Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A great William T. Sherman encounter Civil War letter, 3pp. 4to., written, on "U. S. Christian Commission, Branch Office," stationery, by Edward Parmelee Smith (1827-1876) a field secretary for the United States Christian Commission during the war who became well-known for his dedication to the education of the freedmen, Nashville, Tenn., April 26, 1864, to his brother reading, in part: "…events have proved that your suggestions as to our work were wise & I have endeavored to follow them as closely as circumstances would allow. It is with great difficulty that I can get any freight expect here…at some points further on & at times in Nashville our work for the winter has been full of interest. At Chattanooga & Ringgold & Cleveland…there is a very deep interest in religious things & many christians are shored up & many souls converted…now our work is cut short by an order from Genl. Sherman refusing all passes beyond Nashville. This will break up this station at Tullahoma…& reduce us to the work of the permanent agents in the field. The gen's. order is strictly impartial by reason of its comprehensions…all agents-all commissaries. I wish you could spend an hour at his head quarters & see the importunates & his one answer varied only by the degree of snap with which it takes down all fond [?] of getting front. If the application is in writing the endore't. is "Certainly not, W. T. Sherman." If it via voice the reply is "It cant be granted." & sometimes an additional remark is thrown into the effect that Sec'y. Stanton or Abe Lincoln couldn't go front in such circumstances. After seeing two or three "certainly nots" on application for passes. I made a written statement…of our work…this called out a respectful answer frogmen's. Webster chief of staff sating the reason why all matters not strictly military must be held…till after the movement. Want of transportation is the great difficulty…in this part of the country. My pet boy is lying very low with the measles. I gave him up as beyond hope last week. It falls to the lot of Rev. A. Emerson of Fitchburg and myself to prepare the pastoral letter to the churches this year. Emerson urges that I write it from the army view of christian duty. But I have some difficulty in seeing how I should be able by [the] Army of the Cumberland letter "to excite the attention of ministers & christians to faithful discipline in the churches…perhaps a liberal contrast of this later clause will allow…for a christian support of the army. Give me some hints out of your experience in associative matters & tell me what kind of a letter to write…". VG to near fine.
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