Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-05-12
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terested in the fitting choice of Miss Tur-
pin as sponsor, and the war records of,
her family make very interesting story.
She is the daughter of James Archer Tur-
pin, formerly Of Fayette, Miss, but now
Of Louisiana, and who was one of the
three brothers-their fathers only sons
who followed the Confederate flag from
1861, two, James Archer Turpin and DIR.
Stevenson w. Turpin, till the close Of
the war, while the other, White Turpin,
lost his life in the battle of Nashville in
1864, and now lies buried there.
1 Not only has Miss Turpin so fine a
Confederate ancestry, but she is descend
ed from notables of colonial and revolu-
tionary time. She is lineal descend
ant of Bette Martin OF colonial days,
from whom came the old adage, origi-
mated by disappointed sutton:
pretty Bette Martin, tip-toe fine,
Could not find husband to suit her mind -
She finally married three husbands at
different periods of her long life, despite
the above dire predictions as to state
of single blessedness for her.
Miss Turpin's father and two brothers
joined the army Of Tennessee at its or
ganization in Columbus, KY, in the early
part of 1861. The late DIR. S. w. Turpin
was surgeon, first Of Darden's battery, in
which his brothers were soldiers, and
later of Williams battalion of artillery,
and from then until the close Of the war
he was private surgeon to Gen. Stephen
D. Lee. The brothers in Darden's bat
terry participated in the battles fought by
the army of Tennessee in Georgia and
Tennessee.
The gallant Confederate soldier, James
Archer Turpln, had many thrilling war
experiences. He was captured by Gen.
Wilson's command in April, 1855, at Sell
ma, Ala, and after being imprisoned in
stockade for twelve days, he with other
prisoners was marched across the river
on pontoon bridge on the way to a
Northern prison. With one of his COM
rades Mr.. Turpin made his escape from
their guards when twelve miles from
Montgomery, and finding their way to
Meridian, Miss, the two intrepid young
soldiers rejoined their battery. Suisse
quently furlough Of twenty-five days
was granted Mr.. Turpin to enable him to
visit his home at Fayette, Miss, but be-
fore its expiration the armies of North
ern Virginia and Tennessee were dis
banded.
The war record Of Miss Turpin's Con-
federate ancestry render her selection as
sponsor most fitting. The story of the
untimely death of her uncle, White Tur-
pin, is very touching. TIE young soldiers
death was due to his generosity to a
comrade. He was only 81 years of age
when his battery had orders to move to
Nashville with Gen. Hood from Georgia,
White Turpin was detailed from his
company 10 go to his home to solicit con-
tributions, in the way Of clothes, blank
cts, shoes, etc., for the Confederate
troops, since their government was no
longer able to supply them.
BY order OF Gen. Hood one man was
to be detailed FOR this work from each
company, and Capt. Darden Of Darden's
battery selected White Turpin for this
service, as he was the only man of his
regiment who had not been home since
the outbreak Of the war three years be-
fore.
He had arranged to go, when an or
DERBY sergeant came and requested to
be allowed 10 60 in his stead, saying that
he had family to provide for The
young soldier gave way to the sergeant
and went into the campaign.
This self-sacrifice cost him his life, and
the brave young. wearer Of the gray now
lies buried in the old city cemetery, not
far from the grave of Gen. Zollicofer, a
tail shaft OF Tennessee marble marking
his last resting place.
Since the war Miss Turpin's father has
been a cotton planter the past forty-six
years in louisiana The family reside
at Waterproof. La, picturesque town
on the Mississippi twenty-five miles north
Of Natchez, which is one Of the Oldest
towns in Louisiana. Its name was APP
propriateIy given because Of the fact that
when the town was built Il was put on