^Lot 157f General Philip Sheridan

General Philip Sheridan 50/950
Approx 10" / 4LBS

Pewter on wood base, authentic Francis Barnum sculpture

Philip Sheridan was one of the most important Union commanders of the American Civil War and later became Commanding General of the U.S. Army.

Early Life
Born March 6, 1831, in Albany, New York
Raised mostly in Ohio
Graduated from West Point in 1853
Served in frontier army posts before the Civil War
Civil War Career

Sheridan became famous for aggressive cavalry tactics and rapid battlefield movement.

Rise Through the Ranks
Started the war as a captain
Quickly promoted because of strong battlefield performance
Became a major general by 1862
Important Campaigns and Battles
Battle of Stones River (1862–63)

Sheridan’s division fought stubbornly against Confederate attacks in Tennessee, helping save the Union army from collapse.

Chattanooga Campaign (1863)

At Battle of Missionary Ridge, Sheridan led a dramatic uphill assault that helped break Confederate defenses.

Shenandoah Valley Campaign (1864)

This became Sheridan’s most famous Civil War achievement.

Under orders from Ulysses S. Grant, Sheridan defeated Confederate forces commanded by Jubal Early and devastated the Shenandoah Valley’s agricultural resources to prevent Confederate resupply.

Major victories included:

Battle of Third Winchester
Battle of Cedar Creek

Sheridan became nationally famous for “Sheridan’s Ride,” when he dramatically returned to rally retreating Union troops at Cedar Creek.

Role in the End of the War

In 1865 Sheridan’s cavalry helped trap Robert E. Lee during the Appomattox Campaign.

His forces helped cut off Confederate escape routes before Lee surrendered at:

Appomattox Campaign
After the Civil War

Sheridan remained a major military figure:

Led campaigns in the American Indian Wars
Became military governor during Reconstruction
Became Commanding General of the Army in 1883
Historical Reputation

Historians generally rank Sheridan among the Union’s best battlefield commanders:

highly aggressive
effective cavalry innovator
skilled at operational warfare

He is also criticized for:

harsh “scorched earth” tactics in the Shenandoah Valley
destructive campaigns against Native American tribes after the war

Sheridan died in 1888 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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