sold William T. Sherman Consoles a Friend About His Retirement As General of the Army

Following the Civil War, Sherman remained in the service, succeeding Grant as the commander of the U.S. Army in 1869. This position often kept him in Washington. He retired in early 1884 and returned to his home in St. Louis to stay, making for quite a change for the Sherman family and their friends. These included Mrs. Mary Audenreid, widow of one of his favorite officers, whom Sherman looked after while in Washington.

Autograph Letter Signed, 4 pages, St. Louis, April 27, 1884, consoling Mrs.Audenreid, who was worried about the impact of his retirement on her. “…I like to hear from you because I take a personal interest in your well-being and don’t want you to forget us though it will be natural and proper that with permanent separation you will form new associations and drift further away…I will be careful about your letters and will destroy them and meantime assure you that none of yours go on file. I don’t know that you have heard of the death of my aunt in California…She was a very brilliant woman and used to write me letters that were models of skill and expression…I will take my Sunday drive today in the buggy…”