Pvt. George Turberville, Co. A
b. 22 Sep 1845, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA (son of George Richard Lee and Margaret Virginia (DeBell) Turberville).
m. 19 Feb 1879, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville, Fairfax Co., VA to Miss Adeline Stuart Thornton b. 7 May 1857, Loudoun Co., VA, d. 11 Oct 1893, Leeton, Fairfax Co, daughter of William Henry and Mary Adeline (Carter) Thornton)
d 6 Feb 1921, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, Buried in the Turberville Cemetery at Leeton.
Nickname was “The Bantam Rooster” due to his small size and agility. George was a lawyer after the war in Centreville. (source: descendant, Dr. Tricia Pettit's website)
(The picture above is a detail of Mr. Turberville, from a picture of a 1911 reunion of Rangers in Manassas, one of only two attended by Col. Mosby himself. In the full picture, Mr. Turberville is sitting in the rocking chair adjoining Col. Mosby's. Full picture is on Dr. Pettit's site and in the photo album)
“At about the time of his 18th birthday he joined the newly formed 43rd Battalion, Va. Cav., CSA, commanded by a then obscure Col. named John Singleton Mosby. Small in stature, (5’8”), but a determined fighter, Turberville was soon dubbed the “Bantam Rooster.”
In late May, 1863, soon after forming his battalion, the colonel requested and received a small howitzer. Mosby’s bemused men immediately joked about their diminutive artillery piece: “too large to put in a holster, but not big enough to be called a cannon.” Maneuverable and so small that it was pulled by a two-horse team, the gun was assigned to the care of Turberville, who was now perched atop its small caisson as the driver.
After some brief drilling by the gun-crew commander, George accompanied Mosby on one of his first raids, 30 May 1863. Choosing a good position for an ambush along the tracks of the O & A Railroad near Catlett’s Station, Mosby had his men loosen a rail and then waited for the next train. It soon came into view but managed to screech to a halt just before reaching the loosened rail. On Mosby’s signal his cannoneers put a shell squarely through the train’s boiler. Seizing what they could use and carry off, Mosby’s men promptly torched the 14-car supply train and galloped away. Sensing that he was being pursued, Mosby stopped a few miles later at Greenwich and formed a rear-guard defense around his single cannon. When a galloping Union cavalry turned a bend in the road and suddenly came into range, the howitzer opened up.
The Northern lieutenant said to his men, “I think we can get that gun before they fire again,” and his men shouted their approval. Forced by the narrow, well-fenced road to advance in a column of fours, the charging blue-coats were just ten yards away when the cannon spewed grape shot into their ranks, cutting down nine men. Turberville and his comrades pulled out their pistols and poured more fire into the stunned troopers, and the enemy beat a hasty retreat. Reforming at a safe distance and receiving substantial reinforcements, the Yankee cavalry charged again. The cannoneers once more waited until the last minute and more attacking troopers fell from their saddles. This time the tide of blue cavalry was overwhelming; there was a desperate hand-to-hand battle around the gun. As the Rebels’ position became hopeless, the ultimate rule of war prevailed: every man for himself.
Mosby escaped with only slight injuries, minus his hat; Turberville jumped atop his caisson, lashed his horses, and made good his get-away. The gun-commander and several other Rebels were wounded and captured, and one killed. Thus far, Mosby had been to busy for much paperwork, but on 10 Jun 1863, he formally enrolled Turberville as Pvt., Co.A, for the duration of the war.
Just two days later, George was captured at Middleburg by Union cavalry patrol searching for Mosby. Sent to the Old Capital Prison, George was soon paroled and rejoined Mosby’s command, only to be captured again near Aldie, VA on 6 Sep 1863. After being held at the Old Capitol Prison and later Point Lookout, MD, he was paroled 3 May 1864 and exchanged. He was with Mosby on 10 Jun 1864 during a raid to Alexandria and a failed attempt to capture W.Va. Gov. Francis Pierpoint.
Turberville’s luck ran out again on 29 Oct 1864. Walter Frankland had been ordered by Mosby to ride ahead and set up an ambush for the 8th Ill. Cav., but to wait for Mosby and reinforcements before springing the trap. Turberville was among Frankland’s men, who set up their ambush at Dulany’s farm southeast of Upperville in Fauquier County.
At first sight of the approaching Union cavalry, the excited Frankland announced his plans to charge the enemy. Cooler heads urged him to wait but to no avail. Throwing away the element of surprise, Frankland ordered his men to attack. Quickly dismounting and taking cover behind a stone wall, the Union troopers opened up a devastating fire with their Spencer’s carbines.
Turberville was one of the first men to fall. Badly wounded in the thigh, he was left on the field and captured. Arriving to late to help and surveying what he described as a “perfect massacre”, Mosby grimly resolved that Frankland would “never command” under him again.
George recovered, survived the war in captivity, and was finally paroled on 21 May 1865. He later worked for the Govt. Printing Office in Washington, DC from 1895 to 1909. “ (Excerpt from a letter to myself from a Pope researcher in Florida).
George died 6 Feb 1921, Leeton, Chantilly, Fairfax Co., VA, buried:. Stated in a claim of his mother that he was born 22 Sep 1845 and in 1861 was attending Waterford Military Academy, Prince William Co., VA. (p.5).
Had enlisted SC Inf. but was prevented by his mother from joining. Age 59,Had served as private, CO A,43rd VA CAV, from May 1863 for the balance of the war. (Muster Roll). (Marriage Certificate- Fairfax Archives).
Relations, if any to other Rangers
Mentions in various references:
(incomplete, more to be added)Links Online:
Ancestors of Henry Turberville are listed on Dr. Tricia Pettit's website
Descendants / Researcher Contacts:
Dr. Tricia Pettit
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