George Q. Turner to his father - December 17, 1862

Nolansville
Dec 17th 1862

Dear Father

We are still frolicking with the Yanks about Nashville our pickets stand 8 or 9 miles from the City and within a mile and a half of their pickets. We exchange shots with them every day somewhere along the line. I have had two fair shots but am not skilled in long-range shooting yet, the fellow that was shooting at me was more expert he put his ball in a rail about 6 inches from my ear. I am hard at work and hardly have time to write a line. We picket by Companies and about 5 miles from the Brigade. 3 days on duty and 3 off but we no sonner get back to our tents and prepare for a good rest and Lem sets his good things before us, than the bugle sounds to saddle and mount and off we gallop to the Yankee lines and skirmish the rest of the day but we generally get to sleep in our tents on our three days rest. Lem is invaluable to us, he mends and washed our clothes, cooks three days reations to take on picket which would keep us nearly all night to do. While we are gone he washes for the rest of the boys and is making 4 or 5 dollars per week for himself. he seems well pleased, and has the esteem of all the company. he had a horrible idea of the Yankes which keeps him shy of their lines. as an evidence how much the boys think of him, we had clothing issued to the Regt this morning, as I have not enlisted and Frank is an Officer neither of us could get any but the boys drew all the clothing Lem wanted and gave it to him. I am getting the green rubbed off fast and can spread down my blankets and sleep with the roll of the Yankee drums and the booming of their cannon in my ear like the rest of them. At first it excited me so I could not eat; and to see Couriers dashing past made me impatient to know what was going on but now I am perfectly unconcerned for I am satisfied that if there is any imminent danger the Rangers will be certain to be told of it. What the great programme is I can't tell. We can bring on a battle any day by pitching in, but most of the Infantry is kept at Murphressboro and we seem to be awaiting something, probably the Enemy's advance so that we can draw them far enough from Nashville to make a victory complete. We have plenty to eat and wear, though there are some of us that don't get a Roast Turkey every day for dinner nor an overcoat to wear, but most of us are lucky enough to get it. Sometimes we are reduced to the necessity of eating hard butter on cold biscuit, yes and on more than one occasion we have had to eat everything cold, Chicken sausages and ham, but such harships are cheerfully borne by our gallant boys. We have a fine mess: Thomson, Frank, Stribling, Lattimer, Moore, Pace & I. Stribb presides over the culinary department, is excellent on a fry, but marvelous on a stew. Yea, the great Ayer would hang his head in despair could he but sniff the savory incense from under the Kiver of Stribbs skillet, the removal of which none dares attempt while its great artisan presides over it. Oh! Julia you ought to have seen Frank's saddlebags, the outside flaps were torn to frazzles, and they bore evidences of having been shot out of a mortar, as I promised to report you everything concerning him I'll open these same bags for you; here first is a roll of jeans to be made into pants (probably after the war) a peice of splendid sword belt and old muslin shirt with a calaco bosom and a lot of dirty socks. in the other side, a fine pair pants, 2 flannell shirts one blue, the other red 2 pr drawers, 2 pr check shirts, the tin box you filled with thread needles &c was full of pistol balls and caps and buttons, a pile of our letters and an onion. His body wardrobe consists of flannell & calico shirts two pr pants velvet vest coat (Confederate uniform) a beautiful Yankee Officers sash a very common black hat boots (so so) and a fine overcoat and you have Lieut Batchelor, our bed furniture may be summed up thus, to wit Frank's one hoosier counterpane called by the original owners Kiverlid, one spread (light but woolen) and one blaket. Mine one quilt lined with a blanket, one sheepskins and 2 blankets.

The Ladies here are our best friends, they slip into Nashville and bring us out boots, clothing, &c concealed about their persons. One of them smuggled out a pair of sixshooters hid in the collar of her buggy horse. They go out to the Yankee pickets and get the latest papers for us, the last they brought us was a Harper's weekly, full of pictures of Yankee camps and Yankee Genls.— Lem sends his love to his wife and little boy, and says tell them he is well and satisfied and making money and hopes to come back safe and well, and his respects to all the black folks and to old Master, Mistress and Miss Julia. All of which to save repetition I endorse with affection,

George

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