CADET WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN'S WEST POINT TEXTBOOK

William Paley (1743-1805). The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy. New York: Collins, Keese, & Co., 1839. 8vo. Original calf, scratched with "S" multiple times. Later edition. SIGNED BY SHERMAN AS A CADET: "Sherman Nov. 1st/39". With "W.T. Sherman" and "P. Tecumseh Sherman" bookplates to interior front board.

A textbook used by William Tecumseh Sherman while a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Inscribed with his name “Sherman” and the date November 1st, 1839, he was in his third year at the academy. While at West Point, Sherman excelled academically, described by fellow cadet William Rosecrans as "one of the brightest and most popular fellows" at the academy. (Hirshson, The White Tecumseh, 1997, p. 13).

Sherman writes about his time at West Point only briefly in his memoirs: "At the Academy I was not considered a good soldier, for at no time was I selected for any office, but remained a private throughout the whole four years. Then, as now, neatness in dress and form, with a strict conformity to the rules, were the qualifications required for office, and I suppose I found not to excel in any of these. In studies I always held a respectable reputation with the professors, and generally ranked among the best, especially in drawing, chemistry, mathematics, and natural philosophy. My average demerits, per annum, were about one hundred and fifty, which reduced my final class standing from number four to six."

The book here, on one of the subjects Sherman described as excelling at, would have been used by him in his studies. No other examples of books used by Sherman at West Point are known.

Condition: calf is scratched, intentionally by Sherman, other scuffs.

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, West Point, Books, Ephemera]