Nov 04, 2010 - Sale 2228

Sale 2228 - Lot 22

Price Realized: $ 2,640
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000
INDIAN QUESTION: "NO PEACEFUL SOLUTION EXCEPT THROUGH MILITARY FORCE" SHERMAN, WILLIAM T. Autograph Letter Signed, "W.T. Sherman," as Commanding General, to F[rancis] A[masa] Walker ("Dear General"), acknowledging receipt of his book The Indian Question, and outlining his own views on the subject: Indians and White Men cannot live in peace and in mutual trust unless the former assimilate the customs and thinking of the latter, and assimilation cannot be successful without the threat of military force. 4 pages, 8vo, "Headquarters Army of the United States" stationery, ruled paper, written on a folded sheet; minor toning at top and bottom edges of first and terminal pages. Washington, 20 Aug[ust] 1874
Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

". . . Of course, I have thought much of this problem, and have almost made up my mind that it admits of no Solution.
"Indians must assimilate to the White-Man in habits and thoughts. Else there will always remain that irreconcilable Conflict . . . .
"To change one's Nation is probably the most difficult thing in life, somewhat like the Leopard Changing his Spots, and this must be done before the White-Man and Indian can live in Peace side by side. Even the industrious Mormons could not Stay in Illinois, and doubts exist if they will be permitted much longer to stay at Peace in the desert of Utah--so with the Indians; even should they be nominally at Peace, yet every murder or stolen horse, all the burden will be charged to them when retaliation follows, which grows into a Frontier War. . . .
"I am glad the responsibility rests with the civil authorities, though certain that there is no peaceful solution except through Military Force."