COLCHESTER — One of the largest Civil War oil paintings has a new home at the Vermont Veterans Museum.

The 17-by-28-foot painting called Sheridan's Ride was unveiled Friday at its new home on the grounds of Camp Johnson, the headquarters of the Vermont National Guard.

The painting is of Vermont troops at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Va., completed by Charles Hardin Andrus of Enosburg in 1888. The painting has been in storage since 1914.

It depicts Union Gen. Phil Sheridan arriving on the battlefield on Oct. 19, 1864, as Confederate troops were routing Union soldiers.

Sheridan rallied the First Vermont Brigade who turned the tide of the battle.

Andrus spoke with many Vermont veterans of the battle as he did the painting.

"It is an absolute miracle that this incredible work of art that so accurately depicts Vermont troops on the field of battle has survived," said Ron Crisman, the president of the museum's board of directors. "Over 100 years after it was painted, it finally has a permanent home in our museum here at Camp Johnson."