August 18 & 19, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/18/2020
Lot consists of 5 autograph letters signed from General William Tecumseh Sherman to Senator Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont. All are on "Headquarters Army of the United States" letterhead. Sherman needs no introduction. Morrill was a Representative from Vermont 1855-1867 and Senator 1867-1898. He was active in the Whig Party and a founder of the Republican Party. He sponsored the Land Grant College Act and was on the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, which drafted the 14th Amendment. (A) Dated 1/26/71 4 pages ink with envelope. A very interesting letter regarding debates on incorporating San Domingo into the U.S. Morrill had requested information on the "sanitary condition" of British troops posted there. Sherman asks not to be pulled into political debates but furnishes the requested data and information regarding potential death rates among U.S. soldiers, black and white, who might be posted there, as well as observations on a failed attempt to settle a colony there. (B) Dated 5/11/74 4 pages ink. Letter regards the choice of a sculptor for the statue of Farragut. Sherman expresses a preference for a sample bust by Vinnie Ream, but is willing to defer to the choice of Mrs. Farragut, who apparently prefers "Simmons," certainly Franklin Simmons (1839-1913). (C) Dated 2/19/75 4 pages ink. Letter thanking Morrill for his help "in the matter of the diamonds." The Khedive of Egypt had presented Sherman's daughter with an expensive necklace as a wedding gift, this posed a problem to Sherman as gift to a public official and then to his son-in-law as came to payment of duties and then state taxes. Even the Khedive's suggestion that the diamonds were meant as individual gifts to Sherman's daughters left the initial intended recipient, Sherman's daughter Minnie, dissatisfied and led to some family strife. Sherman uses the amusing analogy of a man being given an elephant as gift. (D) Dated 2/26/76. 2 pages, ink, with envelope. Letter accompanied text of an address given at Washington University that mentioned Morrill, likely in the context of his work for colleges. (E) Dated 2/3/1881. 1 page, ink. Letter accompanied 3 military books and notes: 1 is a gift, and 2 are office copies to be returned. CONDITION: Excellent. Clear, legible brown ink autograph copies with nice signatures. (A) fold line through "General" subscript to Sherman's signature. (C) fold line through "your friend" above the signature. SR
Item Dimensions: 11 - 3/4" x 9 - 3/4" x 1 - 1/4".