SHERMAN WILLIAM T.: (1820-1891) American General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. A charming A.L.S., W. T. Sherman, General, three pages, 8vo, Washington D.C., 21st January 1881, to Miss. Berdan ('My Dear Young Lady'), on the printed stationery of the Headquarters, Army of the United States. Sherman announces 'So beautiful a letter as you have just written me will command an autograph, a photograph….' and continues 'to be reminded that I once took you, then a sweet child on my knee to caress with your Father, Mother and elder sister present in the cars whirling from St. Petersburg to Berlin gives me hopes of immortality'. Sherman further writes 'Do for my sake cherish the feeling of respect you express - hide away in the corner of your heart one of the stories I told you, whether true or fabulous is of little import, and when you in time are surrounded by young & loving faces tell them of the old man who labored and fought that they might live in Peace, who took you on his knee and told you stories to while away the tedium of the long journey to the shores of the Baltic Sea….' A letter of interesting association. A band of uniform discoloration appears to the first page, just affecting part of the text (which remains perfectly legible), and with some light age wear and slight traces of former mounting to the verso of the final page, G.€500-750

The present letter was written to the daughter of Hiram Berdan (1824-1893) American Engineer, Inventor and Military officer. A world renowned marksman, Berdan was the guiding force behind, and commanding Colonel of, the famed United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiments during the American Civil War.