86.WILLIAM T. SHERMAN (1820-1891) Union major general declared by the press to be "insane", he led his army in their March to the Sea, taking Atlanta, Savannah and Columbia along the way. Fine content A.L.S., 4pp., 8vo., Washington, DC, July 13, 1878, on a conjoined leaf "Headquarters Army of the United States". An excellent letter bemoaning his son Tom's conversion to Catholicism, in part: "...the family echoes my sentiments in regard to the real cause which led Tom to abandon her and his true career, for the Church...the high officials of the Catholic Church...their motive is to me transparent to use me and my office in the interest of the Church for which they permit every falsehood...the action of Tom has been injuriously used for their purposes...though opposed, I had for the sake of his happiness yielded a reluctant consent. All my army comrades know the truth...the truth will manifest itself in due time and in a way which Catholics will find does not add to the sanctity, or interest, of their Church. Tom wrote me...I have not answered & will not because when he went I told him plainly & frankly that it was Desertion and I could not conspire with a deserter...Sheridan and Ord both have Catholic influences - the former told me at West Point that he had notified Bishop Foley there that he must limit his office...The school will be the one of conflict and there the Catholics are vulnerable...". A fine, personal letter, and interesting in that Sherman refers to his son's religious conversion with the military term "Desertion". Sherman filled the entire four pages and was forced to use the top of the first page for the salutation and signature. Fine. $3,000 - 4,000