General William T. Sherman's Address New York City May 30th, 1878. Philadelphia: [Privately printed], 1878. 8vo. One half black morocco with marbled boards, spine gilt lettered. First limited edition, numbered 01 of 44, printed expressly for Mrs. William T. Sherman.

A privately printed copy of a Memorial Day Address given by General Sherman in New York which included President Rutherford B. Hayes in attendance. Memorial Day was first observed in 1868 to honor the Union soldiers who died in the war, and until 1970, was observed on May 30th. Sherman opens his address by honoring the dead and their families. In true Sherman fashion, he declares: "There are such things as Abstract Right and Abstract Wrong, and when History is written, human actions must take their place in one or the other category. We claim that, in the great Civil War, we of the National Union Army were right, and our adversaries wrong; and no special pleading, no excuses, no personal motives, however pure and specious, can change this verdict of the war." He continues with a call for historical understanding: "I would not for the world revive the angry passions of that period of time, nor do I question the personal motives of our then antagonist; but I do and ever will contest the proposition, that we should tear form the history of our country the pages which record the great events from 1860 to 1865; for they should stand there forever as a warning to those who come after us - who, from passion, self-interest, or any human cause or pretext whatever, may undertake to destroy this Government by violence."

Although the publisher states explicitly that "General Sherman is not responsible for this reprint of his address", the colophon lists who was sent a copy from the limited edition of 44 copies and Mrs. and General Wm. T. Sherman are at the very top. They were evidently sent this copy by the publisher, numbered 01 in the limited edition of 44. Other recipients include General A.A. Humphreys, General Fitz John Porter, General George McClellan, and General Philip Sheridan, as well as several institutions including the Library Company of Philadelphia, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, Library of Harvard College, Library of the University of Pennsylvania.

Very rare. OCLC locates just 12 copies in institutions and internet records indicate that only one copy sold at auction in 1906.

Sherman's own copy of his scarce and desirable address which articulates his view of the Civil War in the late 1870s. A valuable perspective from a significant figure during the Reconstruction Era.

Condition: a few chips and scuffs to leather.

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, Books, Ephemera, Reconstruction, Memorial Day, GAR, Grand Army of the Republic, Veterans' Organizations]