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Biographical Notes
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Philip Sheridan
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General Ulysses S. Grant was now commander of the Union forces west of the Mississippi. Grant took personal control of the Union effort to break the siege of Chattanouga. Sherman brought reinforcements and Grant devised a plan of attack that gave Sherman a leading role. Sherman did not fare very well, but Sheridan's division performed heroically, and played a critical role in carrying Missionary Ridge - the key to the Union victory. Grant was particularly impressed with Sheridan's zeal in following up his success with a strong pursuit of the retreating rebel force. After Chattanouga, Sheridan's division was part of the reinforcement sent to shore up the Union position in eastern Tennessee. At one point in a series of command changes he actually commanded the Army of the Ohio for a brief period. Eventually, with that front quiet, he was permitted to take a few weeks of leave. Following his return from leave he received orders to report to the Adjutant General in Washington, D.C.
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In February 1864, Grant was promoted to Lieutenant General and made General-in-Chief of the Union Army replacing Halleck. He had summoned Sheridan to Washington to replace Major General Alfred Pleasonton in command of the Army of the Potomac's Cavalry Corps. Sheridan met with Grant and then took command on April 5, 1864. The command structure gave Army of the Potomac Commander, General George Meade, command of the Cavalry Corps even though Grant was in the field alongside Meade. Sheridan and Meade did not agree as to the proper use of cavalry, but Sheridan's views were closer to those of Grant and eventually he was permitted to exercise the cavalry as a separate combat arm rather than confine it to more limited duties such as supply line protection and picket duty. On May 4 the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River and headed south to attack Lee and the Army of Virginia. Sheridan's cavalry participated on the fringe of the Battle of the Wilderness, but at the ensuing Battle of Spotsylvania he and Meade got into a violent argument. Meade took the matter to Grant saying that Sheridan thought that he could whip the Confederate Cavalry led by the fabled J.E.B. Sturart if only he were turned loose. Grant sided with Sheridan.
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Three days after making his boast to Meade, Sheridan located Stuart near Yellow Tavern and, not only won the battle, but also succeeded in mortally wounding Stuart himself. After the Battle of Cold Harbor, Grant used Sheridan's cavalry corps to destroy some of Lee's rail supply lines in the Confederate rear area and mask the Army's move on Petersburg. In the interim, between Cold Harbor and Petersburg, Sheridan's troopers were accused of "looting" the countryside. Sheridan defended his men saying that he saw nothing wrong in "foraging for supplies" when in enemy country where the civilian populace supported the rebellion. In the summer of 1864, Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early, marched through the Shenandoah Valley to threaten Washington D.C. Grant organized an effective defense of the capital, but also created a new command with the specific purpose of destroying both Early's force and the valley's ability to support another Confederate advance on the capital. Sheridan was given command of the Union forces in the field and was instructed to follow Early to the death and simultaneously waste the valley.
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On September 19, 1864, Sheridan hit Early at Winchester and resoundingly defeated him albeit with Union losses far in excess of those of the Confederates. Grant recommended that Sheridan be promoted to brigadier general in the regular army. Sheridan followed up on the Winchester victory with another at Fisher's Hill a few days later. Sheridan then turned to the destruction of the Shenandoah Valley - a task that he executed so thoroughly that residents of the area still refer to it as the "Burning." On October 19, Early returned to do battle with Sheridan at Cedar Creek. Early in the battle the rebels surpised and routed the federals, but Sheridan managed to personally rally his troops and turn the nascent defeat into a Union victory. Grant already thought highly of Sheridan, but this battle and his role in it made Sheridan a truly great general in Grant's eyes. Lincoln promoted Sheridan to major general in the regular army. During the months that followed Sheridan attempted unsuccessfully to find a way to deal effectively with Colonel John Singleton Mosby's raiders. Although Mosby's force was small and there were no major engagements, there were a nasty and continuing series of embarrassing incidents. One of the most mortifying was the kidnapping of Generals Crook and Kelley in Cumberland on February 21, 1865. (They were later exchanged.)
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