General+Philip+Henry+Sheridan

Back = Franklin County Main Page = Home Page General Philip Henry Sheridan  Phil Sheridan believed he was born on March 6, 1831 to a family of Irish immigrants in Albany, New York. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Somerset, Ohio. He only grew to be 5’5” and became known as “Little Phil.” He was known for having a fiery temper. Sheridan took a job as the clerk in the local general store where he met Congressman Thomas Ritchey, who appointed him to the United States Military Academy in West Point. After graduation he reported to Fort Duncan, Texas. He was promoted to first lieutenant in March of 1861, then again to captain in May, after Fort Sumter. He started commanding battles in the Midwest and was awarded two stars. Sheridan had impressed Ulysses Grant; Grant placed him in command of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. He led the cavalry to a successful raid in Yellow Tavern, VA. Sheridan was placed in command of the Army of the Shenandoah. He was given orders to not only defeat Jubal Early and close off the rout for possible invasion, but to stop the valley from being agriculturally productive. He burned crops, destroyed railroads, and stole livestock. While the burning of the Shenandoah Valley did not cause the greatest damage in the South economically, it did have an extremely devastating effect on residences because small family farms were the targets. The people of Franklin County viewed the burning as unnecessary cruelty. A local newspaper reported that it was “cool-blooded brutality” and that “It makes the blood run cold in our veins to contemplate the accumulation of sorrow that our misguided rulers are bringing upon this distracted land.” The people did not agree with the burning of innocent peoples’ property and feared that their county could suffer as well. In one of his most famous battles, Sheridan arrived in the valley after his visit to Washington to find his men caught in a surprise attack. He rode in to battle and organized his troops dealing Early a crippling loss. The confederates were no longer able to attack and retreated. He received a personal letter of thanks from President Lincoln for his service. He fought in several battles after that including the Battle of Five Forks, which helped secure Richmond and Petersburg. After the Civil War, Sheridan continued his military career by fighting the Plains Indians. He also worked for the creation and protection of Yellowstone national park. He later died of a heart attack at the age of 57.

