This photo, from the National Portrait Gallery, is dated 1885, a year after General William T. Sherman retired from his position as Commanding General of the U.S. Armies. Sherman is 65 years of age here, the most famous Union officer next to General Grant and forever known for Sherman’s March to the Sea which wreaked havoc on the south but led to the end of the Civil War. I don’t know whether he travelled in full dress, but this is probably about how he appeared in 1882 and 1883 when he was a guest at the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel.
Sherman Visits the Villa in 1882
Carew, in his History of Pasadena, writes that on April 17, 1882, Gen. Sherman and his staff were guests at the Villa. Sherman obviously enjoyed his time at the Villa and later remarked “the Sierra Madre Villa was the most attractive spot to having a quiet, good time on the continent.” And, why not? The Villa’s mesa location was quiet and a bit remote. No clamoring crowds or pressing appearances. With warming April weather, maybe some wildflowers, a glass of fresh orange juice, and valley to ocean views, just maybe the old General kicked off his boots and chilled for a spell.
It is not hard to imagine that the old General might have relished some peace and quiet. Just a few days before, Sherman had taken the train from Tucson to Los Angeles arriving late the night of April 13 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. As Sheman must have anticipated, a crowd was on hand to welcome him as was the local press.
Though the hour was late, members of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of Civil War veterans, active duty soldiers and others gathered outside Sherman’s hotel. A band played Marching Through Georgia, a popular tune that Sherman grew to despise he heard it so often. Still, the General obliged the crowd, stepped out onto his balcony. The Times reports Sherman said a few words and the crowd ended the night with “three cheers and a tiger,” which probably refers to three loud hurrahs followed by either a growling noise or slowly rising yell.
The next day Sherman received the veterans in the hotel parlor. Each individual soldier was announced by name and Sherman responded by recalling a story or anecdote about the man’s regiment or corps. There was no shortage of honor or emotion. An old veteran approached the General to shake his hand and as he did tears streamed down the man’s cheek “as memories of camp and battle were revived.” Sherman grasped the man’s hand and said “Glad to see you my boy.” A rebel soldier approached to say he fought against Sherman to which the General replied “Well we’re on the same side now.”
It appears that Sherman travelled from Los Angeles to arrive at the Sierra Madre Villa on April 17. The Times reports indicate he was on his way to see Yosemite.
Sherman Returns to the Villa in 1883
Below is a copy of a page from the Hotel Register for the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel recording General Sherman’s arrival at the Villa in September, 1883.
Judging by the style of the signature, it appears Sherman signed the register himself. With Sherman was his staff including Col. Richard Irving Dodge, Commander of the 11th U.S. Infantry. Dodge had been ordered to escort Sherman on a 10,000 mile inspection tour across the Pacific Northwest, down to southern California and finishing in Denver.
The register also contains the names of other luminaries. Horace Gray, then a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, was in Sherman’s party. The register also bears the name of Sherman’s brother John, who was eminent in his own right. As a U.S. senator, John Sherman would go on to author the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the first federal law targeting unfair monopolies. However, it is unclear from the register when Senator Sherman was a guest at the Villa.
General Sherman is a giant figure in American history. I’ve enjoyed learning more about his life, achievements, and controversies. President Hayes called him “the most interesting and original character in the world.” There are his namesake giant sequoia tree and WWII tanks. But there’s a lot of sadness and tumult too. His “total war” strategy was brutal, but effective. Then there is the severe criticism of more modern historians for his role in killing off huge buffalo herds and the relocation of Native American tribes in the West. I’d like to know more about the man and his times.
So, I’ll wrap this up with a local twist that I’m sure all those big time Historians overlook. There’s an interesting connection between General Sherman and the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel. You see, the Villa’s owner, William F. Cogswell. was a noted portrait painter. Cogswell was famous for his portraits of President Lincoln and many of the political and business leaders of the day. In fact, years prior to Sherman’s visits to the Villa, Cogswell had painted portraits of three Union generals. Cogswell painted portraits of General Grant and General Sheridan and Cogswell painted the portrait of his future guest at the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel, General William Tecumseh Sherman.
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