Philip H. SHeridan was a first generation American, born of Catholic Irish immigrant parents in 1831. He was born at a time when the political climate of this country had a strong predjudice against immigrants and Catholics; yet by talent and grit he was able to overcome these predjudices held by many in the fledgeling country. (Recall the political party nicknamed  the "Knownothings", as well as those who would make John F. Kennedy's Catholicism an issue in his presidential race?) After graduating from West Point in 1853, he distinguished himself during the Civil War, rising to the rank of Major General in the Union Army fighting slavery, winning several decisive battles. Sheridan closed out his Civil War record by contributing a brilliant blocking maneuver in the pursuit of General Robert E. Lee that forced the Confederate Army to turn on its flank. By maintaining a strategic hold over Five Forks and turning the Confederates, Sheridan initiated the retreat which would end in Appomattox. He was next sent to Texas, and helped force the withdrawal of the Mexican dictator Maximillian, while he was Administrator for the Military Division in the Gulf, and obtained a final peace. This also aroused in him an interest to help secure America's border, leading him to urge Congressional action to support the National Guard. Headquartered in Chicago, Sheridan traveled throughout the west beginning in 1869 as Lieutenant General, and became instrumental in securing Yellowstone declared a national park. He was also sent to Europe as an observer with Prussia in the French and Prussian War. Upon his return he presided over the great Chicago Fire, bringing troops into the city to stop looters, directing fire fighting and reconstruction. The rebuilding effort was such a success that by 1890 - only 19 years after the fire - Chicago was the country's second largest city. Sadly he never saw the full results of his efforts having died two years earlier that the rebuilding ended. In 1884 he was honored by the United States Government with the rank of Commanding General of the United States Army before his death in 1888. He is considered by some as one of the three greatest Union commanders of the American Civil War, along with Ulysses Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. Philip married late in life, but by all accounts was a devoted husband and doting father to his children. Senator Hawley, (one of Sheridan's contemporaries) of Connecticut, himself a capable soldier, has said amoung other tributes, "Sheridan's judgement was as sound as if he had been the calmest of men. In private life he was one of the sweetest, tenderest, kindest of men." Cardinal Gibbons was the main celebrant at the General's funeral Mass. It was a noble gathering. Directly in front was the President of the United States, his wife and Cabinet. To the right was the family of the dead soldier. To the left were the pall-bearers and prominent military men. Also present were the Congressional committees; behind them Senators, Representatives and judges. Here gathered together every branch of the government and the highest officers of the government. To sum up then, it may have been that  those who selected Sheridan as the namesake for the Assembly a mere 22 years after his death, saw the General as someone who exemplified service to his country; as a soldier with the qualities of a gentleman (as attested by Senator Hawley); saw him as one who was well respected by the highest ranking officials of both Church and State in America; saw him as a prominent Catholic family man who overcame the anti-Catholic sentiments of his day.

"Who was Philip Sheridan? Why was the Assembly named after him?" Interesting questions, particularly for those of us with a Catholic understanding of tradition: desiring to learn from those who have gone before us, and specifically, to those who are members of the Knights of Columbus  Fourth Degree General Philip H. Sheridan Assembly. (Remember your exemplification history?) Perhaps one may best answer these two questions by posing another; "Why did charter members of this Assembly select General Sheridan deserving the honor of having a Patriotic Degree for the Knights of Columbus named after him?" While we don't know who else may have been considered by the charter members of the Assembly discussing this question, we do know that General Sheridan was ultimately chosen. What was it that led this group of Knights, predominately Irish, just a decade after the Fourth Degree was formed, wrestling for an answer to select "Little Phil?" Perhaps they considered some of the following facts of the General's life a mere 22 years after his death

GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN 1831-1888 ANNIVERSARY DATE FOR ASSEMBLY JULY 11, 1910

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"Who was Philip Sheridan? Why was the Assembly named after him?" Interesting questions, particularly for those of us with a Catholic understanding of tradition: desiring to learn from those who have gone before us, and specifically, to those who are members of the Knights of Columbus  Fourth Degree General Philip H. Sheridan Assembly. (Remember your exemplification history?) Perhaps one may best answer these two questions by posing another; "Why did charter members of this Assembly select General Sheridan deserving the honor of having a Patriotic Degree for the Knights of Columbus named after him?" While we don't know who else may have been considered by the charter members of the Assembly discussing this question, we do know that General Sheridan was ultimately chosen. What was it that led this group of Knights, predominately Irish, just a decade after the Fourth Degree was formed, wrestling for an answer to select "Little Phil?" Perhaps they considered some of the following facts of the General's life a mere 22 years after his death

Philip H. SHeridan was a first generation American, born of Catholic Irish immigrant parents in 1831. He was born at a time when the political climate of this country had a strong predjudice against immigrants and Catholics; yet by talent and grit he was able to overcome these predjudices held by many in the fledgeling country. (Recall the political party nicknamed  the "Knownothings", as well as those who would make John F. Kennedy's Catholicism an issue in his presidential race?) After graduating from West Point in 1853, he distinguished himself during the Civil War, rising to the rank of Major General in the Union Army fighting slavery, winning several decisive battles. Sheridan closed out his Civil War record by contributing a brilliant blocking maneuver in the pursuit of General Robert E. Lee that forced the Confederate Army to turn on its flank. By maintaining a strategic hold over Five Forks and turning the Confederates, Sheridan initiated the retreat which would end in Appomattox. He was next sent to Texas, and helped force the withdrawal of the Mexican dictator Maximillian, while he was Administrator for the Military Division in the Gulf, and obtained a final peace. This also aroused in him an interest to help secure America's border, leading him to urge Congressional action to support the National Guard. Headquartered in Chicago, Sheridan traveled throughout the west beginning in 1869 as Lieutenant General, and became instrumental in securing Yellowstone declared a national park. He was also sent to Europe as an observer with Prussia in the French and Prussian War. Upon his return he presided over the great Chicago Fire, bringing troops into the city to stop looters, directing fire fighting and reconstruction. The rebuilding effort was such a success that by 1890 - only 19 years after the fire - Chicago was the country's second largest city. Sadly he never saw the full results of his efforts having died two years earlier that the rebuilding ended. In 1884 he was honored by the United States Government with the rank of Commanding General of the United States Army before his death in 1888. He is considered by some as one of the three greatest Union commanders of the American Civil War, along with Ulysses Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. Philip married late in life, but by all accounts was a devoted husband and doting father to his children. Senator Hawley, (one of Sheridan's contemporaries) of Connecticut, himself a capable soldier, has said amoung other tributes, "Sheridan's judgement was as sound as if he had been the calmest of men. In private life he was one of the sweetest, tenderest, kindest of men." Cardinal Gibbons was the main celebrant at the General's funeral Mass. It was a noble gathering. Directly in front was the President of the United States, his wife and Cabinet. To the right was the family of the dead soldier. To the left were the pall-bearers and prominent military men. Also present were the Congressional committees; behind them Senators, Representatives and judges. Here gathered together every branch of the government and the highest officers of the government. To sum up then, it may have been that  those who selected Sheridan as the namesake for the Assembly a mere 22 years after his death, saw the General as someone who exemplified service to his country; as a soldier with the qualities of a gentleman (as attested by Senator Hawley); saw him as one who was well respected by the highest ranking officials of both Church and State in America; saw him as a prominent Catholic family man who overcame the anti-Catholic sentiments of his day.

In short, when looking for a man to name the Assembly after, charter members of this, our assembly, found General Philip H. Sheridan "worthy."