Sheridan Philip Sheridan

[Bee]

There is quite a lot written about Warren before he was relieved by Sheridan, as he was perceived to be under-aggressive and over-aggressive at the wrong times. He has already agitated those in leadership before his relief by Sheridan, however the court of inquiry found in favour of Warren:

Humiliated by Sheridan, Warren resigned his commission as major general of volunteers in protest on May 27, 1865, reverting to his permanent rank as major in the Corps of Engineers. He served as an engineer for seventeen years, building railroads, with assignments along the Mississippi River, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1879. But the career that had shown so much promise at Gettysburg was ruined. He urgently requested a court of inquiry to exonerate him from the stigma of Sheridan's action. Numerous requests were ignored or refused until Ulysses S. Grant retired from the presidency. President Rutherford B. Hayes ordered a court of inquiry that convened in 1879 and, after hearing testimony from dozens of witnesses over 100 days, found that Sheridan's relief of Warren had been unjustified. Unfortunately for Warren, these results were not published until after his death. Summarized in Wiki from Eric Wittenberg, Little Phil [pg 127-131]​

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

All I know about Sheridan is from Joshua Elisha Hunts book " All for the Union" when Hunt praised Sheridan' s Shenandoah Valley campaign as " brilliant".
Leftyhunter

I prefer Jeff Wert's analysis: "A victorious campaign bereft of decision."

 

[cash]

All I know about Sheridan is from Joshua Elisha Hunts book " All for the Union" when Hunt praised Sheridan' s Shenandoah Valley campaign as " brilliant".
Leftyhunter

Elisha Hunt Rhodes?

 

[dlofting]

Is that how we got George A. Custer?

Can you elaborate on this ?

 

[leftyhunter]

Elisha Hunt Rhodes?

Your right my bad.
Leftyhunter

 

[Bee]

An interesting article by Jeffry D. Wert regarding the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864

Closing the Back Door

The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864
Jeffrey D. Wert, Hallowed Ground Magazine​

 

[cash]

An interesting article by Jeffry D. Wert regarding the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864

Closing the Back Door

The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864
Jeffrey D. Wert, Hallowed Ground Magazine​

Some additional resources:

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/from-winchester-to-cedar-creek/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/04/25/jubal-early-and-the-1864-shenandoah-valley-campaign/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com...-door-the-shenandoah-valley-campaign-of-1864/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/the-shenandoah-valley-campaign-of-1864/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/1864-shenandoah-valley-campaign/

 

[wausaubob]

Can you elaborate on this ?

No. Custer is not worth the electrons.

 

[dlofting]

No. Custer is not worth the electrons.

Not trying to be difficult, but I think he is.

 

[Bee]

Some additional resources:

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/from-winchester-to-cedar-creek/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/04/25/jubal-early-and-the-1864-shenandoah-valley-campaign/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com...-door-the-shenandoah-valley-campaign-of-1864/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/the-shenandoah-valley-campaign-of-1864/

https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/1864-shenandoah-valley-campaign/

Avalanche!!!

Thank you. I find the topic of Sheridan fascinating. (especially since Grant was such an ardent supporter)

 

[Specster]

I know hard core Southerners hate him with a passion and I dont think that was because he was shy or unsuccessful in causing harm to the enemy. You have to take into account that it took a while for the Union Calvary to get up 2 speed. They did not have good horsemen nor good horses. The Northern horses were by and large draft animals. Equestrian sports were Southern Phenoms pre war. Sheridan is hated in the South as much as anyone and I think he was no more ruthless than Jackson. There has to be a good reason for that

 

[WJC]

Does General Sheridan get the credit he deserves for helping win the Civil War? Sheridan was a major American hero, but did his performance merit his hero status? He was a good general and seemed to usually win battles.

Grant certainly thought highly of him. He promoted him before Meade.
Sheridan was appointed November 14 with date of rank November 8. Meade was not appointed until November 26, although his date of rank was established as August 18, meaning he technically outranked Sheridan. The Senate confirmed Sheridan on January 13, 1865, Meade on February 1, 1865.
I'll be interested in what opinions you get in response....

 

[major bill]

Grant did like Sheridan and Sherman, so he pushed for them. I believe Grant respected Meade but perhaps did not like him in the same way. Grant was not one who cared much for poor leaders and the fact he liked Sherman and Sheridan would seem to indicate Grant believed them to be capable leaders.

 

[Bee]

Grant was not one who cared much for poor leaders and the fact he liked Sherman and Sheridan would seem to indicate Grant believed them to be capable leaders.

Sheridan and Sherman were both young and aggressive -- 35 and 33, respectively. Meade was "old" and surely at 48. I believe from my reading that Grant was willing to excuse a certain amount of flaws in exchange in an aggressive general.

 

[major bill]

Grant did get his wish with Sheridan. Sherman might be called aggressive in some ways, but Sherman was not one to rush an attack. Should we consider Sherman as being aggressive?

 

[Bee]

Sherman might be called aggressive in some ways, but Sherman was not one to rush an attack.

I think this to be a good description. Sherman came up with the aggressive plans, but he, himself, tended to be cautious.

 

[NedBaldwin]

Nobody thinks Sheridan showed any brilliance in the Valley Campaign of 1864...

I thought that at the time he got a big accolades for it and was promoted.

 

[NedBaldwin]

In addition to Grant liking him, in the summer of 1862 several generals sent Halleck a letter begging that Sheridan be promoted because he was "worth his weight in gold". The letter was signed by Generals Rosecrans, Granger, Asboth, Elliot and Sullivan.

 

[MHB1862]

I know hard core Southerners hate him with a passion and I dont think that was because he was shy or unsuccessful in causing harm to the enemy. You have to take into account that it took a while for the Union Calvary to get up 2 speed. They did not have good horsemen nor good horses. The Northern horses were by and large draft animals. Equestrian sports were Southern Phenoms pre war. Sheridan is hated in the South as much as anyone and I think he was no more ruthless than Jackson. There has to be a good reason for that

Sheridan no more ruthless than Jackson?
What valley did Jackson burn?

 

[Bee]

In addition to Grant liking him, in the summer of 1862 several generals sent Halleck a letter begging that Sheridan be promoted because he was "worth his weight in gold". The letter was signed by Generals Rosecrans, Granger, Asboth, Elliot and Sullivan.

Not many people know that [Maj. Gen. Horatio Gouverneur] Wright is one of the commanders responsible for Sheridan's rise. "While heading the Department of the Ohio, Wright, recognizing Sheridan's worth, cosigned a September 12, 1862 telegram to the War Department that prompted Sheridan's promotion to brigadier general. 'We have no good generals here and are badly in want of them,' he wired. 'Sheridan is worth his weight in gold. Will you not try and have him made a brigadier at once? It will put us in good shape.' https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/the-shenandoah-valley-campaign-of-1864/​