The 141st New York Sustains Heavy Losses During The Battle of Peach Tree Creek

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A great war-date Union soldier's, 4pp. 8vo., battle-letter written in ink by Pvt. Albert J. Whitley, Co. C, 141st New York Vols., "Near Atlanta Georgia, July 24, 1864" to his sister concerning the battle of Peach Tree Creek and of the heavy casualties their sustained, reading, in part: "…we are having a hard times here in G[eorgi]a now after driving the Rebs across the Chattahoochie they get worse & worse as we near Atlanta. July 20, they made a fierce and determined attack on our Corps. We lost 1400 in killed and wounded, the 141st lost 70 men; our Col. [William K. Logie] was killed & Lieut. Warren, & Lieut. Barber of Co. A. Lieut. Col. [future bvt. brig. gen. Andrew] McNett was wounded [his right arm was amputated as a result of the wound], & also our Major [Charles Clanharty], & Adjutant [Louis Hazard]. Captain Baldwin is in command of the Regt. now. It is with a sad heart that I write you of this battle, for among the killed Charles A. Swarthout. I found time…to write a line to his father, but it was hard for me to tell him that his boy was no more. Sergt. Thompson of Co. C. was killed, and William Carrike and Horace Edwards, Wm Decker, & Jud. Albertson were wounded, and have since died. Sergt Shappee was wounded and Corporal S. Bailey & Hugg. Andrew Landon & Weaver were also wounded. We have less than 100 guns in the Regt. now. This battle was fought about 4 miles from Atlanta. We are now only 2 1/2 miles from there now, and the Rebels have fallen back since then. There was a battle on the left of our lines the 22nd [the battle of Atlanta] in which General McPherson was killed. In the fight of the 20th we repulsed the rebels twice…I shot about 70 rounds in the fight and came out safe, but it was…through the Mercy of Providence for how anyone could escape [without] being hit I don't see…the rebels shot length ways of our regt the most of the time. The reason of this was they had turned our right flank some. We are laying behind breastworks in front of rebel Batteries…they shell us considerable. We have two guns throwing shells into Atlanta…please wait until the campaign is over before you send your Photograph…". Whitley enlisted in August 1862 servicing in southern Virginia, in the Atlanta Campaign until he was wounded at Resaca, Ga. on May 15, 1864, and Sherman's March to the Sea. Before being discharged he was promoted to sergeant. Some soiling, else very good.

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