A group of 6 books regarding Civil War generals and admirals from the personal library of General William T. Sherman, each with W.T. Sherman and P. Tecumseh Sherman bookplates (except where noted). The book included in this lot, "The Life and Letters of Emory Upton" is inscribed by General Sherman himself.

The lot includes:

1. Peter S. Michie. The Life and Letters of Emory Upton. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1885. PTS bookplate. INSCRIBED: "General Sherman / Willowbrook / June 29, 1885" and also INSCRIBED BY GENERAL SHERMAN, "From Mr. A.J. Alexander U.S. Army". P. Tecumseh Sherman bookplate. Original red cloth.

2. Loyall Farragut. The Life of David Glasgow Farragut , First Admiral of the United States Navy. New York: Appleton and Company, 1879. Original brown cloth gilt. First edition. INSCRIBED TO GENERAL SHERMAN BY THE AUTHOR, Admiral Farragut's son Loyall: "Gen. W.T. Sherman Compliments of Loyall Farragut."

3. Joseph E. Johnston. Narrative of Military Operations. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1874. Original cloth. First edition. Howes J-167. Cancelled "Head Quarters of the Army" bookplate, almost certainly from William Tecumseh Sherman's office library, alongside P. Tecumseh Sherman bookplate. A fascinating selection from the library of General Sherman as the General Johnston was the Confederate representative who met with Sherman on 17 April to negotiate the terms of surrender. On the way there, Sherman had been notified via telegram of Lincoln's assassination and in turn informed Johnston, who regarded this as "the event with the greatest possible calamity to the South."

4. [Almira Russell Hancock]. Reminiscences of Winfield Scott Hancock. New York: Charles L. Webster & Company, 1887. Original green cloth. First edition.

5. Hugh McCulloch. Men and Measures of Half a Century. New York Charles Scribner's Sons, 1888. Original blue cloth gilt.

6. The Unveiling of the Seward Memorial Statue with the Oration by Hon. William M. Evarts. Auburn, NY: Knapp, Peck & Thomson, 1889. Green cloth gilt.

An interesting selection of books surrounding both Sherman's colleagues and adversaries in the Civil War.

Condition: A full condition report is available upon request.

PROVENANCE:

The Sherman-Fitch Library

Primarily assembled by General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), the collection of books was inherited and curated by his son, Philemon Tecumseh Sherman (1867-1941). Before his death, Philemon transferred the library to his niece, Eleanor Sherman Fitch (1876-1959). Eleanor was the granddaughter of General Sherman through his eldest daughter, Maria "Minnie" Ewing Sherman Fitch (1851-1913). Until now, the Sherman-Fitch library was held at the family estate in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

The library includes a range of diverse material owned by General Sherman that principally relates to the Civil War, American history, and the Sherman family. Many works in the Sherman-Fitch library are historically significant, including General Sherman's annotated copy of Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs, the Sherman family bible, and Barnard's "Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign."

Most examples in the collection are affixed with bookplates that bear both General Sherman's and Philemon's names. In some cases, where General Sherman's ownership was clear, his bookplate was not always affixed. However, books with just Philemon's bookplate were generally acquired after his father's death in 1891. General Sherman’s bookplates were likely added by Philemon after his father’s death. Philemon’s bookplates were placed by Tecumseh Sherman Fitch (1908-1969) after he inherited the library in 1942.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Generals, Admirals, Naval History, Books, Memoirs, Biographies, Ephemera]