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Auction: 315 - Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 520

Civil War: Wesley Merritt Union general (1836-1910); led cavalry at Gettysburg; served with with distinction under Sheridan in the Shenandoah and Appomattox Campaigns; superintendent of West Point; led US ground forces in the Battle of Manila, becoming governor-general of the Philippines. Interesting ALS "W. Merritt," 3 pages, 8vo, on stationery of the Grand Hotel, NY, June 16, 1891. He writes an unnamed general that "I...would gladly underatake the work and try to do justice to the life of my old Chief for whom my respect increases as time goes on, but I can promise nothing this summer" because of his wife´s illness. He suggests Gen James H Wilson or Col Fred C Newhall instead. Even age-toning, VG. Merritt served in only one campaign alongside both James H Wilson and Fred C Newhall; that was in the Shenandoah Campaign, leaving little doubt that the "old Chief" he refers to is Philip H Sheridan, who had died in 1888.

Estimate
$200 to $300