Philip Sheridan
Born in Albany, New York in 1831, he graduated in the bottom third of his West Point class of 1853. During the Civil War, Sheridan had one of the highest gains in rank and responsibility amongst Federal officers. He began the war as chief quartermaster of the Army of Southwest Missouri and finished as major general commanding the Army of the Shenandoah. His commands fought stubbornly at Perryville, Murfeesboro, and Chickamauga. At Chattanooga, Sheridan's men captured Missionary Ridge. When U.S. Grant was made general in chief of the Union armies, he brought Philip Sheridan with him to command all the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. Under Sheridan, the Union cavalry was finally able to compete with Jeb Stuart's cavalry. In 1864, Sheridan was given the Army of the Shenandoah and the task of defeating Jubal Early and turning the Shenandoah Valley into a wasteland. Following his success, he reunited with Grant before Petersburg and blocked Lee's line of retreat forcing the surrender at Appomattox. Along with Grant and Sherman, Sheridan finished the war as one of the Union's three great heroes of the war. In 1884 Sheridan became commanding general of the army and was made full general prior to his death in 1888.Source: "Generals in Blue" Warner, Ezra J.
