“THE FIRST MODERN GENERAL”: SHERMAN’S MEMOIRS, 1891, SIGNED BY HIM ON A TIPPED-IN CARD, SCARCE SHOULDER-STRAP EDITION, WITH 15 FOLDING MAPS

SHERMAN, William Tecumseh. Memoirs of Gen. W.T. Sherman. New York: Charles L. Webster, 1891. Two volumes. Octavo, original green cloth gilt, patterned endpapers.

Enlarged fourth edition of Sherman’s invaluable autobiography, inscribed by him in Volume I on a tipped-in card, “W.T. Sherman, General,” this expanded edition containing corrections and revisions by Sherman, and including a concluding chapter on his final illness and death and a personal tribute by Congressman James G. Blaine. With 15 folding maps and handsome steel-engraved portraits, in the distinctive shoulder-strap binding.

“Penned with intelligence and passion, [Sherman’s Memoirs] cover the periods of birth to the Meridian Expedition early in 1864 (Volume I) and the remainder of the war to the commander’s first decade following the war (Volume II)… The memoirs frankly describe the rights and wrongs of the Civil War campaigns Sherman experienced, without regard to stepping on the feelings of others. The work is not unduly harsh, but is unwaveringly honest (as the author viewed these events)… The writing in this work is enjoyable, more so than the average soldier’s memoirs, and the enlightened opinions of the second-ranking Federal officer on a multitude of operations make the work invaluable” (Eicher 576). First published in 1875. Issued by Mark Twain and Charles Webster’s publishing house, this copy’s distinctive “shoulder-strap” binding was uniform with several other memoirs by Civil War generals, including those by Grant and Sheridan. With 15 folding maps (five in Volume I; 10 in Volume II), frontispiece and steel-engraved portraits. Volume II with two leaves of publisher’s ads bound in at rear. See Sabin 80416; Nevins II:89. Owner inscription below signed card (measures 2 by 3-1/2 inches) tipped to front pastedown of Volume I reads: “This signature of Gen. Sherman was written for my father, John H. Rees on one of his cards by Gen. Sherman him-self [sic] at the National Grand Army Encampment held at Minneapolis about 1883 or 4. [signed] B.R.G.” Owner signatures.

Text, plates and maps fresh and clean, front inner papers hinges expertly reinforced, light edge-wear to bright gilt cloth. A scarce extremely good signed copy.