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Lot #392
William T. Sherman

“A pretty, perky young miss has been in waiting…I will be married in just seven hours”

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Description

“A pretty, perky young miss has been in waiting…I will be married in just seven hours”

ALS signed “Sherman,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 9.75, May 1, 1850. Letter to Lieutenant Edward O. C. Ord. In part: “We have hoped till now that you might be present at the wedding (now near at hand) but the rect of yr letter of the 13th forbids all hope. H Brown, Harder, Carter of the Navy & Tom Ewing are my assistants, and a pretty, perky young miss has been in waiting…I will be married in just seven hours from this time, and had no time for thought or reflection…With this I leave a Signet ring which I had engraved for you and had hoped to achieve in person, but from that we shall pass each other and meet again long hence if ever. I shall go west via New York, Buffalo, & Sandusky and would now write to you to try and meet me, could I have any certainty in my letter finding you, but I’ll trust to fate to meet you somewhere before you depart for the west…Let me assure you of the friendship I entertain for you and assure you that all who are dear to me shall know of you and shall honor you to the extent of their power. I have not resolved upon any thing definite for myself…I have too many poor relations and too soft a heart to refuse them when they need what I possess already am I nearly stripped of my small pile, and must begin married life with the old song of Economy…again let me ask you to write me of your movements and accept the renewed assurances of my warmest esteem & friendship. Tell me how you like the ring, it is a symbol, not a measure of my respect.” Reverse of second integral page is addressed by Sherman to Ord. Intersecting folds with a couple small edge separations, light toning, and show-through from writing to opposing sides, otherwise fine condition. After his father passed away when he was nine, Sherman went to live with a family friend, Thomas Ewing. On the day he wrote this letter, he married Ewing's daughter, Eleanor Boyle Ewing, in a Washington ceremony attended by President Zachary Taylor and other political luminaries. The recipient, Edward Ord, was Sherman's roommate at West Point and was later instrumental in forcing the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
  • Dates: #453 - Ended June 17, 2015





This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
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