Narrow Escape 51 - Joe Turley

Printer-friendly version

Interesting War Experiences Narrow Escapes #51

Submitted by Barbara Madden

IRONTON REGISTER Thursday Nov 3 1887

Last Friday we met the genial Joe Turley on our streets. He belonged to the 6th Ohio-that was the Guthrie Gray regiment. Before the war there was a crack company at Cincinnati known as the Guthrie Greys; and that was made the beginning of a regiment, and the Captain was made a Colonel. Several Lawrence county boys went into that regiment; among them, J.H. Simmons, Wm. Betts, Sim Shattuck and others.

Some weeks ago, we published a very amusing interview which we had with Col. Betts about the capture of a certain pot of beans which the rebels made from their mess, and how nearly the picket post got taken in by the rebs, at the same time. Mr. Turley was there then, and came near being captured. That was in West Va. Afterward the regiment went to the West and took part in all the big battles where his regiment gained glory by brave fighting. He was at Stone River, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, and all the big fights at that time.

“But as to say particular ‘narrow escape’ where I was individually concerned,” said Mr. Turley, “I have none to relate. I was with my regiment and served in the ranks and took my risks with the rest of them and came out untouched , except by a spent bullet that struck me in the breast in one of the Tennessee battles. But that did me no harm except to sting a little. But the most dangerous place I was in during the war was at the battle of Stone River. I remember Capt. SLATER gave a description of that fight not long ago, and a very true account it was. He was on the right, our regiment was in the center in Gen. PALMER’S division. The rebels, you remember, turned our division on the right flank, with a force and energy that made us quiver and fall back. It was a very successful move on the part of the enemy, and it served us terribly. Why, in the space of fifteen minutes our regiment lost 150 men. The fire of the enemy was fearful, as you might judge from such fatality. Then was when I thought was my narrowest escape in all my four years’ service.

My friend, Sim Shattuck, who was by my side was killed; the man on the other side was shot down. So you see they were feeling for me quite lively. Of course, we couldn’t hold them very long, for our own flank was turned; our right in full rout; so we fell back, and the rebs kept close to us, dealing the most destructive fire all the time. It was a gloomy moment. At last, however, we made a stand and held it all that day and the next, and on the third day the rebel army withdrew.”

”That was the hottest place I was ever in, and I presume was my narrow escape.”