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Lot 352
Archive of Albert J. Whitley, 141st New York Infantry. A collection of 70 items, including 65 soldiers' letters written between 1862-65, most to his sister or brother, and with excellent content on Sherman's decisive campaigns. At 43 Whitley was mustered into the 141st in Sept. 1862. His first letters write of fort building, guard duty, the Siege of Suffolk: "there is scarcely a night but what we are routed out after we get to sleep to stand in line of battle an hour or two…" and West Point Landing: " I was on picet…when a Rebel signal was discovered…The thunder of cannon & the bursting [of] shells made plenty of musick for us…."
The 141st pursued the Army of Northern Virginia after Gettysburg, then performed guard duty on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad "[some soldiers] have the idea that the Potomac Army will never fight another battle." Whitley's regiment was transferred to the bloody fields of East Tennessee. From near Chattanooga, he wrote: "You have reason to be thankfull that your home is not in one of the Seceding States; such utter destitution as is to be seen heare in evry house & on evry hand is enough to make one sad….Oh how very cruel it looked to me as I walked over the battle field of Wahatchie…."
The 141st took part in the pivotal battles around Chattanooga, including Orchard Knob, Tunnel Hill, and Mission Ridge, and assisted in the relief of Knoxville. About Mission Ridge: "I saw most of the battle. After a sharp fight of an hours duration he [Sherman] whipped the Rebs [and] took 1,500 prisoners & gained posshion of the mountain. The 26th Sherman broguth on a General engagement near Mishionary Ridge & on the left of our line of battle the roar of Cannon was awfull, & the Musketry fireing was very heavy but our men carried evry point & captured 10,000 prisoners & sixty pieces of Artillery…." In his next letter: "…the entire Rebel Army of the South West has been put to flight & it will be hard to rally thease whipped & disheartened soldiers again. Those we take prisoners say the Confederacy is a failure & they would rather be in our hands than not." In early Jan.: "we are waiting for Jef. [Davis] to disband his Trator army, & make himself scarce in this Country…his rank & file have already deserted in large numbers, they are anxious to secure the Presidents Pardon & the protection afforded them by our government."
In May, the 141st swung into the Atlanta Campaign and Whitley was wounded at Resaca. Near Dallas: "we advanced one mile in line of battle through the woods when we halted the Rebels opened on us with grape & canister, the carnage was awful. Our men are now fighting behind brest works…." Two weeks later: "I have seen the horrors of War on two bloody battlefields…Sherman is a cautious brave…& I think he is a good General. He rides along our lines with onely one man for his escort. Hooker is brave beyond descresion, often being seen in front of his men & leading them on; Thomas is a brave & good General & defeat can not change him in the least-neather does success seem to excite him; he is the coolest man on the Job except Sherman." About Kulp's Farm, in June: "…the rebels came on in three lines of battle. The artillery & musketry was auful…We shot over 60 rounds & the rebels broke…We allowed them to remove the most of their killed & wounded. We picked up 500 guns on the field. Our loss was one killed and 2 wounded in the 141…" At Atlanta: "after I got into the fight I hardly stood on a spot of ground that was not covered with blood…I have seen fighting enough!" Twelve letters during this campaign contain descriptions of incessant skirmishes, battles, and military movements.
Whitley's experiences turned him against the war. "[A]s for being in favor of the War I am not, for I have dyed my hands as deep in the blood of my fellow Country men as I ever wish to do, & I hope the day is near at hand when an honorable peace will be secured…let those who are in favor of war shoulder their musket & come to the front & there view things in their true light instead of staying at home & crying War War to the knife, as many are doing." The 141st joined Sherman's March to the sea, described in three letters and the March through the Carolinas, described in another three. All of the letters are in generally good condition; each letter has a transcript with footnotes. A fine collection.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $4,255 |
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