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423

William T. Sherman

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
William T. Sherman

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Auction Date:2011 Feb 09 @ 19:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS signed “W. T. Sherman,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 8.5, personal letterhead, January 10, 1886. Letter to Admiral Daniel Ammen. In part: “I reciprocate to an old Shipmate the kindly greetings of this season of the year, the more so as Silas Rush is my neighbor and I took him and his daughter Lucy, last night along with others to see Billy Florence in Captain Cuttle, a sample of the Old Sea Captain before Steam played the devil with the Navy and the world…Yesterday my youngest boy – was 18 years old. He is 6 feet tall and begins to show side whiskers and recently he announced that he would like to go to Yale College for two years – Of course I want him in my life to have the advantage of the best college in our country, as on him must soon devolve the care of the family. I know that his mother will insist on being near him in these two years and this will leave this large house with 6 servants – 5 horses 7 carriages &c &c too expensive for my means so that I have said in this event we had better break up here and board at the 5th Avenue Hotel New York – I never contemplated returning to Washington.

I recognize all its advantages, its cleanliness, its beauty, the attractions of its society & suburbs but as an ex-commander-in chief of the Army I could not endure the place – of course I have great love and respect for Porter [probably Admiral David Dixon Porter], but I have not his nerve to stand the neglect of his legal superiors – better a Camp on the Missouri than a palace on the Potomac. In War, the Army and Navy are glorious – in peace they are subject to the meanest class of people in our great Country. The President, Congress & Supreme Court are all right – but the Cabinet – well I reserve my opinion – I have absolute faith in the outcome of our Country, but care not to mingle with the incidents…” Letter is housed in a custom-made grey cloth covered four-flap folder, lettered in gilt on a green label on the spine: “William Tecumseh Sherman ALS January 10, 1886 to Daniel Ammen.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Sherman’s hand.

Upon Ulysses S. Grant’s 1869 election as president, Sherman succeeded him as commanding general of the Army, a position in which he served until his 1884 retirement from the army on February 8, 1884. It was during this period, while residing in New York City, that Sherman wrote to numerous Civil War veterans on a variety of topics. Among them, Admiral Ammen, “an old Shipmate” who extended “the kindly greetings of this season of the year.” Still a soldier at heart, Sherman here concedes the beauty of a place like Washington, D.C., but “but as an ex-commander-in chief of the Army I could not endure the place...better a Camp on the Missouri than a palace on the Potomac.” Great comments from the Civil War hero.
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