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Sheridan: The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan
He was short, foul-mouthed, and so constitutionally pugnacious that he once thrashed a Southern train conductor who treated him rudely. He rose from the undistinguished rank of quartermaster to command the Union cavalry at the battles of Yellow Tavern (where he defeated his flamboyant rebel counterpart, J.E.B. Stuart) and Winchester. And when the Civil War was over, General Phil Sheridan continued to fight, whether that meant plunging into the bloody and byzantine politics of Reconstruction Louisiana or managing the inglorious war against the Plains Indians.
This outstanding biography restores Sheridan to his place in American military history; examines his relationships with contemporaries like Grant, Sherman, and his ill-fated subordinate George Armstrong Custer, and makes the momentous age he lived in come back to life.
This outstanding biography restores Sheridan to his place in American military history; examines his relationships with contemporaries like Grant, Sherman, and his ill-fated subordinate George Armstrong Custer, and makes the momentous age he lived in come back to life.
497 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 1992
About the author
Roy Morris Jr.
100 books10 followersStarting as a report for the Chattanooga News-Free Press, he started writing articles on American Civil War history in Civil War Times Illustrated. Eventually, he became assistant editor at Military History and founding editor of American's Civil War, while also editing Military Heritage and Civil War Quarterly
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 25, 2026
Sheridan: The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan is an accessible introduction to the Civil War and - from the title - General Phil “Little Phil” Sheridan. The writing is repetitive in some parts, but the storytelling is what matters to keep this subject matter interesting to the reader, and I believe Roy Morris Jr. succeeded in the entertainment aspect of Sheridan, who was an ever-incomparably headstrong figure of the Civil War. I was surprised by the portions of his life Morris somewhat glossed over, including the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Being a lifelong resident of Somerset, Ohio, I can attest that it is a rather unremarkable village, except for its single claim-to-fame as the birthplace of the Phil Sheridan, Union General in the Civil War. The village quite literally revolves around Phil Sheridan, as - in the middle of the town square - there is an equestrian statue of Phil Sheridan mounted atop his gelding, Rienzi (Winchester), who Sheridan rode for 20 miles to rally dispirited troops for his infamous charge at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Each morning on my way to either (and get this!) Sheridan Middle School or Sheridan High School, whose mascot was Phil Sheridan, decked out in his military attire, of course, I would drive past this statue. I often wore shirts with the phrase “Sheridan Generals” that my parents were apprehensive of me wearing on our vacations outside Ohio, especially if passing through the Shenandoah Valley and the surrounding regions. Needless to say, I have come to understand and appreciate their hesitation. The point I am getting at by all this is that Phil Sheridan is a figure more familiar to me than any other from the Civil War, even Abraham Lincoln, who (fun fact) is the subject of more biographies than any other person in history.
The town square is at the intersection of State Route 22 and State Route 13, the former more commonly known by its historical name of Zane’s Trace. Zane’s Trace was the first federally funded highway into the Northwest Territory, stretching from Wheeling to Lancaster to Chillicothe to Maysville (Limestone), which made it an easy decision for Sheridan’s parents, fresh off the boat from their native Ireland, to settle down. When Sheridan came of age, he received recommendation to become a cadet at West Point. I mean, why hang around Somerset? To be fair, it was less cool then since his statue wasn’t there at that time.
General Phil Sheridan has been described as: “…the very incarnation of battle,” by Horace Porter; having "no superior as a general, either living or dead, and perhaps not an equal,” by President Ulysses S. Grant; "a persevering terrier dog, honest, modest, plucky and smart enough," by fellow Ohioan William Tecumseh Sherman. After reading Sheridan: The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan, there is hardly any other general from the Civil War, blue or gray, who matched Sheridan’s swiftness, stubbornness, absolute refusal to quit, and tenacity in the heat of battle; these attributes of his temperament are quite the opposite of his fellow commanders (e.g., McClellan, Buell, Meade) whose inaction nearly led to the permanent secession of the Confederate States. General Sheridan’s military qualities closely resemble those of fellow Ohioans General Grant and General Sherman, the latter of which was born and raised in a house in Lancaster, Ohio, which lays along Zane’s Trace not even twenty miles from General Sheridan’s boyhood home. It is a testament to their abilities (and an under-acknowledged fact about Ohio) that the next three four-star generals, after George Washington, were Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and - notified on his deathbed - Phil Sheridan (all Ohioans). It is just mind-boggling to me that the third and fourth four-star generals came from Lancaster and Somerset…
General Sheridan had a few highlights from his time in the military: (1) showed bold and decisive leadership at the start of the war when other, more recognized and experienced commanders, simply waited for the perfect time and place to take action, (2) had a close relationship with General Grant that helped him transform the role of the cavalry into an offensive (independent) force, which played a critical role in defeating General Jubal Early, tiring the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, after his impressive leadership at the Battle of Cedar Creek, where he rallied troops along a dramatic 20 mile ride on Rienzi, and General Lee’s eventual surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, (3) oversaw “The Burning” (nearly scorched-earth) of the Shenandoah Valley that rendered this region incapable of resupplying the Confederate Army, noting his former neighbor from Ohio would use the same tactics, from Atlanta “to the sea, though more notoriously (Sherman’s Neckties and the like), (4) took the broadest interpretation of legislation and commands to fiercely support Black emancipation and suffrage during Reconstruction, (5) directed military operations during the Indian Wars on the Great Plains, including those of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer in his attack against Crazy Horse and the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho at the Battle of Little Bighorn (Custer’s Last Stand), noting General Sheridan’s statements toward and treatment of Native Americans are certainly a blight on his reputation, including his endorsement of the widespread killing of buffalo herds, (6) lobbied Congress for the preservation and protection of land and wildlife within Yellowstone Park, and (7) buried a hundred paces from the front door of Robert E. Lee’s former mansion on the hill of Arlington National Cemetery, noting it is nearly impossible to not see his sizable grave when looking out towards the Potomac River.
Being a lifelong resident of Somerset, Ohio, I can attest that it is a rather unremarkable village, except for its single claim-to-fame as the birthplace of the Phil Sheridan, Union General in the Civil War. The village quite literally revolves around Phil Sheridan, as - in the middle of the town square - there is an equestrian statue of Phil Sheridan mounted atop his gelding, Rienzi (Winchester), who Sheridan rode for 20 miles to rally dispirited troops for his infamous charge at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Each morning on my way to either (and get this!) Sheridan Middle School or Sheridan High School, whose mascot was Phil Sheridan, decked out in his military attire, of course, I would drive past this statue. I often wore shirts with the phrase “Sheridan Generals” that my parents were apprehensive of me wearing on our vacations outside Ohio, especially if passing through the Shenandoah Valley and the surrounding regions. Needless to say, I have come to understand and appreciate their hesitation. The point I am getting at by all this is that Phil Sheridan is a figure more familiar to me than any other from the Civil War, even Abraham Lincoln, who (fun fact) is the subject of more biographies than any other person in history.
The town square is at the intersection of State Route 22 and State Route 13, the former more commonly known by its historical name of Zane’s Trace. Zane’s Trace was the first federally funded highway into the Northwest Territory, stretching from Wheeling to Lancaster to Chillicothe to Maysville (Limestone), which made it an easy decision for Sheridan’s parents, fresh off the boat from their native Ireland, to settle down. When Sheridan came of age, he received recommendation to become a cadet at West Point. I mean, why hang around Somerset? To be fair, it was less cool then since his statue wasn’t there at that time.
General Phil Sheridan has been described as: “…the very incarnation of battle,” by Horace Porter; having "no superior as a general, either living or dead, and perhaps not an equal,” by President Ulysses S. Grant; "a persevering terrier dog, honest, modest, plucky and smart enough," by fellow Ohioan William Tecumseh Sherman. After reading Sheridan: The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan, there is hardly any other general from the Civil War, blue or gray, who matched Sheridan’s swiftness, stubbornness, absolute refusal to quit, and tenacity in the heat of battle; these attributes of his temperament are quite the opposite of his fellow commanders (e.g., McClellan, Buell, Meade) whose inaction nearly led to the permanent secession of the Confederate States. General Sheridan’s military qualities closely resemble those of fellow Ohioans General Grant and General Sherman, the latter of which was born and raised in a house in Lancaster, Ohio, which lays along Zane’s Trace not even twenty miles from General Sheridan’s boyhood home. It is a testament to their abilities (and an under-acknowledged fact about Ohio) that the next three four-star generals, after George Washington, were Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and - notified on his deathbed - Phil Sheridan (all Ohioans). It is just mind-boggling to me that the third and fourth four-star generals came from Lancaster and Somerset…
General Sheridan had a few highlights from his time in the military: (1) showed bold and decisive leadership at the start of the war when other, more recognized and experienced commanders, simply waited for the perfect time and place to take action, (2) had a close relationship with General Grant that helped him transform the role of the cavalry into an offensive (independent) force, which played a critical role in defeating General Jubal Early, tiring the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, after his impressive leadership at the Battle of Cedar Creek, where he rallied troops along a dramatic 20 mile ride on Rienzi, and General Lee’s eventual surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, (3) oversaw “The Burning” (nearly scorched-earth) of the Shenandoah Valley that rendered this region incapable of resupplying the Confederate Army, noting his former neighbor from Ohio would use the same tactics, from Atlanta “to the sea, though more notoriously (Sherman’s Neckties and the like), (4) took the broadest interpretation of legislation and commands to fiercely support Black emancipation and suffrage during Reconstruction, (5) directed military operations during the Indian Wars on the Great Plains, including those of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer in his attack against Crazy Horse and the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho at the Battle of Little Bighorn (Custer’s Last Stand), noting General Sheridan’s statements toward and treatment of Native Americans are certainly a blight on his reputation, including his endorsement of the widespread killing of buffalo herds, (6) lobbied Congress for the preservation and protection of land and wildlife within Yellowstone Park, and (7) buried a hundred paces from the front door of Robert E. Lee’s former mansion on the hill of Arlington National Cemetery, noting it is nearly impossible to not see his sizable grave when looking out towards the Potomac River.
January 21, 2016
An approachable, engaging read that does justice to a fascinating man's life. Morris even made Sheridan's reconstruction years interesting. Not only would I read other titles by Morris, I'd seek them out.
October 11, 2017
Just OK, I expected more based on other civil war biographies.
June 4, 2023
I am 3/4 of the way through the book and am fascinated. This book is a great ‘primer’ on Sheridan. Let me give you an idea of what is in this overview of his life: on his return from a high level meeting in Washington, General Sheridan returned to Winchester and went to bed. In the morning he could hear the cannon from Cedar Creek where he left General Wright in charge of one half his army. He ate breakfast and proceeded, with haste, to Cedar Creek. Mr. Morris tells a great story, not an intense crappy biography- those authors would have told you what he had for breakfast. Those books, if you need day-to-day facts you would read after this one (Foote-esque). This book is an overview but very informative. Personally I do not think one volume would be enough to tell of General Sheridan’s deeds and adventures. Anyway General Sheridan arrives amongst chaos especially in General Wright’s command. General Sheridan realigns the army and proceeds to hand Jubal Early a great “Whooping.”The results of this battle make Sheridan a household name (at least north of the Mason-Dixon) and, coupled with Sherman’s capture of Atlanta make it assured of Lincoln’s re-election.
The first chapter, covering his life through West Point had many humorous tongue-in-cheek ironies. The author throughout the book makes sure to include other famous personalities that impact the course of the war and our country. I could tell this was the book I was searching for. Anyone who has read multiple books on George Armstrong Custer can get a feeling if the author suffers from “hero worship.” There is a hint of that here, so far, but it is not blatant and is kept in check.
Phillip Sheridan was a great general. The army was his life. Many graduates of West Point resigned their commissions when they could. Promotion in peace time was slow and the pay was terrible. Not Phil- he stuck with it. A disturbing incident did catch my eye. General Mieg’s son was on Sheridan’s staff and was killed in a fair fight- three Confederates versus three Union soldiers. Phil was so grieved that he was going to burn the closest town to the ground assuming wrongly that the Rebels were being protected by that town. He had to be talked out of changing his orders and I am sure that Mennonite community breathed a sigh of relief.
A great read, an easy read being of storytelling rather than an intense fact-numbing tome. Get it, enjoy it. I will certainly follow up on anything else this author has written.
The first chapter, covering his life through West Point had many humorous tongue-in-cheek ironies. The author throughout the book makes sure to include other famous personalities that impact the course of the war and our country. I could tell this was the book I was searching for. Anyone who has read multiple books on George Armstrong Custer can get a feeling if the author suffers from “hero worship.” There is a hint of that here, so far, but it is not blatant and is kept in check.
Phillip Sheridan was a great general. The army was his life. Many graduates of West Point resigned their commissions when they could. Promotion in peace time was slow and the pay was terrible. Not Phil- he stuck with it. A disturbing incident did catch my eye. General Mieg’s son was on Sheridan’s staff and was killed in a fair fight- three Confederates versus three Union soldiers. Phil was so grieved that he was going to burn the closest town to the ground assuming wrongly that the Rebels were being protected by that town. He had to be talked out of changing his orders and I am sure that Mennonite community breathed a sigh of relief.
A great read, an easy read being of storytelling rather than an intense fact-numbing tome. Get it, enjoy it. I will certainly follow up on anything else this author has written.
August 3, 2020
Excellent.
September 29, 2024
Not a bad autobiography of a person I really have wanted to study more of from the Civil War.
June 13, 2010
A serviceable biography of General Phil Sheridan, the short, profane, and very aggressive Union general. This book traces his career, from his youth to his checkered career at West Point to his service in the Army.
In the Civil War, his first command was as an infantry officer. He served well in that capacity, at Murfreesboro, for example. When Grant went east, he requested that Sheridan take command of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. And, here, Sheridan sparkled. When the Army of Northern Virginia dispatched Jubal Early to the Shenandoah to raise havoc, Sheridan was sent to command Union forces in the Valley. Here, of course, he gained fame with his famous ride to the battlefield at Cedar Creek. Later, back with the cavalry outside Petersburg, he sealed the fate of the Confederate army with his defeat of Pickett's forces at Five Forks.
After the war was over, Sheridan moved west, to lead the military against the Indian nations. The book covers his activities on this front, including his relationship with George Armstrong Custer.
In the final analysis, this is a nicely rendered biography of Phil Sheridan.
In the Civil War, his first command was as an infantry officer. He served well in that capacity, at Murfreesboro, for example. When Grant went east, he requested that Sheridan take command of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. And, here, Sheridan sparkled. When the Army of Northern Virginia dispatched Jubal Early to the Shenandoah to raise havoc, Sheridan was sent to command Union forces in the Valley. Here, of course, he gained fame with his famous ride to the battlefield at Cedar Creek. Later, back with the cavalry outside Petersburg, he sealed the fate of the Confederate army with his defeat of Pickett's forces at Five Forks.
After the war was over, Sheridan moved west, to lead the military against the Indian nations. The book covers his activities on this front, including his relationship with George Armstrong Custer.
In the final analysis, this is a nicely rendered biography of Phil Sheridan.
December 29, 2016
A detailed, interesting, and engaging biography of Sheridan. Morris traces Sheridan’s career from his youth to checkered West point stint, his Civil War service and his career in the Indian Wars. Morris also describes Sheridan’s role during the unsuccessful reconstruction efforts in Louisiana and Texas, as well as his army’s gun-running in Mexico, where he was far more successful.
Sheridan’s career also touched on those of other figures such as Custer, Stuart, Bill Cody, William McKinley, and Rutherford B. Hayes, and Morris describes all of these in detail. Morris also covers the subject of Civil War generalship: why there so many, why some failed, and why others succeeded. He also describes Sheridan’s personality and rise to prominence.
A serviceable but often compelling biography, even if much of Morris’s research comes from secondary sources.
Sheridan’s career also touched on those of other figures such as Custer, Stuart, Bill Cody, William McKinley, and Rutherford B. Hayes, and Morris describes all of these in detail. Morris also covers the subject of Civil War generalship: why there so many, why some failed, and why others succeeded. He also describes Sheridan’s personality and rise to prominence.
A serviceable but often compelling biography, even if much of Morris’s research comes from secondary sources.
July 24, 2007
OK book on Sheridan. Adequately written and researched, but it pales in comparison to the classic biographies on other Civila War leaders. Mainly focused on his actions in the Amercian Civil War, where he was a significant figure for only the last year or so. Much less coverage is offered on his role as the Commander of the Department of the Missouri, in which role he oversaw the most famous battle of the western Inidan wars.
January 12, 2013
A good biography of my favorite general and an enjoyable read generally. Of interest to anyone into American Civil War history.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews