The 141st New York Vols. Helps Save The Day During The Battle of Resaca

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Union soldier's war-date battle of Resaca, Georgia letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Marcus Walker, Co. E, 141st New York Vols., "Near Kingston, Ga., May 20, 1864," to his father, reading in part: "You are probably anxious to hear from your soldier boy - I am well as common - I am detailed in the Ambulance Corps & do not have anything to carry on the march. Our Regt. has been into a fight the 15th inst. [battle of Resaca, Ga.] and lost heavy. We had 104 in killed and wounded. There was two men killed dead in our Co. Their name was David Franklin and Milo Gorton. Deloss Parkhill was wounded in the shoulder but not dangerously. George Borden - was wounded in the breast. That is all to speak of. Joe Dunton [Died Goldsboro, N. C., 3/22/65] got a graze on the neck but not enough to [?] him crying. The Rebs got enough of old Joe [Hooker] and his Corps that day - they left Sunday night. The Western Generals would not let Hooker in as long as they could help it for they wanted all the praise of whipping the rebus here but Saturday night [May 14th] just before dark they called upon him to go to the 4th Corps - we got there just in time to same one Division and a battery. The rebus had their flank turned and would have had the whole thing in a very short time - [at] that time the 3rd Brigade made a charge and they retreated in short order. Some of the prisoners said that they knew that it was old Joe's men - by the way they fought. These Western Corps does not go in like the Army of the Potomac. Yesterday we came up the the Rebs again [and] had some skirmishing and some artillery firing. Our skirmish line and two pieces of artillery drove them out of some breastworks that they had built - you can form some color of their fighting. They don't stand to use a vulgar expression worth a (s**t). Last night I laid out all night. We had to follow the brigade with the stretchers to get the wounded, but they did not have to use us - when came night we did not know where the ambulances was so we stayed there until this A. M. Everything is all quiet - the soldiers on this march uses the citizens the roughest - they go right in and take everything they can get hold of - the officers does not say anything against it - Marcus Walker. Direct 1st Brig. Ambulance Corps, 1st Div. 20th A. C. Nashville, Tenn., care of the Regt. and Co." The original transmittal cover is included. Light toning, else near fine.

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