Gen. Sherman's sword to return home to Sherman House Museum with permanent display

LANCASTER − General William T. Sherman's sword will soon be coming home. Literally.

On Tuesday, the Sherman House Museum submitted the winning bid of $130,000 at Fleischer's Auctions for the sword the city native used in the Civil War. The museum plans to display it in the next few weeks at the museum, which was Sherman's actual residence.

"What a day," Sherman House director Michael Johnson said. "I still don't feel like I've slept. It was an amazing feeling."

Johnson attended the live portion of the auction in the Columbus Brewery District. The auction also included online and phone bids.

Along with the sword, the museum also acquired Sherman's grade school algebra book, a signed copy of Sherman's brother, John's, memoirs and a collection of letters veterans across the country wrote to Sherman's family after he died.

The items came from the Fitch family in western Pennsylvania, of whom its members are Sherman decedents. The family decided to sell the items instead of keeping them any longer, Johnson said. He said Sherman carried the sword during major battles like Shiloh.

"The sword is a variation of an officer's sword," Johnson said. "He had it customized to fit the way that he wanted it. And it comes with a trunk. He had it in a trunk and that's what the family had."

He said the sword had never left the Fitch family's possession and that they have a letter from Sherman talking about his trunk and sword. Johnson said those facts prove the sword's authenticity.

jbarron@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Sherman House Museum wins Sherman sword in auction