Crisp-Wilcox County GaArchives Obituaries.....Turk, A. A. December 27, 1938
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Clyde Watson clyde.nell@gmail.com November 3, 2008, 9:19 pm

Cordele Dispatch
Cordele Dispatch
21 December 1938
CRISP'S LAST CONFEDERATE SOLDIER ANSWERS ROLL CALL
     Crisp County's last living connection with the glorious army of the 
Confederacy was severed this morning when A. A. Turk answered the last roll 
call. Quietly at the home of his son, C. B. Turk, of Pitts, he passed to a 
rendezvous with those other great soldiers who wore the grey, and followed the 
stars and bars,-the last member of Crisp county camp number 1614 of the United
Confederate Veterans,
     Mr. Turk was ninety-one years ol, having been born August 19, 1847. He
joined the Army of Confederacy at the age of sixteen and was assigned to the 
Fifth Georgia Reserves and saw active service during Sherman's march to the 
Sea. He was stationed at Savannah at the time of Sherman's arrival and at that
time rendered conspicuous service during the Battle of Savannah.
     On Memorial Day of 1937, Mr. Turk attended the exercises in Cordele and, and
as the only surviving member of the Camp, gave back to the Cordele chapter, UDC
the Camp Flag which had been presented by the chapter years before to the Camp.
     Mr. Turk is survived by two sons, C. B. Turk, of Pitts and T. N. Turk of
Cordele, and one daughter, Mrs. A. B. Archer of Jefferson; twelve grandchildren
and four great-grandchildren.
     Funeral service will be held tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock from the 
Pitts Baptist church, conducted by Rev. J. G. Morris, assisted by Rev. W. L.
Robuck of Cordele.
     Following the rites at the Pitts Baptist church, interment will take place 
in Sunny side Cemetery, in Cordele.
     Dorsey Funeral Home in Abbeville is in charge of arrangements. 


Additional Comments:
Mr. A. A. Turk
     The closing chapter in the glorious history of a bygone day was written
yesterday. The last minutes were entered, and the records of Camp 1614 of the
United Confederate Veterans Completed. The grizzled veteran who fought for the 
"lost" cause have held their last bivouac, and the fading light of their
campfire has died forever.
     When Mr. A. A. Turk of Pitts died yesterday morning there was no more Crisp
county camp of the U.C.V. He was the last soldier; the man who had the honor of
carrying the flag for the last time. Quietly, he "passed over the river, to rest
 in the shade of the trees" and the last living connection of our immediate
section with the armies of the Confederacy were severed.
     Mr. Turk was one of seven brothers whose total age reached the almost
unbelievable total of 558 years; and whose history is traced unbroken to the
founder of the family in America, James Turk, who came to this country in 1757
from Ireland. His was a family of soldiers, his ancestors having taken part in
the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Seminole war before Mr. Turk
joined the armies of the Confederacy at the age of 16.
     During the War Between the States this young soldier distinguished himself
many times. In particular was he mentioned for bravery during the battle of
Savannah when his regiment, the 5th Georgia Reserves was facing Sherman's army
across the Savannah river. The Confederates were particularly troubled by a nest
of Yankee sharpshooters. One by one Confederate soldiers were asked to volunteer
for exceedingly dangerous service in an exposed position in an effort to quiet
the enemy snipers. Young Turk was the 50th man who volunteered for service; nad
is was partly through his efforts that the nest of snipers was silenced. His
service in the Confederate armies continued until the close of the war.
     The Death of Mr. Turk is not only the passing of a man dearly beloved and
respected, but marks the final passing of the flag he carried so well to younger
hands. He carried the battle flag of the south in actual conflict; we of today
carry it in our daily struggle to further the interest of the south. 


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/crisp/obits/t/turk11904ob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/

File size: 4.4 Kb