Collection of bound Senate documents related to Pittsburg Landing/The Battle of Shiloh. [Washington, D.C.]: [Government Printing Office], 1862. Custom contemporary one half brown morocco over marbled boards, spine in 5 compartments, 2 gilt lettered, including the presentation "Sherman" in lowest compartment. With "W.T. Sherman" and "P. Tecumseh Sherman" bookplates to interior front board.

PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION FROM SENATOR JOHN SHERMAN TO HIS BROTHER WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN to interior front board: "Wm. T. Sherman 1862 from John Sherman".

A wonderful war-time publication from Senator John Sherman to his brother, William T. Sherman, who commanded the 5th Division under General Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing). Evidently, John collected various Senate documents and publications regarding the battle and bound them for his brother. Pittsburg Landing, better known as the Battle of Shiloh, was the first major engagement that William had participated in after his mental health crisis in late 1861. It was also his first battle under the command of General Grant. John was clearly aware of the importance of the victory, not only in a strategic sense, but in the personal journey of his brother.

After distinguishing himself at the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas), William Tecumseh Sherman impressed President Lincoln and was promoted to Brigadier General. He was given principal military responsibility of Kentucky, but faced shortages and became overwhelmed by the task before him. During this time, he was called “insane” by the press and reportedly contemplated suicide. Sherman requested to be relieved of his command in early November 1861. After recuperation in Lancaster, Ohio, he was given command of the District of Cairo, operating out of Paducah, Kentucky and provided logistical support for General Grant's successful campaign to capture Fort Donelson. On 1 March 1862, General Sherman was appointed commander of the 5th Division in General Grant’s Army of the Tennessee. The Battle of Shiloh was their first major test together.

At the start of the battle, Sherman was initially caught unprepared, refusing to entrench or take other measures for fear of appearing overly alarmed. He wrote to his wife, "they'd call me crazy again." Despite this, he led a organized retreat on the first day of battle (6 April). The next day, he was instrumental in mounting a successful counterattack, and in the process he was wounded twice (hand and shoulder) and had three horses shot from beneath him. His performance was praised by both General Halleck and General Grant and led to his promotion to Major General, effective 1 May 1862. The battle marked a significant turning point for Sherman, altering his personal outlook on the War and the role which was his to play.

John Sherman, William's younger brother, had a successful legal career in Cleveland but turned his attention to politics after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. A strident abolitionist, he decided to run for office and was elected to the United States House of Representatives the same year. In 1861, Sherman was elected by the Ohio Legislature to take the vacant Senate seat left by Salmon P. Chase, who had been appointed Secretary of the Treasury. During his tenure, Sherman served on the Senate Finance Committee and regularly participated in debate over the conduct of the war.

William and John regularly exchanged correspondence throughout their lives. Concerning the Battle of Shiloh, John wrote to William on 30 April 1862: "I heartily and with great pride in you congratulate you on your escape and for the high honors you won in the battle of the 7th and the 8th." (Rachel Sherman Thorndike, editor. The Sherman Letters: Correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 142). The two would later exchange more news, including details of the battle, updates on a hand wound suffered by William, and when John could expect his brother's official reports. (p. 147).

The gift here to his brother demonstrates John's sensitive understanding of the pressure his brother felt under command and what the success at Shiloh represented to him. One could not imagine a more poignant presentation from brother to brother.

Condition: minor bumps to corners.

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, Pamphlets, Ephemera, Government Publications, Generals, Signatures, Politics, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Pittsburg Landing]