Monument Monday – General Philip Sheridan in Sheridan Circle

In the heart of Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle/Kalprama neighborhood, is Sheridan Circle, with an equestrian statue honoring Union General Philip H. Sheridan.

Created in 1908 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who is best known for his 60-foot (18m) carvings of four giant American presidents on Mount Rushmore in North Dakota.

His first notable work was a bust of Abraham Lincoln, which was on display in the White House during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, and has since been placed on permanent exhibit in the U.S. Capitol Building rotunda.

In 1908, Borglum entered and won a competition to honor General Sheridan in  an equestrian statue in Washington, DC. 

As commander of the Army of the Shenandoah, West Point graduate Lt. General Sheridan was one of the first generals of the Civil War to use a scorched earth tactic to destroy the economic infrastructure of an area. The policy was to burn or destroy anything of value to the enemy or the local economy when Union troops left an enemy area. The policy’s impacts were  devastating to the area’s residents. General Sherman adopted the policy in his famous 1864 March to the Sea, from Atlanta to Savanna, Georgia.

After the Civil War, Sheridan led troops in the Indian Wars, using similar tactics in the Missouri territory, which included all lands from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.  He recommended massive hunting of buffalo, a major source of food for American Indians, to attempt to keep Indians on their reservations.

In October 1871, while in Chicago, the city’s mayor placed Sheridan in charge after declaring martial law as a result of the Great Chicago Fire.

Sheridan was later instrumental in the development of Yellowstone National Park

In 1883, Sheridan succeeded Army Commanding General William T. Sherman. He was later promoted to the equivalence of a four-star general. 

Sheridan’s horse Winchester, is part of the National Museum of American History’s collection. 

General Philip H. Sheridan Monument
Sheridan Circle
Massachusetts Ave., Florida Ave. & 23rd Street, MW 
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates & Times – Daily – 24 hours

Admission – Free

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Dupont Circle – Red line, then a 5–block walk.

Parking – Metered street and paid garage parking is available in the area.

Images – portrait public domain, statute images from personal collection – ©2009, Jon Rochetti

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