The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

St. Louis, November 30, 1868. One lined bifolium on Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri letterhead, 9 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. (241 x 197 mm). Four-page autograph letter, signed by General William Tecumseh Sherman to fellow General George H. Thomas, regarding an upcoming meeting of the Society of the Army of Tennessee. In full, "Dear Thomas, I received your letter from Washington a few days ago and was much gratified to see that you felt so interested in the Army Marching at Chicago and that you surely would be there. I am informed by Strong of the Com(mittee)-of Arrangements that they have made excellent progress. They have enjoyed Crosby's Opera House for the speaking- you are to preside, and I am to make the welcome address. Now I am so anxious to give the four orations so clear a field that I will not occupy 5 minutes. The Opera House is the finest Amphitheatre I have ever seen, will seat 3000 people- its parquet & first tier of boxes will hold all our Army People. could give to Larsins(?) the 2nd or Dress Circle with the 3rd tier for citizens generally which is not like other 3rd tiers, not perfectly comfortable & respectable The stage is large enough for 300 people and on it will naturally be seated all the prominent officers and committees. I promise you as handsome a Coup d'orie as you ever seen. Don't attempt a long address in taking the Chair-for I know that four speakers will require full 3 hours. which with the music and natural spaces will keep us quite till midnight. It will hardly be fair to the past speakers, to tire the audience before they are called. The Board of Trade Room selected for the Banquet is a large room with high...ceiling easily decorated & with abundant Gas light. The Committee estimates they can seat one thousand although their contract binds them only to 800 at $6 a head. I am informed that I am to preside at the Banquet. I have hereby notified them I will try and do whatever they assign to me. I should suppose that we ought to get through the Regular toasts by midnight or 1 o-clock when we could withdraw and...the youngsters to make a night of it. This Room is all the better suited for the Banquet, as it will not be wasted, as Regular dining rooms always are, for the...of a Breakfast- The rooms will now have to be cleared away till daylight ready for the Board of Trade at 10 am next day. It is quite important that Grant & Schofield should be there and I am glad to observe that they have announced their purpose to be there. Tell Terry that I expect to meet him there also. As Sir your friend, W.T. Sherman". Short note on last page, dated May 13, 1869 signed by George H. Thomas, "I have enclosed three original letters to Miss Lucy Baird hoping they may prove interesting. Very Respectfully Geo. H Thomas." Creasing from old folds; two inch closed tear on integral leaf, but not affecting text.

Lengthy post-war autograph letter signed by two of the Union Army's most celebrated generals, William T. Sherman (1820-91) and George H. Thomas (1816-70).

The Third Annual Meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee took place in Chicago on December 15-16, 1868. The Banquet Sherman describes in the above letter was held on the second day at the Chicago Board of Trade's Chamber of Commerce. The official report of the proceedings describes "The beautiful appearance of the scene at this time baffles description. Often before has this hall been used for grand occasions, but never has it looked so fine... Lieut. Gen. Sherman, who at the head of the hall on the President's stand, and on his right was General U.S. Grant, on the left Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, and at the same table were Generals Schofield, Terry, M'Dowell...some others. " (p. 76)