10 Facts About Phil Sheridan-- Part 3: A Poem and a Horse

4.  HE BECAME FAMOUS, IN PART, BECAUSE OF A POEM

During the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864,  his army came under surprise attack at the Battle of cedar Creek while he was away from his troops.  When he heard the artillery  he raced to the battle, rallied his troops and won a victory.

Sheridan received a letter of thanks from Lincoln and a poet, Thomas Buchanan Read wrote a song about his actions that day called "Sheridan's Ride."

The poem made both the horse, Rienzi, and rider famous.

Some of the poem:

Then, striking his spurs,  with a terrible oath,
He dashed down the line  'mid a storm of huzzas,
And the wave of retreat  checked its course there, because

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5.  HIS HORSE WAS STUFFED AFTER ITS DEATH

After Rienzi died in 1878, he was stuffed and mounted and presented to Sheridan.    The horse is now in the collection of  the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

--Old Secesh