During September, 1855, he was detached from the survey at Vancouver, Washington Territory, and ordered to join Major Raines’ expedition against the Indians. He was specially mentioned for distinguished conduct in an engagement with the Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia, April 28th, 1856. He occupied posts in this region and was complimented by General Scott during 1857, for meritorious conduct in the settlement of the Indian difficulty.
MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN.
During the early part of 1861 Lieutenant Sheridan was promoted one grade, and on the 14th of May, 1861, became captain of one of the companies of the Thirteenth regiment of United States Infantry. He joined his regiment at St. Louis, Mo., during the following September, and was made President of the Military Commission for the settlement of claims against the Government of that State.
On December 24th, 1861, he was appointed Chief Quartermaster and Commissary of “the Army of the Southwest,” remaining with it until after the battle of Pea Ridge. He was afterwards appointed Chief Quartermaster on the staff of General Halleck before Corinth.
Captain Sheridan was appointed Colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry on May 27th, 1862, and participated in the movement under Colonel Elliott to cut the railroad at Booneville, below Corinth. On May 30th he repulsed and defeated McMaury’s rebel cavalry near that place.
Colonel Sheridan assumed command of a cavalry brigade on June 11th, 1862, and on July 1st, defeated a cavalry force of nine regiments under General Chalmers by a brilliant coup de main. For this dashing operation he was promoted to a brigadier-general of volunteers, dating July 1, 1862.
General Sheridan assumed command of the Third division of the army of the Ohio on September 20th, 1862, and fought at the battles of Perryville, October 8th, and Murfreesboro’, December 31st, 1862. For his gallant services in the battle of Stone river, he rose to the rank of Major-General; and his brilliant subsequent career on the Peninsula, in Western Virginia, and the final struggle with Lee’s army, was the occasion of his appointment as Major-General in the United States army.
BATTLE OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE.
November 13, 1864.
While the armies of Generals Thomas and Hood were engaged in their campaign before Nashville, a large force of rebels under General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee. On the 12th of November he attacked General Gillem’s command, which was entrenched near Morristown, and drove them from their defences. General Gillem retreated with his forces toward Morristown, where he was overtaken the next day by Breckinridge, and again defeated with the loss of his artillery and several hundred prisoners. He also suffered severely in killed and wounded. General Gillem gradually fell back with the balance of his command towards Knoxville, and was pursued by his inexorable opponent as far as Strawberry Plains; here, anticipating trouble from the proximity of heavy Union forces, General Breckinridge deemed it prudent to withdraw.