George Q. Turner to his father - November 1862

and clothin in his charge I prevailed on him to stay. So pulling off my blanket and throwing it in the wagon I put Rebel into double quick. I soon came up with the waggons of Wharton's Brigade and heard the cannon booming to the right and left down the pike. it was a distressing sight to meet women and children leaving their homes with a waggon-load of bedding and sometimes a small family riding on one horse On I went and soon came in sight of the Brigade scattered over the corn fields but I looked in vain for the Rangers. I dashed into one of the fields and rode up to a Regiment who were firing at some Yankee skirmishers and sharpshooters who were crawling up the bed of a little rocky creek. I fell in with them and found them to be Howard's Ala & Ten Regt, they were scoring away at the weeds and rocks but as I could not see anything within gunshot I held my fire, after enquiring of several I found out the Rangers position and rode over to them. they were in a large open pasture drawn up in three sections sitting comfortably on their horses smoking their pipes and shot and shell bursting and whizzing all about them. they looked every man a veteran as they are and bore the mark of many a hard fought field. They were falling back slowly two sections in line while the other droped to the rear. Co C was falling back when I rode up. I rode alone with them without being recornized by a man it was some time before I could make out Frank he was riding a fine black horse enveloped in a huge overcoat. he did not see me until I laid my hand on his arm. Skeedaddling are you? said I. he turned and a more astonished and delighted fellow you never saw. Why George where did you come from? he yelled, and the boys broke ranks and clustered around me as if they had just caught a Yank Maj Genl. They are all glad to see me back. Frank advises me not to enlist again and thinks I can get along very well without it. Lem came just in time as the mess was doing their own cooking. he is an excellent boy and everybody wants him all the niggers with the Regt now have been through the Ky campaign and could have left if they wished some were taken and came back to us, so I think Lem is as safe as if he was at home, with teh Yanks at Port Lavaca and Indianola as we hear they are. If the Yanks begin to crowd you, the Reg is going to make great efforts to get back to Texas and if they cant come Frank and I think of coming anyhow. The Ladies all through this country are the best spies we have they watch night and day and have learned war so well that they can report every manoeuver. We are making preparations for a great battle if we can draw the Yanks out of Nashville. They are busy repairing the Railroad that Morgan demolished between Nashville and Louisville when that is done they can reinforce repidly and then they are ready to run us out of Tenn. Some of the men say they saw the notice of Mark Evans' death in the Kentucky papers, others that he was in a fair way for recovery, but I think there is no doubt of his death, poor fellow. It makes my heart bleed to think of his family. Maj Harrison is Col of the Regiment and very unpopular with the men. Wharton is very careful of his old command and spares us from all the work he can. Frank writes today. If ever you see Baylor and can get situation for us we will manage to come hom. My love to all,

Affectionately
George

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