George Q. Turner to his father - October 7, 1862

Anderson, Texas
Oct 7th 1862

Dear Father

We have had a little trouble with our pakcs. the packages were put up of all shapes and sizes, and in spite of all we could do, they would not ride well, and the packsaddles made at Affleck's factory were made by men that never saw one I suppose in their lives the consequence was that already they have cut and galled our horses' backs. So we bought an ambulance in Anderson yesterday, which will carry all of our packs, baggage and provisions, and be lighter on the horses than packing.

We have now 17 horses and about 800 lbs in our ambulance. Nevil was obliged to pay $250 for it and the harness, but if he can sell it for half that it will be the saving of the horses that are sent to the boys.

I find this country as dry and burnt up as the bay it is with difficulty that we get water for our horses.

I saw Dr Rogers in Anderson one of the surgeons of our Regiment he says he left Frank well, but says he had to treat him in a sergical way once.

Just to think of the unconcern he feels for his own wounds, and the fear he has for arousing our apprendsions, he has been wounded for the doctor saw and dressed his wound. He (the Dr) did not tell me when and where it was done but said he was kicked by a horse and the skin actually torn off of his shin about the size of a large dime. I was glad to hear that Frank bore the operation of dressing it with perfect composure not flinching a musle while the Saw-bones were applying a plaster to it, just to think of having a plaster stuck on your shin as if one was mialing it for a letter. The Dr seemed to think Frank has a great dread of sores. poor fellow he had not forgotten his hand.

We stopped at Independance one night and went up to seee the Young Ladies at the big-house made the acquaintance of Mr Clark saw some very smart, but ugly girls, and haerd some good music.

Enclosed you will find a letter for Lem's wife with some shinplasters, in it that he finds are too far from home to be of any value. Drop it in the Office for him, he is doing very well and is the favorite of the whole company. My love to you all

Affectionatly
George

 

Turner, G. Q., "Batchelor-Turner Letters, 1861-1864," annotated by H. J. H. Rugeley. The Steck Company, Austin, TX 1961.

 

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