Hoyt,

Sorry to hear of your present condition and pray for your quick recovery.

No, Captain Turner was no relative but lost his life while participating in re-inforcing the Railroad Redoubt at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.

05 22 1863 [Friday]

Under cover of the fire the enemy made three desperate charges upon our left and after gaining the intrenchments were repulsed in handsome style.

Gen. Sherman, in his “Memoirs” says: “The two several assaults made May 22d, on the lines of Vicksburg, had failed, by reason of the great strength of the position, and the determined fighting of its garrison. I have since seen the position at Sevastopol, and without hesitation, I declare that at Vicksburg to have been the more difficult of the two.”

Fire was renewed at daylight. At twelve we [43rd Tenn.] were ordered to reinforce General Lee. Where a charge was being made by the enemy who reached our ditches [Railroad Redoubt] and one man mounted them. We marched under some of the hottest fire for a half mile. We succeeded in reaching the trenches and repulsed the enemy, capturing forty The enemy charged several times with no success but with heavy loss.

We reinforced the 20th & 23rd Ala. Regt. in a heavy charge. Capt. Turner of Co. F was killed.

The land forces charged our lines making a vigorous assault along our center near the Railroad. An Iowa Regiment charged up and succeeded in planting their standards on one of our Redoubts but were charged in turn and driven into the ditch where they lay until grenades were thrown amongst them when they surrendered to the number of fourteen, Col. Potter [Pettus] of the 20th [Alabama] behaved gallantly leading a charge made by a portion of Waul’s Texas legion against the Redoubt in possession of the enemy. The brave colonel tore down the hostile flag and trampled it under foot and drove the enemy back. The 43rd Tenn. was brought up as a reserve during the assault . . . and suffered some . . .

6 o’clock The firing on our lines has ceased-there has been most awful fighting since 2 o’clock. The Yanks have charged the breastworks several times and repulsed with great slaughter-captured three of their flags - Capt. Turner was killed - shot through the head.