Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, Volume 1, Part 1

"Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, Volume 1, Part 1" by Philip Henry Sheridan is a historical account written during the late 19th century. The book chronicles the author's life and military career, particularly focusing on his experiences during the American Civil War and the subsequent conflicts with Native American tribes in the West. It serves as both a personal narrative and a historical document, offering insights into Sheridan's actions and reflections during pivotal moments in American history. The opening of this memoir provides an engaging introduction to Sheridan's early life, detailing his ancestry, upbringing, and the challenges he faced on his path to becoming a military officer. Sheridan explains his family's emigration from Ireland to the United States and the various trials they encountered as they settled in Ohio. He recounts his formative years, including his education, his stint as a clerk in a grocery store, and ultimately his appointment to the prestigious West Point Military Academy. The narrative sets the stage for the future chapters, which promise to delve into Sheridan's evolving military career, his strategic mindset, and encounters with both soldiers and Native Americans in the growing frontier. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with General-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant, who transferred Sheridan from command of an infantry division in the Western Theater to lead the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac in the East. In 1864, he defeated Confederate forces under General Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley and his destruction of the economic infrastructure of the Valley, called "The Burning" by residents, was one of the first uses of scorched-earth tactics in the war. In 1865, his cavalry pursued Gen. Robert E. Lee and was instrumental in forcing his surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.