dan is appointed major-general in the United States array, to rank as such from the 8th day of November, 1864.” The immediate tribute of Grant was also very strong. In an order that each of the armies under his command should fire a salute of one hundred guns in honor of these victories, he says of the last battle that “it stamps Sheridan, what I have always thought him, one of the ablest of generals.” On 9 Feb., 1865, Sheridan received the thanks of congress for “the gallantry, military skill, and courage displayed in the brilliant series of victories achieved by his army in the valley of the Shenandoah, especially at Cedar Run.” During the remainder of the war Sheridan fought under the direct command of Grant, and always with unabated vigor and consummate skill. In the days between 27 Feb. and 24 March, 1865, he conducted, with 10,000 cavalry, a colossal raid from Winchester to Petersburg, destroying the James river and Kanawha canal, and cutting the Gordonsville and Lynchburg, the Virginia Central, and the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads. During this movement, on 1 March, he secured the bridge over the middle fork of the Shenandoah, and on the 2d he again routed Early at Waynesboro', pursuing him toward Charlottesville. He joined the Army of the Potomac and shared in all its battles. From Grant's general orders, sent in circular to Meade, Ord, and Sheridan, on 24 March, 1865, we learn that a portion of the army was to be moved along its left to turn the enemy out of Petersburg, that the rest of the army was to be ready to repel and take advantage of attacks in front, while Gen. Sheridan, with his cavalry, should go out to destroy the Southside and Danville railroad and take measures to intercept the enemy should he evacuate the defences of Richmond. On the morning of 29 March the movement began. Two corps of the Army of the Potomac were moved toward Dinwiddie Court-House, which was in a measure the key of the position to be cleared by Sheridan's troops. The court-house lies in the fork of the Southside and Weldon railroads, which meet in Petersburg. A severe action took place at Dinwiddie, after which Sheridan advanced to Five Forks on 31 March. Here he was strongly resisted by the bulk of Lee's column, but, dismounting his cavalry and deploying, he checked the enemy's progress, retiring slowly upon Dinwiddie. Of this Gen. Grant says: “Here he displayed great generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole command, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, he deployed his cavalry on foot, . . . he despatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie.” There re-enforced, and assuming additional command of the 5th corps, 12,000 strong, he returned on 1 April with it and 9,000 cavalry to Five Forks and ordered Merritt to make a feint of turning the enemy's right, while the 5th struck their left flank. The Confederates were driven from their strong line and routed, fleeing westward and leaving 6,000 prisoners in his hands. Sheridan immediately pursued. Five Forks was one of the most brilliant and decisive of the engagements of the war, and compelled Lee's evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond. Sheridan was engaged at Sailor's Creek, 6 April, where he captured sixteen guns, and in many minor actions, 8-9 April, harassing and pursuing the Army of Northern Virginia, and aiding largely to compel the final surrender. He was present at the surrender at Appomattox Court-House on 9 April. He made a raid to South Boston, N. C., on the river Dan, on 24 April, returning to Petersburg on 3 May, 1865.
After the war Sheridan was in charge of the
military division of the Gulf from 17 July to 15
Aug., 1866, which was then created the Department
of the Gulf, and remained there until 11
March, 1867. From 12 Sept. to 16 March he was
in command of the Department of the Missouri,
with headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Thence he conducted a winter campaign against
the Indians, after which he took charge of the
military division of the Mississippi, with
headquarters at Chicago. When Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
became president, 4 March, 1869, Gen. William T.
Sherman was made general-in-chief and Sheridan
was promoted to lieutenant-general, with the
understanding that both these titles should disappear
with the men holding them.
In 1870 Sheridan visited Europe to witness the conduct of the Franco-Prussian war. He was with the German staff during the battle of Gravelotte, and presented some judicious criticisms of the campaign. He commanded the western and southwestern military divisions in 1878. On the retirement of Sherman in 1883, the lieutenant-general became general-in-chief. In May, 1888, he became ill from exposure in western travel, and, in recognition of his claims, a bill was passed by both houses of congress, and was promptly signed by President Cleveland, restoring for him and during his lifetime the full rank and emoluments of general. He was the nineteenth general-in-chief of the United States army. Sheridan never was defeated, and often plucked victory out of the jaws of defeat. He was thoroughly trusted, admired, and loved by his officers and men. He bore the nickname of “Little Phil,” a term of endearment due to his size, like the “petit corporal” of Napoleon I. He was below the middle height, but powerfully built, with a strong countenance indicative of valor and resolution. Trustful to a remarkable degree, modest and reticent, he was a model soldier and general, a good citizen in all the relations of public and private life, thoroughly deserving the esteem and admiration of all who knew him. In 1879 Sheridan married Miss Rucker, the daughter of Gen. Daniel H. Rucker, of the U. S. army. He was a Roman Catholic, and devoted to his duties as such. He was the author of “Personal Memoirs” (2 vols., New York, 1888).
SHERMAN, Buren Robinson, governor of Iowa, b. in Phelps, N. Y., 28 May, 1836. In 1849 the family removed to Elmira, where he attended the public schools, and in 1852 was apprenticed to a jeweler. In 1855 the family emigrated to Iowa, where he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1859, and began practice in Vinton in January, 1860. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the 13th Iowa infantry, was promoted lieutenant, was severely wounded at Shiloh, and advanced to captain for gallant conduct on the field, but in the summer of 1863 his wounds compelled him to resign. On his return he was elected county judge of Benton county, which post he resigned in 1866 to accept the office of clerk of the district court, to which he was three times re-elected. He was chosen auditor of the state in 1874. and twice reelected, retiring in January, 1881. In 1882-'6 he was governor of Iowa. During his two terms of service many new questions were presented for settlement, among which was that of total prohibition of the liquor traffic, which Gov. Sherman favored in letters and speeches. He held publie officers to Mi-id accountability, and removed a liiu'h state ollieial for wilful misconduct. In 1885 he received the degree of LL. D. from the University of Iowa.
