# Philip Sheridan

> United States Army general (1831-1888)

**Wikidata**: [Q355452](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q355452)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Sheridan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/philip-sheridan

## Summary

Philip Henry Sheridan was a United States Army general who served during the American Civil War (1861–1865) and the American Indian Wars. Born in 1831 and dying in 1888, he became one of the most prominent Union military leaders, known for his leadership in multiple major campaigns and battles including the Battle of Stones River, Battle of Chickamauga, Chattanooga campaign, Overland Campaign, Valley Campaigns of 1864, and the Appomattox campaign. His military career began in 1853 following his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

## Biography

- **Born:** 1831
- **Died:** 1888
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** United States Military Academy (West Point, New York) — inception: March 16, 1802
- **Known for:** Military leadership during the American Civil War and American Indian Wars; Union Army general
- **Employer(s):** United States Army
- **Field(s):** Military, warfare
- **Work period start:** 1853
- **Aliases:** Philip Henry Sheridan

## Contributions

Philip Sheridan's military career encompassed numerous significant contributions during the American Civil War and subsequent frontier conflicts:

- **Battle of Stones River (1862):** Participated in this major battle of the American Civil War
- **Battle of Chickamauga (1863):** Led forces in this crucial 1863 battle
- **Chattanooga campaign (1863):** Commanded operations during this important military campaign
- **Overland Campaign:** Led Union forces during this major Civil War campaign (1864-1865)
- **Valley Campaigns of 1864:** Commanded operations in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864
- **Appomattox campaign (1865):** Led forces during the final campaign of the Civil War
- **Battle of Five Forks (1865):** Commanded Union forces in this decisive 1865 battle
- **American Indian Wars:** Served in frontier conflicts between settlers and Indigenous peoples

## FAQs

**What was Philip Sheridan known for?**

Philip Sheridan was a Union Army general during the American Civil War (1861–1865) known for his aggressive tactics and leadership in multiple major campaigns, including the Chattanooga campaign, Overland Campaign, and Appomattox campaign. He also served in the American Indian Wars.

**Where did Philip Sheridan receive his military training?**

Sheridan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which was established in 1802. His military career began in 1853 following his graduation.

**What battles did Philip Sheridan fight in?**

Sheridan fought in numerous major battles including the Battle of Stones River (1862), Battle of Chickamauga (1863), Battle of Five Forks (1865), and participated in the Chattanooga campaign, Overland Campaign, Valley Campaigns of 1864, and Appomattox campaign.

**What places are named after Philip Sheridan?**

Multiple places are named in honor of Philip Sheridan, including Sheridan County in Kansas (1880), Montana (1913), North Dakota (1873), Nebraska (1885), and Wyoming (1888); the village of Sheridan, Michigan; the city of Sheridan, Arkansas (incorporated 1870); Sheridan, Indiana; Mount Sheridan in Wyoming; and Sheridan Circle in Washington D.C.

**When did Philip Sheridan live and serve?**

Philip Sheridan was born in 1831 and began his military career in 1853. He served through the American Civil War (1861–1865) and the American Indian Wars, dying in 1888.

## Why They Matter

Philip Sheridan matters as one of the Union Army's most effective and aggressive commanders during the American Civil War. His leadership during the Chattanooga campaign helped secure Union control of Tennessee, while his devastating campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864 destroyed Confederate ability to wage war in the region. His role in the Appomattox campaign led to the surrender of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.

Sheridan's influence extended beyond the Civil War through his service in the American Indian Wars, where he helped expand American control over the western frontier. His military strategies and aggressive cavalry tactics influenced subsequent generations of American military leaders. The numerous places named after him across the United States—from counties in multiple states to mountains and traffic circles—testify to his lasting significance in American history and geography.

## Notable For

- Union Army general during the American Civil War (1861–1865)
- Commanded major campaigns including Chattanooga, Overland, Valley Campaigns of 1864, and Appomattox
- Key commander at battles including Stones River, Chickamauga, and Five Forks
- Served in the American Indian Wars
- Graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1853
- Multiple geographic features and jurisdictions named in his honor across the United States

## Body

### Early Life and Education

Philip Henry Sheridan was born in 1831 in the United States. He received his military education at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, one of the nation's oldest federal service academies, established in 1802. Following his graduation from West Point, Sheridan began his military career in the United States Army in 1853, initially serving in various frontier posts.

### Military Career Beginnings

Prior to the Civil War, Sheridan served in the regular United States Army, gaining experience in military operations and leadership. His career progression during this pre-war period prepared him for the greater responsibilities he would assume beginning in 1861 when the nation erupted into civil war.

### American Civil War Service

Sheridan rose to prominence during the American Civil War (1861–1865), the devastating conflict fought between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) primarily over the enslavement of African-Americans. He demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in numerous major battles and campaigns:

**1862:** Sheridan fought in the Battle of Stones River, one of the major engagements of the war fought in Tennessee. This battle represented the Confederacy's last major strategic offensive in Tennessee.

**1863:** He played a crucial role in the Battle of Chickamauga, the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and subsequently in the Chattanooga campaign, which resulted in Union forces breaking the Confederate siege of Chattanooga and opening the door for the invasion of Georgia.

**1864:** Sheridan commanded the Valley Campaigns of 1864, a series of operations in the Shenandoah Valley that devastated Confederate resources and morale. His aggressive cavalry tactics and scorched-earth policies effectively removed the Valley as a threat to Washington D.C. and deprived Lee's army of supplies. He also participated in the Overland Campaign, a series of battles in Virginia that brought the Union Army to the gates of Richmond.

**1865:** Sheridan led Union forces during the Appomattox campaign, the final campaign of the war that culminated in the surrender of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. A key engagement during this campaign was the Battle of Five Forks, where Sheridan's forces defeated Confederate troops and effectively sealed Lee's fate.

### Post-Civil War Service

Following the Civil War, Sheridan continued his service in the United States Army during the American Indian Wars, the frontier conflicts between American, Canadian, and European settlers and Indigenous peoples of the Americas. These campaigns expanded American control over the western territories.

### Legacy and Geographic Honors

Philip Sheridan's legacy is permanently inscribed in American geography. Numerous places bear his name, reflecting his prominence:

- **Sheridan County, Kansas** — established 1880
- **Sheridan County, Montana** — established 1913
- **Sheridan County, North Dakota** — established 1873
- **Sheridan County, Nebraska** — established 1885
- **Sheridan County, Wyoming** — established 1888
- **Sheridan, Michigan** — village
- **Sheridan, Arkansas** — city and county seat of Grant County, incorporated January 23, 1870
- **Sheridan, Indiana** — settlement in Hamilton County
- **Mount Sheridan** — mountain in Wyoming
- **Sheridan Circle** — traffic circle in Washington D.C.

### Death and Historical Significance

Philip Sheridan died in 1888, concluding a military career that spanned 35 years and encompassed the most significant conflicts of 19th-century America. His contributions during the Civil War helped preserve the Union and end slavery, while his later service helped expand American territorial control. Military historians regard him as one of the Union Army's most capable commanders, whose aggressive tactics and strategic vision significantly influenced the outcome of the war. His legacy continues to be studied at military academies and his impact on American history remains evident in the numerous places that bear his name across the nation.

## References

1. Library of the World's Best Literature
2. Find a Grave
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. SNAC
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
8. BnF authorities
9. Croatian Encyclopedia
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index15.html)
12. Quora