mark. Sherbrooke was a practicing Anglican,
but he was especially careful to court the
favor of the Roman Catholic clergy. In fact,
Bishop Joseph-Octave Pleiss and Sherbrooke
formed a fast and enduring friendship while
smoothing out their respective political differ-
ences. He consequently enjoyed the confi-
dence and good intentions of the legislature,
which passed his civil appointees without
major dissent. Sherbrooke suffered a stroke
that required his resignation in February 1818.
Nevertheless, he left Canada in far better—
and more tranquil—shape than he had inher-
ited it, and he is still regarded as one its finest
administrators. Back in England Sherbrooke
lived in quiet retirement at Calverton, Notting-
hamshire, until his death there on February
14, 1830. He was a unique soldier of his gener-
ation, being accomplished on the battlefield
yet equally adept in the political arena.
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and Letters of the Right Honorable Robert Lowe,
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1762–1834.Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Leo
Cooper, 1999.SIBLEY, HENRYHOPKINS
Sibley, Henry Hopkins
(May 25, 1816–August 23, 1886)
Confederate General
S
ibley led the famous but ill-fated attempt
to conquer New Mexico for the Confed-
eracy. Defeated more by alcohol than
Union resistance, he failed to secure a major
command for the rest of the Civil War.
Henry Hopkins Sibley was born in Natchi-
toches, Louisiana, on May 25, 1816, and edu-
cated at private schools in Ohio. In 1833, Sib-
ley gained admission to West Point and was
held back one year before finally graduating
thirty-first out of a class of 45 in 1838. Com-
missioned a second lieutenant of the Second
U.S. Dragoons, he fought in Florida’s Second
Seminole War before performing garrison
duty at posts throughout the Old Southwest.
Sibley also fought in the Mexican War (1846–
1848), receiving praise for courage at Cerro
Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino
del Rey and a promotion to brevet major. Af-
terward, he resumed service along the Texas
frontier. There Sibley proved somewhat given
to tinkering, and while at Fort Belknap he had
the opportunity to examine several Co-
manche Indian tepees. He then designed the
“Sibley tent,” based upon the Indian version
but equipped with a small metal stove and a
single stove pipe to keep smoke out. Warm
and functional, the Sibley tent was adopted by
the frontier army and was also employed by
both sides during the Civil War. However, Sib-
ley, who probably suffered from kidney
stones, was in constant physical pain and
drank heavily for relief. By middle age, he was
severely alcoholic and had behavioral prob-
lems with superiors. In 1858, he accompanied
Maj. Philip St. George Cooke’s column during
the Mormon Expedition, but he quarreled
with Cooke and was court-martialed. There-