George Q. Turner to his father - August 2, 1863

Rome Ga
Aug 2d 1863

Dear Father

Since the fall of Vicksburge we have heard nothing from Texas and almost despair of getting anything to you but as I have plenty of leisure just now I have concluded to write and have it ready for anyone who may try to run the blockade. It will be done constantly now unless the Yanks keep a line of boats in the river as close together as chain pickets. If Frank and I could get a chance to come we think we could make it through. Now that we are driven out of our old stamping grounds time hangs heavily on our hands when not on duty and the desire to see home again returns with ten fold vigor. I have often mentioned in my letters our desire to get back and I think if you and Marcellus tried you could manage the thing for us. as Frank is commissioned I cannot substitute him or I would take his place and let him go home but that cannot be and I am determined not to come without him. Could you not get a transfer for him in some Regiment, no matter in what branch of teh service Cavalry Infantry or Artillery. Some 1st Lieut who may be anxious to come into our Regiment. I would like to get a Certificate of Exemption from Conscription which I am entitled to and should have secured before I left home. I expect to remain in the service while the war continues and would be satisfied here if Frank could go home for a few months as he is entitled to do furloughs are now out of the question and a transfer is our only hope.

We are at present recruiting our horses at this place after a most tedious and Harrassing retreat out of Tennessee, which barely allowed us to get out with our horses, having been constantly pressed day and night while we were covering the rear of the Army which cost us several bloody little fights. The last one on the 4th of July was fought almost altogether by our Regiment. The Yanks were determined to make a 4th of July frolick of it as they did Vicksburge and Gettysburge, and as it was the last whack they would get at us before we crossed the Tennessee was the last whack they would get at us before we crossed the Tennessee River, they were determined to make it count. So they followed us up the Mountain on which the Southern Episcopal University 1 is located and attacted us about sunrise coming on with a Yall and laughing at us when more than half of our guns snaped at the first fire but drawing our pistols and charging them we drove them three miles down the mountain killing Col Ruffan (appropriate name for a Yank) of the 5th Ky, a Lt. Col. mortally wounded, a Lieut and 8 men killed and a goodly proportion wounded, as we learned from the citizens at whose houses they stopped when the fight was going on—As it was the first repulse we had given old Rosecrans in his advance, we were complimented very highly by the Genl in command.

When we arrived here a furlough was granted to all who could get fresh horses in fifteen days. I availed myself of the opportunity of paying Uncle Wm a visit and am sorry now that I did not go down to Mobile as I have had plenty of time. I found them all well at Applelawn 2 but did not see Uncle Wm he has been most of the year down on the Tombigbee getting out salt and has made some six or seven thousand dollars. Aunt Sallie in the mean time has made a great crop of wheat corn and potatoes. She has her house full of children, nephews and nieces, two of them Edward Lane's 3 who came South and died and his wife following him in less than a month leaving the children in Jesse's hands.

[Letter written across]

Jesse and Julius 4 are stationed near Columbus, Miss. They are having a good time of it being detached from their Regiment to guard a bridge and Aunt Sallie is perfectly satisfied as long as they are kept in that post.

My visit down in Alabama has been a delicious vacation for me coming off of such a hard trip and at times to the point of starvation, to get in a nice home, sleep in a splendid bed and eat at a sumptious table as Aunt Sallie would insist on making hers for me. I never rightly understood the word rest before. I told her I had come to hide out from the Army and war and rumors of war and not to mention Rebels or Yankees to me while with her and she gratified me as nearly as she could.

I never saw such an abundance of fruits as I found down there—plums, peaches, figs, apples and watermelons. You can't immagine through you think you can how I enjoyed it, everything so opposite to what I had to endure in Camps—not a man to look at, excepting visitors—Aunt Sallie and the children—joyous, petted, romping children, how my overworked, drilled, cramped spirit broke loose, soared and reveled with those jolly little ones, three boys and two gilrs. Aunt Sallie must have thought me almost crazy some times. It was a delicious episode in our wild eventful life gone now but giving me still a luxury in remembrance and a glimpse of what I may yet enjoy after we have won a glorious peace and shall follow the bloody tasks of war no more.

The day after tomorrow there is a grand Barbacue to be given by the Rangers when we are going to present Genl Wharton with a fine horse. W is as much beloved by us as old Ironclad (Harrison) is detested.

I am staying with Frank while we are all resting and getting my horse fat—it is costing us about two dollars a day to live. But I could not live any cheaper in the Company. I hope you will write by every possible chance and some of my letters may get through. And try and get us home if possible. Marcellus might get me an appointment if you fail with your exemption but I prefer the latter as I would like to take a glance at our affairs out west before I go back to the ranks if I get out. Tell Julia to give my regards to her friend Ella Cook and tell her that her brother was taken prisoner sometime before we left Tennessee while carrying a despatch from one wing of the army to the other. With my love to all I am very affectionately, your son

George

Lem sends his love to his wife and to all the servants

Footnotes:
1. University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn.
2. Applelawn—name of the plantation of his Uncle William Turner near Orrville, Dallas Co., Ala.
3. Edward Lane—Aunt Sallie's brother from New England.
4. Jesse Lane was Aunt Sallie's younger brother. Julius was the stepson whom she brought with her into her marriage with Uncle William Turner in the 1850's.

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

 

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