VETERAN ORGANIZATION LETTERS OF MOURNING TO THE SHERMAN FAMILY.

A unique collection of 27 letters and documents penned by veterans groups around the country to the Sherman Family upon learning of the death of General Sherman on 14 February 1891.

Highlighted by two bound memorials: Memorial. General W.T. Sherman, From Veterans of Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home. Quincy, Illinois, 17 February 1891. Vertical 4to. Printed title page followed by a manuscript dedication to General Sherman and the signatures of 38 veterans who recorded their companies and regiments. Most served in Illinois regiments, but others include the 4th & 18th Ohio Infantries, 11th Missouri Infantry, 1st & 2nd Missouri Light Artilleries, 6th Iowa Infantry, 2nd Kentucky Regiment, 79th Pennsylvania Infantry, 17th Wisconsin Infantry, 10th Connecticut Infantry, and notably Clayton L. Donohue who served in Company E, 3rd Colorado Infantry and Company M of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry. -- Tribute of the Ohio Society of New York. To the Memory of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. New York: Ames & Rollinson, 1891. 4to, 5 lithographed pages + title page. Original leatherette stamped "Sherman".

Includes a group of 24 letters of sympathy upon the death of General Sherman sent by G.A.R. and other veteran's organizations to the Sherman family:

Union Veteran Legion, Encampment No. 6. Allegheny, Pennsylvania, 13 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, letterhead. Expressing "regrets + sorrow over the very serious illness of Major Genereal W T Sherman". -- Cleveland City Post No. 403, G.A.R. Cleveland, Ohio, 14 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, letterhead. -- George G. Meade Post, No. 1, Department of Pennsylvania, G.A.R. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1891. ADS. 3 pages, letterhead, mourning border. -- Encampment No. 1, Union Veteran Legion. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, letterhead. -- Gen'l. S.K. Zook Post, No. 11, Department of Pennsylvania, G.A.R. Norristown, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, letterhead. -- McLean Post, No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic. Reading, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, folio. -- C.S. Chase Post, No. 50, Dept. Penna. G.A.R. Titusville, Pennsylvania, 17 February 1891. ADS, 6 pages, folio, bound with brads. Docketed to verso. -- Col. John W. Patterson Post, 151, G.A.R. Pittsburgh, 17 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, letterhead. -- Wilde Post No. 25, G.A.R. Chester, [Pennsylvania], 17 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, 10 x 16 1/8 in. -- Bryner Post No. 67, Dept. Ill. G.A.R. [Peoria], Illinois, 18 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, 8vo, mourning border. -- Greble Post, No. 10, G.A.R. Philadelphia, 18 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, letterhead. -- Will F. Stewart Post No. 180, Dep’t of Pa G.A.R. Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 19 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, folio. -- Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post, No. 139, Dep't Pa., G.A.R. Scranton, Pennsylvania, 20 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, letterhead. -- "Meeting of Soldiers and Citizens of NewCastle, Pa." New Castle, Pennsylvania, 20 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, folio. -- Erie Post G.A.R. No. 311. Erie, Kansas, 21 February 1891. ADS, 3 pages, ribbon bound. -- Col. J.B. Clark Post #162 Department of Pennsylvania G.A.R. Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, 23 February 1891. ADS, 3 pages, mourning border. -- Robert Bryan, Post No. 80 Dept. of Penna G.A.R. Philadelphia, 24 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, folio. -- Captain P.R. Schuyler Camp, No. 2, Pennsylvania Division, Sons of Veterans, U.S.A. Philadelphia, 25 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, letterhead. -- Anna M. Ross Post 94, Grand Army of the Republic. Philadelphia, 25 February 1891. ADS, 1 page, letterhead. -- Gen. Alex. Hays Post No. 3, Dep't of Penn'a G.A.R. Pittsburgh, 3 March 1891. TDS, 2 pages, letterhead. -- Encampment No. 2, Union Veteran Legion of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 10 March 1891. ADS, 1 page, 14 x 16 3/4 in. -- Union Veteran Legion, No. 36. Tyrone, Pennsylvania, 20 March 1891. ADS, 1 page, letterhead. -- Genl. E.D. Baker Camp, No. 277 Division of Pennsylvania, Sons of Veterans. [Philadelphia], n.d. TDS, 1 page. -- Armory of General Sherman, Camp No. 44, Division of Indiana Sons of Veterans. Winchester, Indiana, n.d. TDS, 2 pages, folio, docketed to verso.

Also with a charming letter from a New York City School: Letter signed by 29 children from "Primary Department 82, 70 St cor. 1 Ave." New York City, New York, 16 February 1891. ADS, 2 pages, folio.

A precious collection of the esteem that General Sherman held among the veterans organizations.

Condition: board of Quincy memorial detached. Some creasing, toning as expected. Full condition report 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, Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, GAR, Grand Army of the Republic, Veterans Organizations]