Philip H. Sheridan Quick Facts
Name Meaning
Greek: Lover of horses
Vital Stats
Birthday: March 6, 1831
Birth Name: Philip Henry Sheridan
Birthplace: Disputed *
Date of Death: August 5th, 1888
Cause: Heart attack
Place of Death: Nonquitt, MA
Height: 5′ 5″ **
Nationality: American
Ancestry: Irish
Occupation before Civil War:
Store clerk, officer in U.S. Army
Occupation during Civil War:
Officer in Union Army, rising from
1st Lieutenant to Major General
Occupation after Civil War:
General in U.S. Army;
was Commanding General
of U.S. Army 1883-1888
Major Battles:
Corinth, Perryville, Stones River,
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge,
Overland Campaign, Third Winchester,
Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Five Forks,
Sayler’s Creek, Appomattox Court House
Relatives
Father: John Sheridan (1801-75)
Mother: Mary Minah Sheridan (1801-88)
Brother: Patrick H. Sheridan (1828-51)
Sister: Rosa Sheridan (1829-31)
Sister: Mary Sheridan Wilson (1834-68)
Brother: John L. Sheridan (1837-98)
Brother: Michael Sheridan (1840-1918)
Romance
Married: Irene Rucker Sheridan 6/3/1875
(1853-1939)
Children
Mary Sheridan (1876-1959)
Louise Sheridan (twin, 1877-1969)
Irene Sheridan (twin, 1877-1964)
Philip H. Sheridan Jr. (1880-1918)
* Sheridan claimed he was born in Albany, but he may have been born in
County Cavan, Ireland; Somerset, Ohio (where he grew up); Boston, Mass.;
or on board ship when the family emigrated from Ireland.
** Sheridan was nicknamed “Little Phil” because of his short stature and weight.
He was also called “Fightin’ Phil” because of his battle exhortations: “Smash ’em up.”
The Language of the Civil War:
Resources
- Personal Memoirs Of P. H. Sheridan
by Philip Sheridan
- Phil Sheridan and His Army
by Paul Andrew Hutton
- Sheridan: The Life And Wars Of General Phil Sheridan
by Roy Morris, Jr.
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He was born in Oldcastle, co. West Meath Ireland
He was my Great Grand Uncle. As a child I lived in Ireland, I remember going to his grand- nephew also called Phillip sheridan’s funeral.
The family has always said he was born in Oldcastle, there is a marker ( well there was a marker) about 40 years ago.
Margaret, I do believe we’re related. My grandfather is Philip Sheridan Turrell; he’s General Sheridan’s nephew. General Sheridan is my Great-Great Uncle also.
Thanks, Margaret. I wonder if he claimed (or was told) he was born in Albany instead of in Ireland to avoid some of the discrimination that was common against Irish immigrants at that time.
Excuses me. I am French and I am very interested by the Civil War. But in this photo we can see that Major-general Sheridan wears a medal, and yet, Sheridan never received the Medal of Honor. So, I would like to know, please, what is this medal. An idea ?
It’s true that Sheridan did not win a Medal of Honor, but I don’t know what medal he is wearing in that picture. Do any other readers of this blog have any idea?
Maybe he got it because he was a War Hero? Maybe he got it
because he got promoted to a General?
It is most likely a campaign medal. They had these if they were part of a victorious campaign.
Thank you for this information =)
I foud a source saying that it’s the Sheridan’s cavalry corps badge.
ccffcw.clicforum.com/t1643-Sheridan-pose-avec-sa-medaille.htm
Margaret and A.R.
I do believe we are related as well. My grandmother who died at 78 in the 90’s used to tell us as kids how we were related to General Sheridan I’m pretty sure a Great something Grandfather.
Her maiden name was Mary Louise Sheridan. I was doing a bit of research and found that the General had two daughters named Mary and Louise.