September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
SHERIDAN, Philip Henry (1831-1888) 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 Lt. Gen. 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 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. Sheridan prosecuted the later years of the Indian Wars of the Great Plains, tainting his reputation with some historians, who accuse him of racism. Both as a soldier and private citizen, he was instrumental in the development and protection of Yellowstone National Park. In 1883 Sheridan was appointed general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, and in 1888 he was promoted to the rank of General of the Army during the term of President Grover Cleveland. Manuscript Letter Signed, "P.H. Sheridan Maj. Genl." 1-1/2pp. quarto, on 'Headquarters, Military Division of the Gulf," lettersheet, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 29, 1865, addressed to Bvt. Major L.S. Thomas, it reads: "...I would recommend for a position in the Regular Army Mr. J.F. Follette [sic] who has with great credit served during the war in the Vol. Army as a Lieut. in the 1st Mo. Light Arty. He has in a number of engagements in the West come under my personal observation & for gallant and brave conduct and general military bearing I do not hesitate to suggest that he be appointed to fill one of the vacancies now existing in the Regular Service..." Very good condition. A nice ringing endorsement by this hard fought Federal general. Joseph Follet (1843-1907) enlisted as a private in Company G, 1st Missouri Infantry in September 1861. He served from through the entire war, being twice wounded in action [at Farmington, Miss. 5/9/62 & New Madrid, Missouri 3/2/62], serving under Generals Sherman, Pope, King and Steedman, and as a nineteen year old he was awarded the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, on October 8, 1862, after charging a battery. He later had extensive service during the Indian Wars era.
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