George Q. Turner to his father - February 20, 1863

Camp near Louisburge Tenn
Feb. 20th 1863

Dear Father

We are again back to the waggons and tents after a scout of over thre weeks, and find clean shirts and plenty of letters from home, also our old friend and messmate Gus Walker. And right on his heels comes in this morning Hugh Lewis and Jim Miller, so we have plenty of news from the old Mustang State, and very comfortable news it is, giving us the satisfaction to know that the Yanks found Texas as hard a nut to crack as any they have tried. Our trip has been down to Fort Donaldson where we were fairly whipped, although the nespaper account will no doubt give quite a different story and color up our backout until it will seem we were called off from the Yankee entrenchments out of pure pity for them. We left Shelbyville with a portion of Forrest's & Wheeler's commands and our brigade amounting to between 5 and 6 thousand cavalry and eleven pieces of artillery. The Yankees were about 1500 strong according to the statements of citizens. We found the old fort abandoned and the Yanks in the little town of Dover close by which they had strongly fortified with the guns from the old fort. We stopped about 7 miles from the fort to warm our feet (it was an awful cold day) and take a bite to eat. We are about starting when we heard two signal guns from the fort. they had heard of us and were calling in the gunboats. jumping into our saddles we dashed off for the river. When clse to town most of us were dismounted and charged the Yanks who had come out to their entrenchments and rifle pits about 300 yds in front of town. We drove them back to town. We drove them back to town and into their earthworks, but we were losing so many men, we concluded that it was going to cost more than it came to, and the gun-boats coming up commenced a perilous shelling of the woods, so we retired leaving our dead on the field and our wounded in the neighboring houses all of whom fell into the enemy's hands. Only one company of the Rangers were put into the fight—Co. B who are Genl Wharton's body guard. they were sent to support the Artillery and had two men killed and a few wounded. The Regiment was held in reverse, but near the river we made us fires in the snow and I took a little nap while the fight was going on. One of the gun-boats had a keelboat loaded with hay towing up the river she dropped her and Young Maverick (of San Antonio Co. G) jumped into the river, got aboard of her and set her afire, for which act of gallantry he was promoted to 2nd Lieut of the "Scouts." Our boys fought as gallantly as they have done at any time in the service, but it was a rash and senseless fight for us for we could not have held the place an hour had we have taken it, as it was under the guns of the gun-boats. It was the first time I had been up against heavy guns, cannon to which field peices were mere pop-guns. Our horses well knew the difference and as those great shells went howling over us we could scarcely hold them. There were a great many stolen niggers in the fortifications who came pouring out into the woods as soon as our Artillery opened on them and lots of the McGruders came off with contrabands, men, woman and children. We captured about 100 prisoners over 50 niggers and one of the most beautiful brass-rifle-field peices I ever saw, and our loss was about 150 men killed and wounded. Since the fight none of the Genls sem to take the credit of the affair and try to saddle it on the other but as Wheeler ranked Forest and Wharton he has to shoulder the glory. We suffered dreadfully from teh cold, a great many had their feet frost-bitten, and we had to leaev a Tennessean who was taken from his horse senseless and almost frozen in fact the Texians seem to stand the cold better than the natives here. On our return we got to Duck river about 3 O'clock in the morning and the ferry boat was teh oposite side and, of our whole brigade there were but two men and they were Rangers (Capt Christian and Baker of our Co) that would volunteer to swim over and get the boat. When they brought eh boat over and we carried them out of it to the fire their hair and beards were solid ice.

While we were gone our waggons went down into Lincoln Co and Lem hunted up Dr. Wood Eugenia's Father and stayed several days with him. Lem says he is a fine looking an da mighty clever man. They were delighted to hear from Eugenia and treated Lem so royaly that I am afraid he will desert. they were all well and live like princes, and the Dr sent me an invitation to spend all my Tennessee furloughs with him. I shall pay him a visit as soon as I can get time but we are making great preparations to meet old Rosecrans aon Duck-river. Where I think we can afford to keep a reserve to hold all we get, and if we run it will be towards Nashville. Old Joe Johnson has taken command and in his address to the army he says the Abolitionists must be driven out of Tenn and the soldiers must nerve themselves for the occasion.

We have a Lodge in the Regiment organized by our friend Cornelius Stribling, who is ever ready to give the 'strong grip' wherever he can find a Ranger on the "highest hill" or the "lowest valley." We often meet in a tent but sometimes we get the use of very elegant rooms and meet with the most cordial reception from brothers of the "Mystic tie" as our wandering tabernacle is something out of the common order of things.

I agree with you in investing all we make in something more substantial than paper, and would have liked it better if you had bought five hundred acres instead of three. You don't say anything about selling our beeves. I hope you may be able to dispose of what we have on hand.

Frank is off today on a Courtmartial he has the honor to be the Judge Advocate. They have a great deal of business to go through with. Straggling seems to be the greatest crime with our men, and Headquarters are passing some very stringent orders against it. One of which is that a man is to be shot if he leaves the field with a wounded comrade. I have no idea this will be enforced but it will prevent three or four going off with one wounded man as was done at the last battle. Julia seems very anxious about our clothing and puts herself to great trouble to send us all she can procure. You need, none of you, be under any apprehensions about our comfort. We are just as comfortable as one horse and a pair of saddlebags can afford to make us. Our Regiment must be the best provided Corps in the Army for clothes and arms.

Lem has paid me $20.00 and wishes you to hand that amount to his wife. I tell him he can send all he wishes to his wife without risking anything. To day is pay day and the boys are cavorting around with their pockets full of "Confed."

If you ever get anything from Marcellus send it to us. Our love to all, and don't let the little prodigy forget Uncle Geo. and Pappy.

Affectionately yours
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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