This Prominent Civil War General Died at Nonquitt in Dartmouth

One of the more prominent U.S. military figures of the latter half of the 19th century died in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on August 5, 1888.

General Phillip Henry Sheridan was born in Albany, New York, on March 6, 1831. A graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1853, Sheridan was a career U.S. Army Officer and a Union General in the American Civil War.

Britannica.com says Sheridan, known as "Little Phil" and "Fightin' Phil," was a "highly successful U.S. cavalry officer whose driving military leadership in the last year of the American Civil War was instrumental in defeating the Confederate Army."

Serving mainly frontier posts, Sheridan was appointed colonel of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry in 1862.

What followed was a series of successful campaigns at Booneville, Mississippi, Perryville, Kentucky, and the Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Another successful campaign at Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga, Tennessee prompted Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to place Sheridan in charge of the Army of the Potomac. Sheridan's raid on Richmond, Virginia led to the death of the Confederate Gen. Jeb Stuart.

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Sheridan led the force that ultimately drove the Confederates from the Shenandoah Valley and managed Grant's campaign at Appomattox.

After the Civil War, General Sheridan defended the border with Mexico and executed war against the Indians on the Northern Plains, including the Great Sioux War of 1876-77, which resulted in the death of Gen. George Custer.

Sheridan was also involved in protecting Yellowstone National Park, was an observer for Grant during the Franco-Prussian War, and coordinated the relief efforts following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, among other things.

Sheridan married Irene Rucker on June 3, 1875. They had four children.

President Grover Cleveland made Sheridan General of the Army in 1888, but it was short-lived.

After suffering a series of massive heart attacks, Sheridan died on August 5, 1888 at the family's summer home at Nonquitt in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.