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Lot 882
Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-91) Union general. Group of 14 autograph letters signed ("W.T. Sherman") as General of the Army, most on Headquarters Army of the United States stationery, over 50 pages, 8x5 in. or 10x7¾ in., Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Mo., and New York, between 1871-87. Thirteen of the letters are to General Manning F. Force (1824-99), who served under Sherman (XVII Corps, 1st Brig., 3rd Div.) in the Meridian and Atlanta (he won the Medal of Honor for Atlanta) campaigns and during the March to the Sea and who became a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. One of the letters is from Sherman to "Dayton" and a separate letter is from General John Pope to Force about property. Overall fine condition. This is an excellent group of letters which should be read to be appreciated.
Sherman finds fault with President Grant more than once, discusses "the old West Point prejudice question," and business of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, which Sherman served as president, but the real gems of this collection are Sherman's long and thoughtful discussions on the make-up of the military, its relationship to the government, the problems with the military hierarchy, and how Sherman thought the problems should be addressed.
In a 12-page letter written 14 March 1876, he writes, in part: "The old maxims of Gov.ment, especially those of the Military Service came to us from England, and are today as true as when the first code was compiled in 1792. But as the French began to develop their system, their notions began to creep into our army…til now we hardly know what is military usage…Our military statutes are a jumble. One paragraph makes the Secretary of War Commander in Chief--. another denies him the right…to give a personal order. The whole system by which the Secretary of War commands the Army…is based on a decision of the Supreme Court that his orders must be presumed as those of the President, who is constitutional Commander in Chief. General Grant…told me at Chicago in 1868 he intended to change all this when he became President and he actually required me to prepare for the change…but has allowed the ebb tide to further than ever before….The system is all wrong. The General should command the Personnel and Materiel of the Army and should make all orders for their discipline and drill. He should have the right & power, and then be held to a strict account. Orders & instructions by the Secretary of War as the representation of the President & the Law should go in writing to the General, and by him communicated to all parts of the Army…In the Army Regulations of 1863…any malfactor can shelter himself behind some paragraph…."
In an 8-page letter written on 22 March, 1876, Sherman writes that Judge Taft has invited him to Washington for consultation, and continues his criticism of government bureaucracy, President Grant, Secretary of War Belknap, etc. In part: "When the war closed the opportunity to place the Civil Government on high ground was perfect…Genl Grant had a glimpse of it…but the pressure was too great and he gradually succumbed…Of all Governmental Establishments, the Army & Navy are the easiest to manipulate. Each should be a unit, absolutely under the control of the Civil power…." He sets out how the order of command should work, and adds, "The real difficulty is in our Bureaux System. Each one…construes itself a little empire of its own." He gives examples of problems caused by this during the war and says, "When Genl Grant reached Washington in 1864 he told the President that if he was to command the Army, he must command the supply Dept…." Sherman adds: "I don't want any power but I do want to see the Army governed by principles as old as history, unified, and all these distinctions…imported from France, give place to the old Anglo Saxon custom of fair play… hard duty &c. which prevailed until this system of bureaucracy crept in and actually moulded the laws for Congress…" He takes another jab at President Grant: "…when he grants a favor…he ought to do it manfully on his own signature, and not make it appear as the work of some one else."
Estimated Value $7,500 - 10,000.
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| Realized $5,100 |
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