Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was one of the Union’s greatest heroes during the Civil War, earning lasting fame for his work in both the West and the East. One of General Grant’s closest and most trusted generals, Sheridan led the cavalry corps in the East from 1864 to the end of the war, burning the Shenandoah Valley, keeping Jeb Stuart’s cavalry at bay during the Overland campaign (and mortally wounding Stuart at Yellow Tavern).
Sheridan also pierced the Army of Northern Virginia’s line during the siege of Petersburg, defeating George Pickett at the Battle of Five Forks and leading to the capitulation of Richmond and Petersburg on April 2, 1865. Lee would surrender on April 9, thanks in no small part to Sheridan’s pursuit of his retreating army.
But Sheridan was far from done with his military career. He became one of the instrumental figures in the Indian Wars on the Great Plains, effectively subjugating the natives as the United States pressed westward. Historians today criticize his brutal treatment of the natives. He also served as an observer during the Franco-Prussian War over in Europe, and he covers all of these events in his memoirs. Sheridan died in 1888 from heart failure, only months after he had finished his memoirs.
Sheridan was one of Grant’s principal subordinates during the Chattanooga Campaign. The situation at Chattanooga was urgent and Grant ordered Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and four divisions of the Army of the Tennessee to get into position to attack Bragg's right flank. A week later three Union armies, the Tennessee, the Cumberland, and the Potomac were ready to make the final assault on Bragg's entrenched armies on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. On November 24, 1863 Maj. Gen. Hooker captured Lookout Mountain in order to draw Bragg's troops away from Missionary Ridge. On November 25, Grant began his assault on Missionary Ridge. Maj. Gen. Sherman made an attempt to attack Bragg's right flank, however, topographical difficulties and stiff Confederate resistance prevented a successful assault. The Army of the Cumberland, took matters into their own hands, stormed over Missionary Ridge, and forced Bragg to retreat in a disorganized rout. Grant, initially upset, had only ordered the Army of the Cumberland to take the rifle pits at the base of the ridge. The victory at Chattanooga increased Grant's fame throughout the country. Grant was promoted to Lieutenant General, a position that had previously been given to George Washington and given to Winfield Scott as a brevet promotion. Grant was soon after given charge of the entire Union Army.
After the Chattanooga Campaign finished, Sheridan wrote an official account of the campaign that was preserved in The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. This edition includes maps of the campaign and pictures of the campaign’s important military commanders..
