GDG- Re: OT question re Phil Sheridan

[Chet Diestel]

> Esteemed GDG Member Charles Joyce Contributes:
>
>
> Greetings:
>
> I was hoping someone from this esteemed group would know the color of Phil 
> Sheridan's eyes?  I am currently executing a painting of him, and I'd like 
> to get the details right.  I know that he was dark complected, and had 
> hair that was "so black it looked like it was painted on."  Any further 
> help would be greatly appreciated.  You can reply privately if you'd like, 
> to thecjs at comcast.net.  Thanks! Charles Joyce
> ----- Original Message ----- 

In the responses so far there seems to be eye coloring for Sheridan that is 
180 degrees apart, one black set and one brown set. Knowing the work of 
Kelly, who was very detailed in gathering and noting information for his 
sketches --- and given the darkness of his eyes in portraits of him made 
during and after the war --- I personally would lean towards his eyes being 
black.
 However, for something more authorities than my hunches, I would contact 
the librarian at the United States Military Academy at West Point and see if 
they have his physical description taken when he was enrolled as a cadet. My 
family has had a long association with The Point dating back to 1818 and the 
librarians have been marvelous over the years in obtaining archival 
materials.
  Incidentally, just to too the ancestor's horn for a second: the family 
connection with West Point is so strong that five of my family are buried in 
the cemetery in recognition of their service to the USMA, two sons received 
presidential appointments for their fathers' contribution to the Corps of 
Cadets and the Academy, and the unofficial family motto is: "We've only had 
a couple of generals, but we trained most of the others." And those not 
soldiers were stonemasons who built most of the historic buildings at 
Benedict Arnold's old post.
   With regards,
             Chet