Little Phil

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2nd Lieutenant
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Oct 26, 2012
Here is an 1891 $10 Treasury Note featuring Philip Sheridan

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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.
 
Well, this is interesting. I knew about Sheridan's ride, but not that he had appeared on currency.
 
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Wonder if there are other Treasury notes depicting CW commanders. Looks like it might be a series of some sort, like the post office does with stamps.
 
Complete type set of 1890/1891 Treasury Notes (Images from Smithsonian)

Who appears on the note depends on the denomination. From $1 to $1000 dollars.

Value Series Fr. [nb 1] Image Portrait Classification/variety
1$1
1890 Fr.347
200px-US-%241-TN-1890-Fr-347.jpg
Stanton1Edwin Stanton


1$1 1891 Fr.351
200px-US-%241-TN-1891-Fr-351.jpg
Stanton1Edwin Stanton


2$2 1890 Fr.353
200px-US-%242-TN-1890-Fr-353.jpg
McPherson1James McPherson
2$2 1891 Fr.357
200px-US-%242-TN-1891-Fr-357.jpg
McPherson1James McPherson
  • .
5$5 1890 Fr.361
200px-US-%245-TN-1890-Fr.361.jpg
Thomas1George H. Thomas
5$5 1891 Fr.365
200px-US-%245-TN-1891-Fr.365.jpg
Thomas1George H. Thomas
10$10 1890 Fr.367
200px-US-%2410-TN-1890-Fr-367.jpg
Sheridan1Philip Sheridan
  • .
10$10 1891 Fr.371
200px-US-%2410-TN-1891-Fr-371.jpg
Sheridan1Philip Sheridan

20$20 1890 Fr.374
200px-US-%2420-TN-1890-Fr-374.jpg
Marshall1John Marshall
375 – Tillman and Morgan – small red.
375a – Bruce and Roberts – small red.

50$50 1891 Fr.376
200px-US-%2450-TN-1891-Fr-376.jpg
SewardWilliam Seward

100$100 1890 Fr.377
200px-US-%24100-TN-1890-Fr-377.jpg
Farragut1David

100$100 1891 Fr.378
200px-US-%24100-TN-1891-Fr-378.jpg
Farragut1David Farragut


500$500 1891
200px-US-%24500-TN-1891-PROOF.jpg
ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman
379 – Bruce and Roberts – small red.

1000$1,000 1890 Fr.379a
200px-US-%241000-TN-1890-Fr-379a.jpg
Meade1George Meade
1000$1,000 1891 Fr.379c
200px-US-%241000-TN-1891-Fr-379c.jpg
Meade1George Meade
  • 379c – Tillman and Morgan – small red.
  • 379d – Rosecrans and Nebecker – small red.
 
The $1000 treasury note featuring General George Meade is Holy Grail of paper money collecting.
It's nicknamed the Grand Watermelon note because the zeros on the back look like watermelons. Only 3 notes of this type are available to collectors. The rarity and the iconic reverse design makes for the ultimate note.
This example sold through Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in 2014 for 3.29 million dollars.



watermelon_zpseh5d1zyq.jpg

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I believe it was Sheridan who was once quoted as having said that "the only good $10 bill is a spent one" or maybe it was, "the only good $10 bill I ever saw was a spent one". Or something like that.
 
I believe it was Sheridan who was once quoted as having said that "the only good $10 bill is a spent one" or maybe it was, "the only good $10 bill I ever saw was a spent one". Or something like that.
Sheridan said "The only good Indians I ever saw were dead." Although, he disputed saying this, the statement is widely attributed to him.
 
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