This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/25/2024
TAFT, William Howard (1857-1930). Typed Letter Signed. New Haven, Conn., March 12th 1914. Letter on Taft’s personal stationery. Addressed “My dear General Wilson:” (Union General James H. Wilson, 1837-1925) Signed at bottom “Wm H Taft” with Taft’s handwritten note, “Personal” at top right. Approximately 10 ¼ x 8”. A bit toned, one vertical and three horizontal creases, else fine. In this friendly letter, written during Taft’s tenure as the Kent Professor of Law and Legal History at Yale Law School, Taft responds to Wilson’s invitation to a dinner at the Mahogany Tree Club, thanking him for the invitation, but kindly refuses due to his busy schedule; later in this letter, Taft mentions [William Jennings] Bryan (1860-1925) and Bryan’s use of a Victrola dictation machine, and how he (Taft) hasn’t mastered the use of that machine. On verso is a signed ink note by Wilson, addressed to “My dear Mr. Cadwalader” stating that this letter is the record of his (Wilson’s) attempt to get Taft to come to the club, but that he (Wilson) will be there. Wilson was an engineer, and a Union military commander during the Civil War; he had a distinguished military career during the Civil War and beyond, being one of the few Union commanders who defeated Nathan Bedford Forrest (twice), and, later, he and his men captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Andersonville commandant, Henry Wirz. An excellent association.