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Sheridan (PHILIP HENRY an American)

PHILIP HENRY, an American military officer; born in Albany, N. Y., March 6, 1831; was graduated at the Military Academy at West Point in 1853. Entering the United States artillery, he served in Texas and Oregon till 1855, when he sailed for San Francisco in command of an escort to the expedition for surveying the proposed. branch of the Pacific railway between San Francisco and the Columbia river.

Afterward he commanded a body of troops among the Indian tribes till 1861, when he was promoted captain. On the breaking out of the Civil War he was appointed quartermaster of the army in Southwestern Missouri; in 1862 became SHERIDAN chief quartermaster of the Western Department, and colonel of the 2d Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. He cut the railroads S. of Corinth; defeated two separate forces of cavalry at Baldwin and Guntown in June, 1862, and fought at Booneville; was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers; took command of the 11th Division of the Army of Ohio; distinguished himself at Perryville and at Stone river or Murfreesboro, Dec. 31 and Jan. 3, 1863, for which he was promoted major-general of volunteers. He was engaged at Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863, and in the operations around Chattanooga; was appointed, in April, 1864, to the command of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac; took part in PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN the battles of the Wilderness, Meadow Bridge, and Cold Harbor, in May; in June, led a cavalry expedition into the heart of the Confederate country and was given the command of the Army of the Shenandoah; defeated General Early in several engagements in the Shenandoah valley. On Oct. 19 occurred his famous ride from Winchester. Under orders from Grant he devastated the valley. He was appointed to the chief command of the cavalry, which branch of the Federal forces, under his able and energetic direction, acquired an efficiency and gained a reputation such as it had never borne before. Sheridan was promoted brigadier-general, U. S. A., Sept. 20, 1864, and major-general, Nov. 8 of the same year.

On Feb. 9, 1865, the thanks of Congress were tendered to him for "the gallantry, military skill, and courage displayed in the brilliant series of victories achieved by by his army in the valley of the Shenandoah, especially at Cedar Creek." After the capture of Staunton, he pressed on Publishers' Photo Service TRAVELING ON THE BACKS OF ELEPHANTS IN SIAM Enc. Vol. 8-p. 388 Publishers' Photo Service PLOWING WITH A PRIMITIVE PLOW, DRAWN BY A WATER BUFFALO, SIAM Underwood & Underwood INTERIOR OF AN AMERICAN SHOE FACTORY E. M. Newman MOTH, COCOONS, AND EGGS OF SILKWORM E. M. Newman A JAPANESE WOMAN PLACING

SILKWORMS ON MULBERRY LEAVES Keystone View Company COCOONS OF THE SILKWORMS IN THE NESTS PROVIDED FOR THEM Keystone View Company DELICATE MACHINERY FOR REELING THE SILK FROM COCOONS E. M. Newman REMOVING THE COCOONS E. M. Newman SPINNING THE SILK Keystone View Company HIGH SPEED, BROAD, GOODS, FRENCH LOOMS, USED IN AN AMERICAN SILK MILL Publishers' Photo Service TOWN AND HARBOR OF SITKA, ALASKA SHERIDAN to Columbia, laying waste the country in every direction; gained the battle of Five Forks, April 1, 1865; assisted in compelling the Confederate forces to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond, and near Appomattox Court House encountered General Lee, who surrendered April 9. General Sheridan was in command of the Military Division of the Southwest from June 3 to July 17, 1865; of the Military Division of the Gulf, July 17, 1865, to Aug. 15, 1866; of the Department of the Gulf, Aug. ug. 15, 1866, to March 11, 1867; of the District of Louisiana and Texas , March 11 to Sept. 5, 1867; and of the Department of the Missouri, Sept. 12 , 1867. On March 4, 1869, he was promoted lieutenant-general, and Nov. 1 , 1883, succeeded Sherman in command of the army. Congress revived the grade of general, to which he was appointed, June 1, 1888. He died in Nonquitt, Mass., Aug. 5, 1888. ointed.

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