Preview
Creation Date
8-22-2019
Description
The marker reads: “ATHENS SACKED AND PLUNDERED -- On May 2, 1862, Union troops of the 19th and 24th Illinois and the 37th Indiana Regiments commanded by Col. John Basil Turchin went on a rampage through the town. They looted and plundered stores and homes, stealing clothing, jewelry and anything of value, destroying what they didn’t want. For months afterward, the soldiers stabled their horses in some of the town’s churches, burned the pews for firewood and destroyed the interiors. Col. Turchin, born Ivan Vasillevitch Turchinoff in Russia, was court martialed in Huntsville for encouraging these actions, but his wife appealed to Abraham Lincoln for clemency on his behalf. Turchin was promoted to Brig. Gen. one day before the court martial. ERECTED BY LIMESTONE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1991"
Latitude, Longitude
34 deg 48' 8.96", 86 deg 58' 19.02"
Recommended Citation
Taylor,, George Lansing Jr., "Athens Sacked and Plundered Marker, Athens, AL" (2019). George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery. 7200.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/historical_architecture_main/7200
