Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Ewing, Charles (1835-1883) to Thomas Ewing

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03601.10 Author/Creator: Ewing, Charles (1835-1883) Place Written: St. Louis, Missouri Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 June 1861 Pagination: 2 p. ; 23.3 x 16.6 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to his father to inform him that William T. Sherman (Cump) is being promoted to Brigadier General of the three Battalion Regiments. States he will receive a captain's commission in the regular army. Stresses his desire to fight for the Union, "I know nothing more worthy of my ambition than to fight for the preservation of the Government that your Father suffered and fought to make." Asks for his father's approval before he accepts.

Sherman was adopted by Thomas Ewing, an Ohio Senator and U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, after Sherman's father died in 1829. Philemon, Charles, Thomas, and Hugh Ewing were Thomas Ewing's sons and grew up as Sherman's adoptive brothers. Charles Ewing achieved a generalship in the army by the end of the Civil War.

Ewing, Charles, 1835-1883
Ewing, Thomas, 1789-1871
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources