Description
From the library of General William T. Sherman, the first edition of Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln and Notes of a Visit to California by his close friend, Joshua F. Speed.
Octavo, [2], 67pp, [3]. Brown cloth, title in gilt on spine and front cover. Dark green endpapers. Internally clean, solid text block. Archival tissue reinforcement to hinge of title page. Bookplate of “W.T. Sherman, General” and his son, Philemon T. Sherman, on the front endpaper.
(Howes, S-826) (Coleman 2953) (Monaghan 1005)
This work by Speed is one of three known copies to enter the public market. Provenance: The Sherman-Fitch Collection, Lot 51424-110, Fleischer’s Auction, 2024. This book was acquired by Philemon after his father’s death in 1891, at which point the “W.T. Sherman, General” bookplate was added. The second bookplate was added by Sherman’s grandson, Tecumseh Sherman Fitch (1908-1969), who inherited the collection in 1942.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Joshua F. Speed, a close friend of Lincoln since his days in the Illinois Legislature, coordinated Union military activities in Kentucky. This responsibility introduced him to Brig. General William T. Sherman, who commanded the Department of the Cumberland in Louisville. Sherman made numerous requests to Washington for supplies for his troops, but it took an intervention by Speed and his direct connection to Lincoln to make it happen. Sherman was amazed and said to Speed: “How is it that more attention is paid to the request of you, a citizen, than to me, a general in the army? You had better take command here.”
Speed replied: “The only mistake you made, General, was in not asking for more.”
The two men continued to exchange letters as Sherman’s military career moved forward. Their correspondence is likely why Sherman desired a copy of this short memoir by Speed.
