SHERMAN (WILLIAM T.) LETTERS

(Mss. 2378)

Inventory

Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections

Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library

Louisiana State University Libraries

Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University

Reformatted 2003

Revised 2011

CONTENTS OF INVENTORY

SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 3
BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE ...................................................................................... 4
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE ................................................................................................... 4
LETTER DESCRIPTIONS ............................................................................................................ 5
CROSS REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 6
CONTAINER LIST ........................................................................................................................ 7

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SUMMARY

Size.

6 items

Geographic locations.

Camp Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Tennessee

Inclusive dates.

1863-1889

Bulk dates.

N/A

Language.

English.

Summary.

The collection contains letters from William T. Sherman regarding various military exercises, his eventual retirement, and future publication of his memoirs.

Organization.

Arranged chronologically.

Restrictions on access.

Original letters are restricted. Use photocopies or digital scans.

Related collections.

David French Boyd Papers. William T. Sherman Letters, Mss. 890, 893, 3362

William T. Sherman Letters Mss. 1688

William T. Sherman Letters, Mss. 3044

William T. Sherman Letters, Mss. 3253

Copyright.

Copyright of the original materials is retained by descendants of the creators in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Citation.

William T. Sherman Letters, Mss. 2378, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La.

Stack location(s).

Misc:S (photocopies); Vault MRDF 13 (digital scans)

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE

William T. Sherman was a Union Army general during the Civil War and the first superintendent of Louisiana State Seminary of Learning near Pineville, La., now Louisiana State University. He stepped down as commanding general in 1883 and retired from the army in 1884.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Letters of General William T. Sherman relating to his command of the Department of the Tennessee, his final tour of duty in the northwest (Fort Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) and proposed overland journey to Vancouver, his interest in local and national politics, and his public appearances and social activities following his retirement from the army. One letter mentions the preparation of his memoirs and his hope of having them published before his death. Included are three letters to his military aide-de-camp, John Eaton Tourtellotte.

LETTER DESCRIPTIONS

Date

Contents

Nov. 9, 1863

Letter from Headquarters Department of Tennessee, Fayetteville, Tennessee to Colonel Judson David Bingham. Gives direction for furnishing supplies and requests that Colonel Bingham join him at Nashville;

Nov. 22, 1879

Letter to Charles Thompson Jones, Esq., Chairman Select (?) Council, Philadelphia, Pa. Letter refers to reception to be held for General Grant in Philadelphia. Sherman refuses invitation to participate in reception as he is involved in other receptions in Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Washington, D. C.;

Nov. 29, 1882

Letter to Mrs. Caroline Carpenter, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, concerns the collection of the speeches of Senator [Matt] Carpenter;

July 30, 1883

Letter from Fort Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Colonel [John Eaton] Tourtellotte. Written three months before his retirement, corrects a mistake in a report, comments on the other generals in camp and speaks of his approaching trip to Vancouver;

April 3, 1885

Letter from St. Louis, Missouri, to Colonel Tourtellotte, concerning Fitch Affair. Ever since failure of Harrison Wine Company, Fitch has been involved in marketing iron and is moving his family to Pittsburgh where the market is cheaper. Mentions Grant’s funeral and Sherman’s memoirs;

April 5, 1889

Letter from New York to Colonel Tourtellotte, gives general news about family and visitors, Union League Club, reception for General Tracy, Secretary of the Navy, and provides his opinion of President Harrison’s Cabinet.

CROSS REFERENCES

Subject

Date

Description of relevant documents

Carpenter, Matthew H. (Matthew Hale), 1824-1881.

1882

Letter from Sherman to Mrs. Caroline Carpenter relating proposed publication of Sen. Carpenter’s speeches and commenting upon the effectiveness of speeches in Senate and Supreme Court, November 29;

Fletcher, Thomas C. (Thomas Clement), 1827-1899.

1885

Letter to Tourtellotte relating the mysterious disappearance of Missouri Governor Fletcher, the erratic character of Fletcher, and his belief that Fletcher will soon be located, April 3;

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885.

1879, 1885

Letter mentioning Grant’s command of the army of the Tennessee and relating plans for reception for Grant, November 22, 1879;

Letter from Sherman to Tourtellotte mentioning a visit to Grant, Grant’s illness and expected death, and speculation as to place of Grant’s interment, April 3, 1885;

Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901.

1889

Letter from Sherman to Tourtellotte commending the efficiency of Harrison’s cabinet, April 5;

Overland journeys to the Pacific.

1883

Letter from Sherman to Tourtellotte mentioning arrangements for a proposed journey overland to Vancouver, July 30;

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888.

1889

Letter from Sherman to Tourtellotte relating a eulogy of General Sheridan delivered by General Wager Swayne, April 5;

Union League Club (New York, N.Y.)

1889

Letter from William T. Sherman to Tourtellotte relating attendance at entertainments at Union League Club and remarking: “The old Union Club seems on the wane,” April 5.

United States. Army. Dept. of the Tennessee.

1863, 1879

Letter to Colonel J. D. Bingham relative to army supplies, November 9, 1863;

Letter relating General U. S. Grant’s command of the Army of the Tennessee, November 22, 1879;

CONTAINER LIST

Stack

Location

Folder

Contents (with dates)

Misc:S

1

Photocopies of letters (1863, 1879, 1882-1889)

Vault MRDF

CD 13

Digital scans of letters

Vault:1

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RESTRICTED

Original letters