Personal Memoirs Of P. H. Sheridan [Paperback]

P. H. Sheridan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 1992

General Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-1888) was the most important Union cavalry commander of the Civil War, and ranks as one of America's greatest horse soldiers. From Corinth through Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, he made himself a reputation for courage and efficiency; after his defeat of J.E.B. Stuart's rebel cavalry, Grant named him commander of the Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley. There he laid waste to the entire region, and his victory over Jubal Early's troups in the Battle of Cedar Creek brought him worldwide renown and a promotion to major general in the regular army. It was Sheridan who cut off Lee's retreat at Appomattox, thus securing the surrender of the Confederate Army. Subsequent to the Civil War, Sheridan was active in the 1868 war with the Comanches and Cheyennes, where he won infamy with his statement that "the only good Indians I ever saw were dead". In 1888 he published his "Personal Memoirs of P.H. Sheridan", one of the best first-hand accounts of the Civil War and the Indian wars which followed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 22, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306804875
• ISBN-13: 978-0306804878
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #578,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The life of a great Union general, in his own words, November 14, 2003

By 

bixodoido (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Personal Memoirs Of P. H. Sheridan (Paperback)

The two-volume memoirs of General Philip Sheridan have been condensed in this edition to one paperback volume, thus making more accessible. Let me state up front that I'm giving this product four stars because of the edition. There is an introduction by Jeffry Wert, and that appears to be the extent of the work done in preparation for this volume's release. There are numerous spelling and mechanical errors (I'm not sure if these were Sheridan's or just the result of careless editing), and they are frequent enough to get really annoying really fast. ''m not talking about pre-standardized type spelling errors, or awkward, run-on nineteenth century sentences. No, these are just careless mistakes.

That having been said, this is a great volume of memoirs from one of the Civil War's most accomplished generals. I do not say great general, because whether or not he was great is still a topic of much controversy. There is no denying that Sheridan got things done, and that he won several important victories, but there is room for debate in the matter in which he accomplished things, and his treatment of subordinates in doing so.

Predictably, Sheridan paints a pretty rosy picture of himself in his memoirs. Still, to be fair to the man, he DID do an awful lot for the Union cause, and I don't think that his vainglory can be entirely chalked up to shameless self promotion. The fact is that he was a very key factor in several victories, and to take his part away from the narrative would be to distort the entire picture of what happened. "Little Phil" was almost always present and often in the fray during his decisive engagements. On the other hand, I noticed him dressing-down his role in some conflicts, whereas contemporary accounts praise his part to no end.

The great thing about memoirs is that we hear things straight from the mouths of those who took part in them, and are able to judge for ourselves to what extent their testimony is reliable. For me, at least, I will always feel that Sheridan's memoirs hold a certain bias, but I will nevertheless continue to hold this volume of personal narrative as valuable. (Note: this volume covers only to the point of Sheridan returning from Europe. There's nothing on the little Bighorn or later military activities here).

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Can't Afford the Original 1888 2 Volume Set..., May 6, 2000

By 

Mary A. Dorman "MADstuff Store Owner" (Northern New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Personal Memoirs Of P. H. Sheridan (Paperback)

These are his own words set in one paperback novel. Gives you a perspective on the war from a leadership position. However, it doesn't have the maps and pictures that the original volumes sported.

Great personal recollections of a man who lead the troops fearlessly in the war.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read For Civil War Buffs, July 25, 2008

By 

georgy girl (Oakland Township Mich USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Personal Memoirs Of P. H. Sheridan (Paperback)

This is an excellent account of Sheridan's part in the Civil War. It is well written and totally thorough,naming regiments, officers, accounts of each battle, etc. Top Drawer!!