The Personal Memoirs Of P. H. Sheridan

by Sheridan, P. H.

• ISBN13: 9780306804878
• ISBN10: 0306804875
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-08-22
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Summary

General Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-1888) was the most important Union cavalry commander of the Civil War, and ranks as one of America's greatest horse soldiers. From Corinth through Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, he made himself a reputation for courage and efficiency; after his defeat of J.E.B. Stuart's rebel cavalry, Grant named him commander of the Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley. There he laid waste to the entire region, and his victory over Jubal Early's troops in the Battle of Cedar Creek brought him worldwide renown and a promotion to major general in the regular army. It was Sheridan who cut off Lee's retreat at Appomattox, thus securing the surrender of the Confederate Army. Subsequent to the Civil War, Sheridan was active in the 1868 war with the Comanches and Cheyennes, where he won infamy with his statement that the only good Indians I ever saw were dead. In 1888 he published his Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, one of the best first-hand accounts of the Civil War and the Indian wars which followed.

Author Biography

General Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-1888) was the most important Union cavalry commander of the Civil War, and ranks as one of America's greatest horse soldiers.

Table of Contents

Chapter I	1	(8)
Ancestry
Birth
Early Education
A Clerk in a Grocery Store
Appointment
Monroe Shoes
Journey to West Point
Hazing
A Fisticuff Battle
Suspended
Returns to Clerkship
Graduation
Chapter II	9	(10)
Ordered to Fort Duncan, Texas
``Northers''
Scouting Duty
Hunting
Nearly Caught by the Indians
A Primitive Habitation
A Brave Drummer Boy's Death
A Mexican Ball
Chapter III	19	(10)
Ordered to Fort Reading, Cal.
A Dangerous Undertaking
A Rescued Soldier
Discovering Indians
Primitive Fishing
A Deserted Village
Camping Opposite Fort Vancouver
Chapter IV	29	(10)
``Old Red''
Skillful Shooting
The Yakima War
A Ludicrous Mistake
``Cut-Mouth John's'' Encounter
Father Pandoza's Mission
A Snow-Storm
Failure of the Expedition
Chapter V	39	(8)
An Indian Confederation
Massacre at the Cascades of the Columbia
Plan to Relieve the Block-House
A Hazardous Movement
A New Method of Establishing Guilt
Execution of the Indian Murderers
Chapter VI	47	(10)
Misdirected Vengeance
Honorable Mention
A Change of Command
Educated Oxen
Feeding the Indians
Purchasing a Burying-Ground
Knowing Rats
Chapter VII	57	(12)
``Learning the Chinock Language
Strange Indian Customs
Their Doctors
Sam Patch
The Murder of a Woman
In a Tight Place
Surprising the Indians
Conflicting Reports of the Battle of Bull Run
Secession Question in California
Appointed a Captain
Transferred to the East
Chapter VIII	69	(10)
Auditing Accounts
Chief Quartermaster and Commissary of the Army of Southwest Missoure
Preparing for the Pea Ridge Campaign
A Difference with General Curtis
Ordered to the Front
Appointed a Colonel
Chapter IX	79	(12)
Expedition to Booneville
Destroying Supplies
Confederate Stragglers
Success of the Expedition
A Reconnaissance
The Importance of Bodily Sustenance
The Battle of Booneville
Recommended for Appointment as a Brigadier-General
Chapter X	91	(10)
In Camp near Reinzi
General Granger
A Valuable Capture at Ripley
Raiding a Corn-Field
Repulsing an Attack
Presented with the Black Horse ``Rienzi''
Meeting General Grant
Appointed a Brigadier
General
Chapter XI	101	(10)
Good Advice from General Nelson
His Tragic Death
Putting Louisville in a State of Defense
Assinged to the Command of the Eleventh Division
Capture of Chaplin Heights
Battle of Perryville
Reported Among the Killed
A Thrilling Incident
General Buell Relieved by General Resecrans
Chapter XII	111	(8)
Moving to Bowling Green
James Card, the Scout and Guide
General Sill
Colonel Schaefer
Colonel G. W. Roberts
Movement on Murfreesboro'
Opening of the Battle of Stone River
Chapter XIII	119	(14)
Assault on our Right Flank
Occupying a New Position
The Enemy Checked
Terrible Loss of Officers
Ammunition Gives Out
Reconstructing the Line
Collecting the Wounded and Burying the Dead
Dealing with Cowards
Results of the Victory
Chapter XIV	133	(14)
Appointed a Major-General
The Secret Expendition under Card the Scout
His Capture by Guerrillas
Escape
A Revenge Party
Women Soldiers
A Fight with Sabres
Tullahoma Campaign
A Foolish Adventure
Chapter XV	147	(12)
Ordered to Occupy Bridgeport
A Spy
The Battle of Chickamauga
General Thomas
Treated to Coffee
Results of the Battle
Chapter XVI	159	(18)
At Chattanooga
The Enemy Fortifies Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge
Reorganizing the Army
Removal of General Rosecrans
Punishment of Deserters
Grant at Chattanooga
The Fight on Lookout Mountain
A Brave Color Bearer
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Chapter XVII	177	(10)
Ordered to Return to Chattanooga
March to Knoxville
Collecting Subsistence Stores
A Clever Stratagem
A Bridge of Wagons
Looking Out for the Personal Comfort of the Soldiers
A Leave of Absence
Ordered to Washington
Parting with Sheridan's Division
Chapter XVIII	187	(16)
At Washington
Meeting Secretary Stanton
Interview with President Lincoln
Made Commander of the Cavalary Corps of the Army of the Potomac
Its Officers
General Meade's Method of Using Cavalry
Opening of the Campaign
Spottsylvania Court House
A Difference with General Meade
Preparing to Fight Stuart's Cavalry
Chapter XIX	203	(12)
The Expendition Starts
Destroying Supplies
Opening of the Fight at Yellow Tavern
General Custer's Brilliant Charge
Death of General Stuart
Removing Torpedoes
Excitement in Richmond
A Night March
Enterprising Newsnboys
The Effects of Stuart's Defe and Death
End of the First Expedition
Its Great Success and Beneficial Results
Chapter XX	215	(10)
General Wilson's Advance Toward Hanover Court House
Crossing the Pamunkey
Engagement of Have's Shop
Fight at Maladequin Creck
Capture of Cold Harbor
The Fight to Retain the Place
Movements of General Wilson
Chapter XXI	225	(14)
The Movement to the James
The Second Expedition
Battle of Trevillian Station
Defeat of General Wade Hampton
Mallory's Crossroads
Suffering of the Wounded
Securing the Trains
General Gregg's Stubborn Fight
Chapter XXII	239	(12)
General Wilson's Raid
Destroying Railroads
His Discomfiture
Results of his Raid
Remounts
Movement to the North Side of the James
Deceiving Lee
My Isolated Position
Estimate of Hancock
Success of the Cavalary
Their Constant Duties
Chapter XXIII	251	(10)
General Hunter's Successful March and Subsequent Retreat
General Jubal A. Early Threatens Washington
Chambersburg, Pa., Burned
Selected to Operate Against General Early
The Shenandoah Valley
The Confederate Army
Chapter XXIV	261
Moving on General Early
General Grant's Letter of Instructions
Destroying the Resources of the Valley
Reason for the Destruction
Withdrawal to Halltown
Alarm in the North over the Retrograde Movement
Renewing the Advance up the Valley
General Anderson's Attempt to Return to Petersburg
Strength of the Armies