Memoirs of William T. Sherman.

SHERMAN, William T.

$15,000.00

Item Number: 103400

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1875.

First edition of this memoir from one of the most well regarded generals, “oft-consulted and much-quoted reminiscences … Sherman wrote as he fought; dynamically and bluntly” (Nevins II, 89). Octavo, bound in publishers three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by General Sherman three times: on the front free endpaper of Vol. I, “Mrs. E.J. Lynch Presented by Gen. W.T. Sherman 1876 New York City”; on the front free endpaper of Vol. II, “Mrs. E.J. Lynch Presented by Gen. W.T. Sherman 18”; and the second free endpaper of Vol. II, “Mrs. Eleanor D. Lynch New York 1876 Presented by General Sherman to Mrs Lynch By order.” The recipient, Eleanor D. Lynch of New York City, was the mother-in-law of Brigadier General J. Worden Pope, and “had many friends in the Army.” With Eleanor Lynch’s ownership signature to the second free endpaper of Vol I. In very good condition, small loss to the folding map. Signed examples of Sherman’s memoirs are rare, with only a handful of examples appearing at auction of the trade edition, with no publishers morocco ever appearing, desirable signed and inscribed three times.

"Penned with intelligence and passion, [Sherman's Memoirs] cover the periods of birth to the Meridian Expedition early in 1864 (Volume I) and the remainder of the war to the commander's first decade following the war (Volume II)… The memoirs frankly describe the rights and wrongs of the Civil War campaigns Sherman experienced, without regard to stepping on the feelings of others. The work is not unduly harsh, but is unwaveringly honest (as the author viewed these events)… The writing in this work is enjoyable, more so than the average soldier's memoirs, and the enlightened opinions of the second-ranking Federal officer on a multitude of operations make the work invaluable" (Eicher 576).