Description:

William T. Sherman
[Near Marietta, GA], October 6, [1864]
W.T. Sherman Field Orders Issued the Day After the Battle of Allatoona Pass
ALS

William T. Sherman ALS in pencil. One page, 7.75" x 6.25"; near or at Marietta, Georgia; October 6, [1864], at 2 PM. Quickly written field orders to General Jacob D. Cox directing troop dispositions along the critical Kennesaw-Big Shanty corridor in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Allatoona Pass. Signed, "W.T. Sherman / Maj Genl." With thumbsoiling and rough edges at top and left consistent with its origin as a field order. Scattered foxing. A significant real-time glimpse into General Sherman's decision making at a pivotal moment.

From the collection of Larry Berra, son of baseball legend Yogi Berra.

In full:

"I have sent Col Warren to you to explore your position which is to the front & right of Kenesaw following the Big Shanty Road about a mile out from the base of the mountain to a fortified Ridge from which you'd overlook cleared ground, [?] extension Leave your trains near the base of the mountain."

Addressed to Cox in Marietta in Sheman's hand on the verso.

On October 5, 1864, Confederate forces under John Bell Hood attempted to seize the vital Union supply depot at Allatoona Pass along the Western & Atlantic Railroad. Despite a fierce assault, the small Union garrison held its fortified position, preserving Sherman's communications and supply line - a key lifeline for the Army. This letter written the following day at 2 P.M., reflects Sherman's strategic considerations as he moves to secure the railroad and guard against further Confederate movements. Its emphasis on terrain, reconnaissance, and protecting supply trains underscores the urgency of stabilizing the line.

Within weeks, Sherman would conclude that the railroad could not be effectively defended against repeated Confederate disruption. He ordered the destruction of military and industrial sources and formally initiated his March to the Sean in mid-November.

Includes a hand-colored 20th century print of Sherman.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 6.25"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

May 6, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000