The personal belongings of one of Ohio鈥檚 most famous historical figures went to auction in Columbus last week. Union General William T. Sherman鈥檚 personal items were put up for sale, including his family Bible, his photographs and, perhaps most coveted, his sword.
The weapon鈥檚 highest bidder was the Sherman House in Lancaster, the famed general鈥檚 birthplace. Museum director Michael Johnson said it took months of fundraising to acquire the $130,000 needed to place the highest bid.
鈥淚t's such an incredible piece of American history. It still hasn't sunk in yet that it's going to be in our museum,鈥� Johnson said.
Sherman鈥檚 story
Ohio-born William T. Sherman is most remembered for his command of Union armies during the Civil War. He was known for his 鈥渢otal war鈥� strategy, where he focused on obliterating his enemies鈥� infrastructure, destroying railroads and stealing food.
Johnson said it was this ruthless approach in his 鈥淢arch to the Sea鈥� that broke the will of the Confederacy and led the Union army to victory. And Sherman鈥檚 sword would have been with him through integral battles during his command, Johnson said.
鈥淚t is not a standard issue sword. He did have it tailored to fit the way that he wanted it,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淪o it would have been with him during major battles, like Shiloh, where he had three horses shot out from under him. 鈥� It's just a monumental artifact.鈥�
A winning bid
Johnson said it鈥檚 rare for extraordinary items like this to come to auction. And he feared the small nonprofit鈥檚 budget didn鈥檛 stand much of a chance against wealthy private collectors.
鈥淚 kept pushing for it,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲e at least had to try.鈥�
The museum does have a small pot of money set aside for collections, but Johnson said he knew it wouldn鈥檛 be nearly enough for a winning bid. So, in the months preceding the auction, the museum took to social media to plead for support in the artifact鈥檚 acquisition. They received donations from people across the world. He said many of the donors wanted to help ensure the sword could be viewed by everyone.
鈥淧rivate collectors are fine,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut if there are things that are of national significance and there's a museum for it to go to, it's my belief that's where it should be,鈥� he said.
Johnson believes the sword could have gone for double its price and his rival bidders were generous in standing down and allowing the museum to take home the relic.
Wider reach
Thanks to donations from descendants of Sherman, the museum already houses many of Sherman鈥檚 personal belongings: his desk, a trunk he used during the war, furniture from his home in New York where he retired. But, Johnson said the sword is a step above.
Last year, the Sherman House had visitors from 37 states and seven different countries. Johnson said the sword is likely to take those numbers to a 鈥渨hole 'nother level.鈥�
鈥淭his is one of those items where you will go to that museum to see specifically,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭his is of that caliber.鈥�