The National tribune., 1902-01-02
THE TuRCHIN CASE AGAIN.

Pensions percnnially unjust and iillberal
treatment Of the veterans and their wild
OwS
To the veterans of the Army Of the
Cumberland there is no need of telling
who Gen. John Basil Turchin was. They
have him embamed in most glorious mem
ory. But the veterans of other armies
may not be so familiar with him.
He was born in the Valley of the Don,
in Russia, in 1920. and at an early age
showed evidences of high ability. He was
sent to Il military school ut st. Petersburg,
and after graduating was commissioned
Il Lieutenant. He fulfilled his early prom
Use, and rose rapidly. His plans for the
defense of Finland during the Crimean
War received the Empcror's approval, and
he was placed on the staff of the Grown
Prince. But he could not endure the des-
potism of Russia, and migrated TO this
country. where he was employed by the
Illinois Central Railroad in its engineer
ing department. When the rebellion broke
ont he entered enthusiastically into the
cause of freedom, and his military train
ing was invaluable 80 us. He became
Colonel of the 10Th ILL.,, and his training
made it the magnificent regiment it
showed itself at Stone River and on a
score of other battlefieidS.
The regiment was attached to Buell. IS
army, who was then pursuing his famous
policy of guarding the rebel onion patches.
At the time the Alabama guerriilas bru-
tally murdered Gen. Robert l.. McCOok,
who was sick and riding in an ambulance,
Col. Turchin was advancing, few miles
off, with a brigade. The Indignation of
everybody at the cold-blooded assassina-
ton was almost uncomfortable. As the
Colonel reached Athens. Ala, near the
scene of the tragedy, and where the muir
dcrers were supposed to live, he is re
ported to have made his famous little
speech:
''Poys, I'm very sleeby. 1 ko to sleeb
for yoost two hours. Nopody must wake
me-"
Precisely two hours after he walked up.
finding to his surprise that the town had
been burned down. 1t did not take the
boys that long, but he gave them plenty
Of time.
For this Gen. Buell. had him court-mar-
tailed and dismissed, but President Lin
coin appointed him a Brigadier General,
to the great satisfaction of everybody in
and out of the army, except Gen. Buell..
The dismissal as Colonel was dated Aug.
6, 1862, while his commission as Briga
dierG General was dated July II, 1862, or
two weeks previous.
He commanded with brilliant ability n
brigade consisting of the 18th KY, 18th
Ohio, 36th Ohio, 92d Ohio and 21st Ind.
Battery, and which was the Third Bri-
gade of the Fourth Division of the Four
teenth Corps.
On those terrible two days at Chcka
manga this brigade covered itself with
glory. 1t was in all the fighting from the
very first, with Turchin showing intelli-
gence and enterprise in all the preliminary
movements, in thwarting the efforts Of the
rebels TO interpose between the widely
separated divisions of the army and whip
it in detail The Army of the Cumber-
land was in grave peril for several days
before the battle, while it was pulling
itself together to meet the concentrated
rebel army which was moving to destroy
it piecemeal Turchin's reports show that
he clearly understood the country in front
of him, and what was going on there, and
was doing splendidly to BATTLE the rebels
in their attempts to seize important gaps.
For two days he held the very important
Catlett's Gap against all attempts Of the
rebels to capture it. When the shock of
battle came, on the morning Of Sept. 80,
Turchin's Brigade was one Of the very
first to feel its awful weight. From that
time until the end it was almost constant
ly and severely engaged, and all the time
performing wonders of good fighting. with
Turchin ever at the front, commanding,
and encouraging and directing it.
The battle ended with the Fourth Divi-
sion-Reynolds's serious plight.
Though it had repulsed every attack upon
it, it had been awfuily hammered for two
long, bitter days, during which it had lost
over 1000 men.
After Dightfall il was ordered by Gen.
Thomas to withdraw to RosSville Gap.
But how to withdraw was another ques-
tion. The rebels had swung clear around
the flank and gained possession OF the
road, and the neighbOring woods and fields.
1t was frightful hour. The woods and
fences were on fire, and everywhere the
enemy swarmed, infantry and artillery,
bent on capturing the division. But even
two days Of such carnage as Chickamauga
had not taken all the fight out of Turchin
or Turchin's Brigade, by any means. At
his sharp command, they fixed bayoDets,
and made desperate rush into the blaz-
ing woods straight at a laundering bat
terry. The rebels fell back before them, af-
ter sharp fight, and the way was opened
for Reynolds's Division to march back to
Rossvillc Gap, and the brigade brought
along with it 80 prisoners and two pieces
of cannon.
For this Gen. Turchin received the
highest praises from his superior officers,
as he richly deserved.
Gen. Turchin went back to civil life
asking nothing from the country he had
served so well. But few years ago. then
very old, broken in health, with his for
tune gone, he asked for Il pension. True
republican that he was, he did not ask
for anything proportionate TO his rank,
merely for that allotted TO the men whom
he had commanded, whom he loved, and
whose lot he always wanted to share. He
only asked for $l2 month under the
Act of June u, 1890, the same as they
were TO receive. Evans refused it OH the
ground of his dismissal President Lin.
coin and the whole country had condoncd