gem
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2012
Here is an 1891 $10 Treasury Note featuring Philip Sheridan
Although of diminutive stature (5'5 115 lbs) General Philip Sheridan was one of the Civil War's most famed Generals. He's best known for his campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley especially the Battle of Cedar Creek.
During the Civil War, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was a vital resource to the Confederacy. Not only did it serve as the Confederate “breadbasket”, it was an important transportation route.
The region had witnessed two large-scale campaigns already when Gen. Ulysses S. Grant decided to visit the Valley once again in 1864. He sent Philip Sheridan on a mission to make the Shenandoah Valley a “barren waste”.
In September, Sheridan defeated Confederate General Jubal Early’s smaller force at Third Winchester, and again at Fisher’s Hill.
Then he began “The Burning” – destroying barns, mills, railroads, factories – destroying resources for which the Confederacy had a dire need.
In October, however,General Jubal Early, in what appeared to be a twist of fate, caught the Union Army off guard. Early launched a surprise attack at Cedar Creek on the Oct. 19th 1864.
The resulting attack left the Union Army in chaos. During the morning fighting, seven Union infantry divisions were forced to fall back. To make matters worse, Sheridan was twenty miles away in Winchester, Virginia.
Upon hearing the sound of artillery fire, Sheridan, jumped on his horse in a race to rejoin his forces. By mid day Early took a moment to regroup and consolidate his victory. Then came riding in Sheridan rallying the faltering
Union force and by late afternoon Early and the Confederate Army had been routed.
For his actions at Cedar Creek, Sheridan was promoted to Major General. He also received a letter of gratitude from President Abraham Lincoln. The general took great pleasure in Thomas Buchanan Read’s poem, “Sheridan’s Ride” – so much so that he renamed his horse “Winchester”.
The Federal victory ended Jubal Early’s career, lifted the pall of war-weariness from the North, helped assure the reelection of Lincoln and ended Southern hopes for a negotiated settlement of the War.
Although of diminutive stature (5'5 115 lbs) General Philip Sheridan was one of the Civil War's most famed Generals. He's best known for his campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley especially the Battle of Cedar Creek.
During the Civil War, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was a vital resource to the Confederacy. Not only did it serve as the Confederate “breadbasket”, it was an important transportation route.
The region had witnessed two large-scale campaigns already when Gen. Ulysses S. Grant decided to visit the Valley once again in 1864. He sent Philip Sheridan on a mission to make the Shenandoah Valley a “barren waste”.
In September, Sheridan defeated Confederate General Jubal Early’s smaller force at Third Winchester, and again at Fisher’s Hill.
Then he began “The Burning” – destroying barns, mills, railroads, factories – destroying resources for which the Confederacy had a dire need.
In October, however,General Jubal Early, in what appeared to be a twist of fate, caught the Union Army off guard. Early launched a surprise attack at Cedar Creek on the Oct. 19th 1864.
The resulting attack left the Union Army in chaos. During the morning fighting, seven Union infantry divisions were forced to fall back. To make matters worse, Sheridan was twenty miles away in Winchester, Virginia.
Upon hearing the sound of artillery fire, Sheridan, jumped on his horse in a race to rejoin his forces. By mid day Early took a moment to regroup and consolidate his victory. Then came riding in Sheridan rallying the faltering
Union force and by late afternoon Early and the Confederate Army had been routed.
For his actions at Cedar Creek, Sheridan was promoted to Major General. He also received a letter of gratitude from President Abraham Lincoln. The general took great pleasure in Thomas Buchanan Read’s poem, “Sheridan’s Ride” – so much so that he renamed his horse “Winchester”.
The Federal victory ended Jubal Early’s career, lifted the pall of war-weariness from the North, helped assure the reelection of Lincoln and ended Southern hopes for a negotiated settlement of the War.