On July 17, 1864, John B. Hood took over command of the Confederate troops defending Atlanta, and on July 20 initiated his first battle, attacking Union forces at Peach Tree Creek.
A 1 page small 4to letter of William M. Hill of the 123rd N.Y. Infantry, Camp, July 21, 1864 (mistakenly dated 1863) to his parents, telling of his survival. “I take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive & well but we had the hardest battle that we have had this summer but we whipped them, they cut very bad. Capt. Wiley they killed and Henry Welch; Gifford [and] Thom. Donhue but I guess they will live if they have good care...” The rebel attacks failed and the battle was a signal defeat for them, as Hill reports. Henry Wiley and Henry Welch were killed at Peach Tree Creek and Thomas Donahue was wounded but survived, thus dating the letter.