Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) to H. Copper
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06334 Author/Creator: Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Place Written: Alexandria, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1865 Pagination: 4 p. ; 15.2 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Sherman defends the terms of surrender he gave to General Joseph Johnston, discussing his "Memorandum" (i.e., Johnston's surrender agreement), and claiming the document was written "quickly." Sherman writes that "Sam [U.S. Grant] never saw or heard about it." He further notes that it was "a mere naked memorandum for the new President [Andrew Johnson] to manipulate and give me what I had a right to ask some definite idea of the status of the surrendered army." Sherman claims that he didn't think it would be publicized. Written in a camp near Alexandria, Virginia, on stationary marked "Head-Quarters Military Division of the Mississippi."
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