Union general renowned for burning Atlanta during his relentless March to the Sea. ALS signed “Wm. T. Sherman,” three lightly-lined pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 9.25, personal letterhead, September 3, 1890. Letter to Robert Hunter, author of Sketches of War History. In full, “I am just back from a month’s absence and find your valued letter of August 20 with the third volume of ‘Sketches of War History,’ the two first volumes of which I already possess. I esteem this third volume as unusually interesting and valuable because each article is the record of personal experience by a competent witness. We are all simply witnesses on the Stand of the Great Tribunal of History out of which will be wrought the ‘Judgment’ leaving the great mass to drift into the ocean of oblivion, or float about us as tradition. At this instant of time I am sure ten thousand men are writing ‘Histories of Our Time,’ many of whom write to me to give their work a critical inspection, and to write the author something he may use as an advertisement. To them I give a wide berth; but to real actors as Dawes, Hickenlooper, Perry and Merrill I attach real importance. A chief difficulty - I experience in these ‘war papers’ is their multiplicity. Each volume is but a grain of the smoke to the cannon from which was fired the real argument of war twenty-five years ago. Always wishing you, and those associated with you all earthly honor and happiness.” Sherman obviously felt that Hunter’s work was among the best he had read, as he was generous with his praise in the letter. The soldiers mentioned by Sherman (listed here with their contributions to Hunter’s book), are undoubtedly Union officers Rufus Dawes (With the Sixth Wisconsin at Gettysburg), Andrew Hickenlooper (Our Volunteer Engineers), Aaron F. Perry (A Chapter in Interstate Diplomacy at the Beginning of the War - 1861), and William E. Merrill (Block Houses for Railroad Defense in the Department of the New Cumberland). In fine condition, with light handling wear. Much of Sherman’s postwar correspondence was dry and terse, making this letter a stellar example in both condition and quality. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
