ALS signed “W. T. Sherman, Capt. C.S.,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 10, January 31, 1852. Letter to General George Gibson. In part: “General Scott in his Annual Report to the Secretary of War, having recommended the breaking up of the Forts on the Plains, Laramie, Kearny, and Atkinson, I shall of course not act on any Requisitions from those Posts, unless first obtaining your orders. Should you deem it proper and prudent to dispose of any of the Subsistence items at Fort Laramie, a good opportunity will in all likelihood offer the coming Spring and Summer; as the overland Emigration will doubtless be very considerable…Sales of flour, bacon, sugar, coffee, salt &c could readily be made at prices, covering cost, that of transportation and wastage. Four companies of the Rifle Regiment will Embark today at the Barracks for New Orleans, provided the ice breaks in the river…Their departure will leave only two companies of Rifles, one of Artillery, and the Regimental Band of 6th Infantry at the Barracks.” In fine condition, with a light horizontal mailing fold through signature, and slight show-through from text on opposing sides.
Sherman likely wrote this letter while stationed in St. Louis as a captain in the Commissary Department, until his transfer to New Orleans in September 1852. The referenced forts were among the posts passed by the Forty-Niners—those hopeful throngs headed to California in the hope of capitalizing on the California Gold Rush. It is such “overland Emigration” to which Sherman refers here. An important part of Western lore, troops assigned to Fort Laramie and Fort Kearny were all charged with guarding travel along the Oregon Trail. In the early 1850s, the forts were swamped by more than 50,000 migrants as they set out from various positions along the Missouri River to head west. A terrific pre-Civil War letter with Gold Rush innuendo. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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