ALS signed “W. T. Sherman,” eight pages, 5.25 x 8, Headquarters Army of the United States letterhead, March 22, 1876. Lengthy letter to General Manning Ferguson Force, in part: "I have your letter of 20th and have [been] most politely invited by Judge Taft to come to Washington for consultation, and will start this evening. When the war closed the opportunity to place the Civil Government on high ground was perfect. I am certain Genl. Grant had a glimpse of it, and meant to undertake it—but the pressure was too great and he gradually succumbed. It may be that another epoch is to dawn on us. Truly our country is full of pure and able men, and if they will lay hold they can rescue us from the slough of despond into which we have fallen. Of all Governmental establishments, the Army & Navy are the easiest to manipulate. Each should be a unit, absolutely under the control of the Civil power." He sets out how the order of how command should work, and adds: "The real difficulty is in our Bureaux System, each one…construes itself a little empire of its own. He gives examples of problems caused by this during the war and says, "When Genl Grant reached Washington in 1864 he told the President that if he was to command the Army, he must command the supply Dept." Sherman continues: "I don't want any power but I do want to see the Army governed by principles as old as history, unified, and all these distinctions…imported from France, give place to the old Anglo Saxon custom of fair play…hard duty etc, which prevailed until this system of bureaucracy crept in and actually molded the laws for Congress." In fine condition.
Manning Ferguson Force was a lawyer, judge, and soldier from Ohio (1824-1899) who became known as the commander of the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was promoted to major general of volunteers in March 1865 and, following the Battle of Atlanta, he participated in Sherman's March to the Sea. Force was a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor for gallantry in action.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$100.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
