned 
 to our advantage as much as though the whole movement 
 had been planned." 
 
PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 107 
 
 General Grant, on October 20, sent the following dis- 
 patch to the Secretary of War : 
 
 City Point, Oct. 20, Eight P. M. 
 
 Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War : — 
 
 I had a salute of one huudred guns fired from each 
 of the armies here in honor of Sheridan's last victory. 
 Turning what bid fair to be a disaster into a glorious vic- 
 tory, stamps Sheridan what I have always thought him, one 
 of the ablest of generals. 
 
 U, S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. 
 
 The news of the victory created the wildest enthusiasm 
 in every camp of the armies of the United States, and the 
 name of " little Phil. Sheridan " was received with cheers 
 wherever mentioned. 
 
 The President of the United States, sent direct from 
 Washington by the hands of the Assistant Secretary of 
 War, an autograph lettter of thanks, of which the follow- 
 ing is a copy : 
 
 Executive Mansion, Washington, 
 October 22d, 1864. 
 Major-General Sheridan. — 
 
 With great pleasure I tender to you and your brave, 
 army the thanks of the nation, and my own personal ad- 
 miration and gratitude, for the month's operations in the 
 Shenandoah Valley, and especially for the splendid work 
 of October 19. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 As an indication of the manner in which General 
 Sheridan bravely exposed himself in the field, it is but 
 necessary to state that in the Shenandoah campaign he lost 
 no less than five staff officers, killed and wounded, besides 
 several of his escort. 
 
108 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 sheridan's personal appearance. 
 
 Major General Philip H. Sheridan, at the time he was 
 engaged in the Shenandoah Valley, looked about thirty to 
 thirty-two years of age. He is not far from five feet five 
 inches in height, of dark complexion and hair, and has a 
 piercing blue eye, with features strongly indicative of will 
 and energyT' His manner is entirely without pretension, 
 but at the same time perfectly easy and free from any ap- 
 proach to awkwardness. When not engaged in fighting 
 he is sociable and genial. He seems endowed with a large 
 fund of what is called in the West hard-horse-sense, which 
 he draws upon in the readiest manner. At every emer- 
 gency he is full of expedient, being never at loss for means 
 of extrication. His orders are given in a mild, firm tone, 
 without appearance of excitement, while his manner con- 
 veys the impression that they must be executed. The 
 word fail does not seem to have entered his vocabulary. 
 As yet unmarried, his home is in the camp and field. His 
 courage, kindness, and above all, his soldierly abilities, 
 have won for him the love of those whom it has been his 
 fortune to command. He knows how to care for his men 
 in the camp and how to handle them in the field ; and 
 these are qualities which a soldier never fails to appreci- 
 ate. 
 
 General Sheridan has a brother with him in the field, 
 acting as aid on his staff. The brother's name is Captain 
 M. V. Sheridan, and gives promise of a soldierly disposition 
 worthy of the 
 
 Hero of the Shenandoah. 
 
 \ 
 
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