Head-Quarters Armies of the United States Washington,
Jan 4 1868
[1868/01/04]
Dear Tommy,
[TES]
I expected today we should finish up the Indian business, but Senator Henderson was not ready and we put it off till next Monday, when we are to begin another job that will take me a couple of weeks before I can come home. I wrote to Mama yesterday & told her that Minnie and I were to dine with the President at 5 P M today, and that tomorrow I would take her over and put her to school. this is the arrangement.
Yesterday, your Grandpa Ewing, Uncle Tom Ewing, Charley Ewing, and Ellen - Gen T. Ewing wife Tom Shermans Godmother Mrs. Daugherty &c all dined at John Shermans, where Minnie & I am staying.- We had a good dinner & card party afterwards. Granpa told us he would dine with the President also.
Yesterday it rained hard, but it has now cleared off, and the sun is very brught, so that I hope Minnie and I will have a good nice ride over to New York by daylight, and I will point out to her all the sights along the road including Baltimore Philadelphia- Trenton Princeton &c &c. We will be in New York by 6 P M when Gen Grant will meet me, and we will probably spend the evening at some Club, and come back home Sunday night- I think I can promise you to be home all the year after this month, and I will help you with your Mathematics, and drawing. If you want me to get you anything special write to me, but I have no doubt Mama got for you at New Years everything you needed.
Willy Cox Ewing is very well and talks to me always about you He is a fine boy - all Aunt Ellens children are now well, though for a couple of weeks they were all more or less sick with scarlet fever. Give my love to all at home, And write me as often as you feel like it.
Yr. affectionate father
W. T. Sherman
[WTS]
Cincinnati Ohio
Feb 7, 1868
[1868/02/07]
Dear Tommy,
[TES]
I did intend to write to you from Washington, but was so busy that I could not. I wrote to Mamma last night telling her I could not reach Saint Louis till Sunday. The reason is that the Army of the Cumberland is here celebrating the formation of a Society like that of the Army of the Tennessee, and have fixed the chief part of their exercises for today and they will extend far into the night. So that I cannot start tonight on the train at 10 o'clock. but will do so tomorrow and reach St Louis on Sunday, about 1 or 2 oclock in the day. I fear we may have some trouble to cross the River, but it will be time enough to think of that when I get there. So you may all expect me out home sometime in the afternoon of Sunday. I know you are all well and therefore need not be in too great a hurry, but I am very anxious to see you all agin.
Your loving father
W.T. Sherman
[WTS]
Washington
Jan 22, 1868
[1868/01/22]
Dear Tommy,
[TES]
I got your letter on Friday, and wrote your Mama that I should answer as soon as I got back from Annapolis. I got back from there on Monday, but on last night Tuesday was appointed to present me the watch of Roger Sherman of Revolutionary memory. I put it off till now. I send you herewith a photograph of Admiral Porter, General Auger & myself and before I come home will try and get you enough to fill up your ambum.- As to the Roger Sherman watch, it is well boxed and cased, is a good silver Lepnic Watch - with hands for months, weeks, days, hours, minutes & seconds, quite a curiosity - and beyond question the watch worn by Roger Sherman when he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Of course I will give' it to you first when you are a man. And it is to be kept in our family, viz. the Shermans. As the girls marry & change their names they have no chance. Its possession lies between you and Cumpy, which ever lives the longest or has boy children, a good way to look ahead, but it is already a hundred years old, and may last another hundred years quite as eventful as the past. We are working hard to get through the Army Regulations and I want to get home next week.- Uncle Tom Ewing was present at the presentation last night, but Grandpa Ewing could not come though invited- being a cold unpleasant night, and he not feeling perfectly well. Write to me on receipt of this but afterwards not unless Mama tells you, as I hope to get home next week. Love to all
Affectionately yr father
W.T. Sherman
[WTS]
Headquarters Army of the United States Washington, D.C.
March 20, 1869
[1869/03/20]
Dear Tommy,
[TES]
I take advantage of a lull in business to answer your good letter.- I got this far more than two hours ago, and since have been busy with visitors on every conceivable business - and now resume - yesterday I went up to the Senate to see Mr Nye about some Montana claims, and there heard several senators speak about the Civil Service Bill- then I wwnt over to your Grandpa Ewing's and found Uncle Philemon Ewing had just arrived from Lancaster, on some business about the estate of Mr. Young of Md. Another bore is now talking about some cattle in Savannah and I cant stop him. I am now writing and he talking with no listener, for I have answered him No, and he wont take an answer. As soon as I finish this letter I will go down to the house to examine what Dick and the sergeant have done, and to see what repairs must be made next week. General Grant was in my office this morning looking very well. He is now fairly established at the White House with all his family but he says they are not as well off as they were in his former house. Nearly all the White House is taken up with offices, library and reception rooms. Only 7 room remain, whereas our house here has sixteen good rooms besides cellar, kitchen &c.
I dont want to interrupt you at your school in St. Louis, but we may have to move to Washington before we intended, but I suppose there are equally good schools here though I have not been able to find out. I am so much interrupted by visitors that I must close, but will write again- Write to me about once a week either on Thursday, or Sunday as you prefer. Give my love to everybody.
Affectionately, yr father,
W.T. Sherman
[WTS]
Headquarters Army of the United States Washington, D.C.
Mch 13 1869
[1869/03/13]
Dear Tommy,
[TES]
I have been very busy all this week, with all sorts of people, but I hope soon to have more time to myself.
I got yours and Lizzie's letters today and will answer Lizzie in a day or so. I have just telegraphed to Mama, that all are well here, and I will write her tomorrow about everything that she wants to know. Sunday is the only day in Washington for rest, but there are so many people who want offices that they come at all hours and all times.
I am living with your Uncle John, but it is expected that Congress will not be in session beyond this month, and then Uncle John will go to Ohio and I must look out for myself. I think I will move into the New House get one or two servants and keep a kind of bachelors house till you all come to Washington.
My erisipilas is all gone, but the trouble is it is liable to come back at anytime. But I will not be uneasy, as it rarely happens in summer. It is already quite warm here, and teh trees show that spring is near.
I suppose your Mama will have Cumpy in pants very soon, when he will astonish you with climbing the trees and fences. I owe Rachel a letter and I will not forget her or Elly.
I suppose Minnie will hate to give up the housekeeping. She must have felt quite important.
General Sheridan will come to Saint Louis. He will not go to New Orleans but after a while he may make his HeadQuarters at Chicago. Gen. Schfoeld will go to Leavenworth and Gen Thomas to California.
Love to all.
Yr. Father
W.T. Sherman
[WTS]