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October 6, 2017 By Bob Henderson 3 Comments

The “Russian” Thunderbolts

Husband and Wife American Civil War military team: 

Col. John Turchin

John (Ivan Turchaninov) Turchin was the only “Russian” American general officer in the United States Civil War (he was actually Ukrainian). Trained at the Imperial Military School in St. Petersburg, he later became chief of staff among the Russian Guards and fought in the Crimean War and Hungary. He married the daughter of his commanding officer, Nadezhda Lovov, and immigrated to the United States. They changed their names to John and Nadine Turchin.

Turchin had met George McClellan during his service in the Crimean War. In 1861, the former Russian Imperial Army veteran was appointed as a colonel among the ranks of the Union army with the 19th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry of Chicago. They joined the war with the Army of the Ohio under Don Carlo Buell in June 1861.

‘A Monotony Full of Sadness’: The Diary of Nadine Turchin, May, 1863-April, 1864

Contrary to military regulations, Col. Turchin was accompanied by his wife Nadine in the military theater.

Nadine Turchin

“During her husband’s brief illness in 1862, she took his place as regimental commander but likely did not assume full command. Stories of her military savvy and heroism were reported by soldiers from Illinois and in later newspaper articles about her.” – wikipedia

In early 1862, his orders were to hold Nashville. Turchin convinced his commanding officer to head south. About the time of the Battle of Shiloh, they hit Huntsville, Alabama severing the rail communications of the Confederacy from east to west. The victory was short lived. During this time, the regiment under Turchin, was accused of pillaging Athens, Alabama.

In June 1862, he was Courts Marshaled “of conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.” One of the other charges included the presence of his wife with him in the field. This was the only point he plead guilty to. Col. Turchin was found guilty of all charges, but pardoned by Abraham Lincoln (after his wife interceded with the president). Nadine was designated a nurse, to comply with requirements to continue on with the 19th Illinois in combat operations.

Her personal diary starts in the summer of 1863. The previous diary has never been disclosed. This period is when much of the scandal occurs. Rumors of Turchin’s heavy-handed policies in Middle Tennessee, persist to this day. It was in April of 1863 the Union high-command issued General Order #38. This order authorized suppression of civilian decent with extreme force.

During the assault on Missionary Ridge, General Turchin’s brigade was one of the first to reach the summit. He also fought with distinction in the Atlanta Champaign.

The Turchin Reservation at Missionary Ridge in 3D like imagery:

133 N Crest Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37404

More on Turchin

 

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Filed Under: Books, Chattanooga, Tennessee

About Bob Henderson

I am a Certified Trusted Google Street View and Business View photographer. I shoot and produce 360º Virtual Tours in a variety of formats. Former Metro Historical Commission member. Native Nashvillian, served as an officer in the US Navy and Tennessee Air National Guard. Follow Bob on LinkedIn | Facebook

Comments

  1. Oleg Belyakov says

    May 30, 2021 at 2:41 am

    “he was actually Ukrainian” – its bad fantasy. General Ivan Turchaninov:
    Ivan Vasilievich Turchaninov was born on December 24, 1822 [1] [2] (or January 30, 1822) in the village of Konstantinovskaya of the 1st Don detective command (later – the 1st Don District) of the Don Host in the family of military foreman V.P. Turchaninov (died in August 1835), a hero of the wars with Napoleon, and was a representative of a famous noble family, descended from the Don Cossacks.
    https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%83%D1%80%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2,_%D0%98%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%92%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87

    Reply
  2. Oleg Belyakov says

    May 30, 2021 at 2:55 am

    Very correct info about this Russian-American Hero
    https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Ivan_Turchin

    Reply
  3. Bob Henderson says

    May 30, 2021 at 8:11 am

    That was his nickname. That’s why it’s in quotes.

    Reply

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