166

William T. Sherman

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
William T. Sherman

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Auction Date:2013 Jul 25 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : 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
Civil War–dated ALS signed “W. T. Sherman, Maj. Gen. Comdg,” four pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, Head Quarters Army of the Tennessee, Iuka, [Mississippi], October 24, 1863. Letter to General James B. McPherson. In full: “Young Dunn [Lieutenant William M. Dunn, Jr.] has just come out from Memphis with dispatches from Grant announcing all the Changes. These catch us as we had reason to anticipate short handed, but we must do our best. I shall leave you undisturbed. I regard the Yazoo as a kind of shield against the main River & therefore Vicksburg should be held with the tenacity of Life, also Haynes Bluff. But as the Enemy cannot bring artillery against you. Make the Earth works as small & perfect as possible. The high point north of Vicksburg is a Gibraltar—one similar south, and a Citadel at the Old Tower.—I don't see the use of a Force at Natchez. The Enemy has drawn from the place every man that is worth a cent to them as a soldier, and the buildings and property of the place is security for the good behavior of the People, that is, a threat to destroy Natchez and valuable plantations there will prevent any molestation of the River, which is the Grand desideratum.

I would not advise that a Division should be kept at Natchez, but a White regiment, & say two Negro regiments well intrenched, commanding with heavy guns the water and City. A similar garrison for Haines Bluff. The Balance of your Corps could be held well in hand ready to embark in whole or part whenever an Enemy threatens to interfere with the River. The General impression here is that all the Infantry except [Confederate Gen. William W.] Loring’s division, is gone out of Mississippi, and that [Confederate Gen.] Stephen I. [sic, D.] Lee’s Cavalry is here in my front is well attested by many who have seen him. Either the Southern leaders are making a Strong Effort to retake Tennessee, or resist Grant's supposed intention to push to Attlanta [sic], and have pushed all or nearly all their forces to Georgia & North East Alabama. Your late trip to Canton will have developed that, but looking to future combinations, the time is most opportune for executing one of two or it may be both projects which I will merely sketch.

1st The destruction in toto of a large section of the Railroad at Meridian, the larger and more perfect the better. 2nd A trip up Yazoo to about Tchula and strike from there to the Railroad between Canton & Grenada, and break a large section of it, making its repair impracticable. The former is of vital importance, the latter of minor, but either would be rich in result at some future time.

All of General Grant’s orders remain in force of course & will be respected, and I will be able to give little personal direction to events or policing on the River, but I wish you to maintain the security of the River along the west Boundary of the State of Mississippi in cooperation with the Gunboats, and to strike inland whenever an opportunity offers and your judgment sanctions.

I am satisfied petty trade along the River is wrong, but Large trade, such as gives employment to Large boats carrying a crew of 25 men & over will not only keep open communications but will be an interest that will aid in the maintenance of the Military Control of the River. I throw out these ideas and leave you to do what is right. I must conduct all the force I can collect east of Florence and leave you and Hurlbut to manage the valley.” A light block of toning and paperclip mark to first page, and inconsequential glassine hinges at the blank edge of last page, otherwise fine condition.

When General Grant’s year-long campaign against Vicksburg finally proved fruitful in July of 1863, the Army of the Tennessee had achieved one of the most important Union victories of the war, opening up the Mississippi River and cutting the Confederacy in half. In recognition of their success, the key figures in Vicksburg were quickly promoted; in October, President Lincoln put Grant in command of the newly formed Division of the Mississippi; Grant then promoted his closest advisor, Sherman, to take command of the Tennessee. Both Sherman and McPherson were given the rank of brigadier general in the regular army, in addition to their rank of major general of volunteers. In this letter, written the day that Sherman took his new post as commander of the Army of the Tennessee, we get a crystal clear glimpse into his new leadership, offering sound strategic advice (“I would not advise that a Division should be kept at Natchez, but a White regiment, & say two Negro regiments well intrenched, commanding with heavy guns the water and City”), but ultimately trusting McPherson to lead his Corps (“I wish you to maintain the security of the River…and to strike inland whenever an opportunity offers and your judgment sanctions”). A lengthy and remarkable letter from one of the Union’s greatest generals at a crucial time in both his career and the war as a whole, holding excellent military content light.