SHERMAN'S INSCRIBED COPY OF BADEAU, WHICH HE CONSULTED ON

Adam Badeau. Military History of Ulysses S. Grant, From April, 1861, to April, 1865. New York D. Appleton and Company, 1868-1881. 3 Volumes, 8vo. Original red cloth. First Edition. Eichner 486.

Vol. I INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR: "Lt. Genl. W.T. Sherman with a respect + admiration which every day spent in the preparation of this volume has increased in / The Author / Jan, 9. 1868". Vol. III SIGNED BY THE GENERAL: "W.T. Sherman General May 1881". With folio of maps INSCRIBED BY GENERAL SHERMAN: "Maps of Badeau in Grant's Memoirs". With W.T. Sherman & P. Tecumseh Sherman bookplates to interior front board.

A remarkable presentation copy, inscribed by General Sherman, of Adam Badeau’s well-regarded history of Ulysses S. Grant’s military operations during the Civil War. Sherman was consulted during the book’s production; Grant himself wrote: “This book was reviewed by me, chapter by chapter, as it was being prepared for the publisher...In addition to this all those chapters treating of events in which Generals Sherman & Sheridan held detached commands, were submitted to those officers." (Grant, 22 December 1881). Badeau served on Grant's staff during the war, and indeed, Grant hesistated to write his own memoirs because he did not wish to compete with this work.

The copy here is assuredly a presentation copy sent by the author to Sherman in gratitude for his contributions, enhanced by the lengthy presentation inscription by the author in volume I attesting to Sherman's assistance. The set Is further enhanced by Sherman's dated ownership signature in volume III and inscription on the map folio. An exceptional copy of a technical history, which despite Badeau's admiration for Grant, is “matter of fact without the embellishment or glorification typical of some early works. The accuracy is impressive..." (David Eichner, The Civil War in Books: An Analytical Bibliography, 486).

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, Books, Memoirs, Generals, Ephemera, Signatures]