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{{Infobox person
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'''Nadine Lvova Turchin''' (November 26, 1826 – July 17, 1904) was the wife of [[Union Army|Union]] [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brig. Gen.]] [[John Basil Turchin]]. During the [[American Civil War]], she traveled with her husband on his military campaigns and at times acted as his surrogate in command of his troops. She kept a detailed diary that remains a leading eyewitness account of her husband's colorful career. She became widely known in the army as "Madame Turchin."
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| name = Nadine Turchin
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Nadine Lvova Turchin
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1826|11|26}}.
| birth_place = Russia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1904|07|17|1826|11|26}}
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation =
| years_active =
| known_for = Wife of Union Brig. Gen. [[John Basil Turchin]]
| notable_works =
⚫
}}


[[File:Page from Nadine A. Turchin's diary.png|thumb|A page from Nadine A. Turchin's diary, 1863]]
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She was born as '''Nadezhda Antonina L'vova''' (or Lovow) in [[Russia]], the daughter of an officer in the Russian Army.<ref>Leonard, Elizabeth. ''All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies''. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1999. ISBN 0393047121 Page 131.</ref> On May 10, 1856, in [[Krakow]], [[Poland]], she married Ivan Vasilovitch Turchaninov, with whom she immigrated to the United States..<ref>Leonard, Elizabeth. ''All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies'', page 131.</ref> Upon their arrival in the U.S. and their eventual settlement on a farm in [[New York]], they anglicized their names. They later moved to [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] and then to [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], where he worked as a topigraphical engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad.<ref>Leonard, Elizabeth, ''All the Daring of the Soldier'', page 132.</ref>
⚫
'''Nadine A. Turchin''' (November 26, 1826 – July 17, 1904) was the wife of [[Union Army|Union]] [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[John Basil Turchin]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hS_zqV-D52EC&dq=Pension%20for%20Nadine%20A.%20Turchin%20Series%20H.rp.1166&pg=PP5 Report favoring S. 3518, to pension Nadine A. Turchin, March 22, 1902. In Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, Issues 85-96, by United States, 1902-1903], p. 175.</ref> During the [[American Civil War]], she traveled with her husband on his military campaigns and at times acted as his surrogate in command of his troops. She kept a detailed diary that remains a leading eyewitness account of her husband's colorful career. She became widely known in the Union army as "Madame Turchin."


== Biography ==
⚫
With the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861, John Turchin was chosen to be Colonel of the [[19th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|19th Illinois Infantry]] and later would be the only Russian-born general to serve in the Union Army. Nadine traveled with her husband throughout the war (despite orders against wives travelling on campaigns). Starting in 1863, she kept a regular diary that included her opinions on her husband’s fellow officers, as well as commentary on battles that she participated in, including [[Battle of Chickamauga|Chickamauga]].<ref>Leonard, Elizabeth, ''All the Daring of the Soldier'', page 132.</ref> During the battle, she stayed with the brigade and division wagons which were parked just on the western edge of the battlefield, and she climbed up onto the eastern hills of Missionary Ridge to observe events during the [[Battle of Missionary Ridge]]. She left detailed accounts of both battles, in effect being the only Union female diarist of those battles.<ref>Benge, Shawn, [http://www.nps.gov/chch/parknews/press-release.htm National Park Service press release, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.] Retrieved 2008-10-17.</ref><ref>White, Lee, [http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_124053.asp Chattanooga.com.] Retrieved 2008-10-17.</ref>
⚫
She was born as Nadezhda Antonovna L'vova (or Lovow) in Russia, the daughter of an officer in the Russian Army.<ref name="All the Daring of the Soldier">Leonard, Elizabeth. ''All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies''. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1999, p. 131. {{ISBN|0393047121}}</ref> On May 10, 1856, in [[Kraków]], Poland, she married Ivan Vasilovitch Turchaninov, with whom she immigrated to the United States in 1856.<ref name="All the Daring of the Soldier"/> Upon their arrival in the US and their eventual settlement on a farm in [[New York (state)|New York]], they anglicized their names. They later moved to [[Philadelphia]] and then to [[Chicago]], where he worked as a topographical engineer for the [[Illinois Central Railroad]].<ref name="All the Daring of the Soldier"/>{{rp|132}}


With the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861, [[John Turchin]] was chosen to be Colonel of the [[19th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|19th Illinois Infantry]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Amazons to Fighter Pilots - A Biographical Dictionary of Military Women|last=Pennington|first=Reina|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2003|isbn=0-313-32708-4|location=Westport, Connecticut|pages=444}}</ref> and later would be the only Russian-born general to serve in the [[Union Army]]. Nadine traveled with her husband throughout the war despite orders against wives traveling on campaigns.
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 newspaper articles about her.<ref>Leonard, Elizabeth, ''All the Daring of the Soldier'', page 133-4.</ref>


During her husband's brief illness in 1862, it was alleged that Nadine "took his place as regimental commander,"<ref>Mcelligott, Mary Ellen. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40191347 A Monotony Full of Sadness": The Diary of Nadine Turchin, May, 1863-April, 1864], ''Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society'', Vol. 70, No. 1 (Feb., 1977), pp.&nbsp;27–89</ref> but likely did not assume full command.<ref>Kathy Warnes. (2018). [https://books.google.com/books?id=3J5RDwAAQBAJ&dq=Madame%20Turchin&pg=PT141 Solo Soldier's Stories]</ref> Stories of her military savvy and heroism were reported by soldiers from Illinois and in later newspaper articles about her.<ref name="All the Daring of the Soldier"/>{{rp|133–134}}
⚫
After the war, they settled in Radom, [[Illinois]]. After her husband's death in 1901, she applied for and received a pension of $30 a month as a military widow instead of as a nurse or soldier. Nadine Turchin died in 1904 and was buried next to her husband in [[Mound City National Cemetery]] in southern Illinois.<ref>Leonard, Elizabeth, ''All the Daring of the Soldier'', page 141.</ref>


When Colonel Turchin was accused of dereliction of duties, she went to Chicago and then to [[Washington, D.C.]], to rally the public in his defense. A plea for help reached [[White House]] and Turchin was promoted to brigadier general. On August 8, 1862, [[Chicago Times]] wrote, "truly in the lottery matrimonial Col. Turchin had the good fortune to draft an invaluable prize."<ref>Treichel, James A. [https://www.marquette.edu/library/theses/already_uploaded_to_IR/treic_j_1962.pdf ''Union Cossack: General John B. Turchin's Career in the American Civil War'']. Master's Theses, Marquette University, 1962, p. 103.</ref>

⚫
In 1863, Nadine started a regular diary that included her opinions on her husband's fellow officers and commentary on battles that she participated in, including [[Battle of Chickamauga|Chickamauga]].<ref name="All the Daring of the Soldier"/>{{rp|132}} During the battle, she stayed with the brigade and division wagons, which were parked just on the western edge of the battlefield, and she climbed up onto the eastern hills of Missionary Ridge to observe events during the [[Battle of Missionary Ridge]]. She left detailed accounts of both battles, in effect being the only Union female diarist of those battles.<ref>Benge, Shawn, [http://www.nps.gov/chch/parknews/press-release.htm National Park Service press release, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.] Retrieved 2008-10-17.</ref><ref>White, Lee, [http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_124053.asp Chattanooga.com.] Retrieved 2008-10-17.</ref>

⚫
After the war, the Turchins settled in [[Radom, Illinois]]. They had no children. After her husband's death in 1901, Nadine applied for and received a pension of $30 a month as a military widow instead of as a nurse or soldier.<ref>Harper, Judith E. [https://books.google.com/books?id=xB6leqwlKSYC&dq=Madame%20Turchin&pg=PA382 ''Women During the Civil War: An Encyclopedia'']. New York: Routledge, 2004, pp. 382-384</ref> Nadine Turchin died in 1904 and was buried next to her husband in [[Mound City National Cemetery]] in southern Illinois.<ref name="All the Daring of the Soldier"/>{{rp|141}}

== Recognition ==
Nadine A. Turchin earned a place in America's collective memory. On April 25, 1961, [[Fred Schwengel]], while speaking in the [[United States Congress]] about women in the [[American Civil War]], said,{{quote|Have you ever heard of Madame Turchin, the immigrant from Russia, symbol of foreign aid, who went with her husband, a colonel in the Union Army, and served as nurse and mother confessor to the regiment. And, once when her husband became ill, she took over and led the regiment into battle with confidence and poise and won the skirmish.<ref>[https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1961-pt5/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1961-pt5-11-2.pdf Commemoration, Scholarly Effort, and Women of the Civil War. Extension of remarks of Hon. Fred Schwengel of Iowa in the House of Representatives], April 25, 1961, p. 6701</ref>}}

== See also ==
{{portal|biography}}
* [[History of women in the United States]]


==References==
==References==
Line 14: Line 44:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Bergeron, Destiny. Women in Blue: The Story of Three Women from Illinois Who Fought in the Civil War. Thesis (B.A.)--Lake Forest College, 2002, 2002. {{OCLC|50043862}}
* Bergeron, Destiny. ''Women in Blue: The Story of Three Women from Illinois Who Fought in the Civil War''. Thesis (B.A.), Lake Forest College, 2002, 2002. {{OCLC|50043862}}
* Casstevens, Frances Harding. Tales from the North and the South: Twenty-Four Remarkable People and Events of the Civil War. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co, 2007. ISBN 71812754 {{OCLC|9780786428700}}
* Casstevens, Frances Harding. ''Tales from the North and the South: Twenty-Four Remarkable People and Events of the Civil War''. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co, 2007. {{OCLC|71812754}} {{ISBN|978-0-7864-2870-0}}
* East, Ernest E. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40189912 Lincoln's Russian General], ''Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society'', Vol. 52, No. 1, Lincoln Sesquicentennial (Spring, 1959), pp.&nbsp;106–122
⚫
* Harper, Judith E. Women During the Civil War: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2004. ISBN 041593723X {{OCLC|51942662}}
* Hall, Richard H. ''Women on the Civil War Battlefront''. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2006. pp.&nbsp;44, 260-261. {{ISBN|978-0-7006-1437-0}}
⚫
* Kennedy, Deena. "Mrs. General": Nadine Turchin and the Nineteenth Illinois Infantry in the Civil War. Thesis (M.A.)--Illinois State University, 1992, 1992. {{OCLC|26709534}}
⚫
* Harper, Judith E. ''Women During the Civil War: An Encyclopedia''. New York: Routledge, 2004. {{ISBN|0-415-93723-X}} {{OCLC|51942662}}

⚫
* Kennedy, Deena. ''"Mrs. General": Nadine Turchin and the Nineteenth Illinois Infantry in the Civil War''. Thesis (M.A.)--Illinois State University, 1992. {{OCLC|26709534}}

*Massey, Mary Elizabeth. ''Women in the Civil War''. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1966. pp.&nbsp;69–70. {{ISBN|0-8032-8213-3}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
* Mcelligott, Mary Ellen. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40191347 A Monotony Full of Sadness": The Diary of Nadine Turchin, May, 1863-April, 1864], ''Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society'', Vol. 70, No. 1 (Feb., 1977), pp.&nbsp;27–89
⚫
| NAME = Turchin, Madame
* Parry, Albert. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/126073 More on General Turchin], ''Russian Review'', Wiley, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan., 1955), pp.&nbsp;19–23
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American diarist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1825
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = July 17, 1904
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}


{{American Civil War}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Turchin, Madame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turchin, Madame}}
[[Category:Women in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Women in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:American people of Russian descent]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States]]
[[Category:American diarists]]
[[Category:1826 births]]
[[Category:1825 births]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:1904 deaths]]
[[Category:American Civil War nurses]]
[[Category:Writers from Chicago]]
[[Category:People from Chicago, Illinois]]
[[Category:19th-century women writers]]
[[Category:19th-century American diarists]]

[[Category:American women diarists]]
{{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:14, 4 May 2024

Nadine Turchin
Born
Nadine Lvova Turchin

(1826-11-26)November 26, 1826.
Russia
DiedJuly 17, 1904(1904-07-17) (aged 77)
NationalityAmerican
Known forWife of Union Brig. Gen. John Basil Turchin
A page from Nadine A. Turchin's diary, 1863

Nadine A. Turchin (November 26, 1826 – July 17, 1904) was the wife of Union Brigadier General John Basil Turchin.[1] During the American Civil War, she traveled with her husband on his military campaigns and at times acted as his surrogate in command of his troops. She kept a detailed diary that remains a leading eyewitness account of her husband's colorful career. She became widely known in the Union army as "Madame Turchin."

Biography

[edit]

She was born as Nadezhda Antonovna L'vova (or Lovow) in Russia, the daughter of an officer in the Russian Army.[2] On May 10, 1856, in Kraków, Poland, she married Ivan Vasilovitch Turchaninov, with whom she immigrated to the United States in 1856.[2] Upon their arrival in the US and their eventual settlement on a farm in New York, they anglicized their names. They later moved to Philadelphia and then to Chicago, where he worked as a topographical engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad.[2]: 132 

With the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861, John Turchin was chosen to be Colonel of the 19th Illinois Infantry[3] and later would be the only Russian-born general to serve in the Union Army. Nadine traveled with her husband throughout the war despite orders against wives traveling on campaigns.

During her husband's brief illness in 1862, it was alleged that Nadine "took his place as regimental commander,"[4] but likely did not assume full command.[5] Stories of her military savvy and heroism were reported by soldiers from Illinois and in later newspaper articles about her.[2]: 133–134 

When Colonel Turchin was accused of dereliction of duties, she went to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C., to rally the public in his defense. A plea for help reached White House and Turchin was promoted to brigadier general. On August 8, 1862, Chicago Times wrote, "truly in the lottery matrimonial Col. Turchin had the good fortune to draft an invaluable prize."[6]

In 1863, Nadine started a regular diary that included her opinions on her husband's fellow officers and commentary on battles that she participated in, including Chickamauga.[2]: 132  During the battle, she stayed with the brigade and division wagons, which were parked just on the western edge of the battlefield, and she climbed up onto the eastern hills of Missionary Ridge to observe events during the Battle of Missionary Ridge. She left detailed accounts of both battles, in effect being the only Union female diarist of those battles.[7][8]

After the war, the Turchins settled in Radom, Illinois. They had no children. After her husband's death in 1901, Nadine applied for and received a pension of $30 a month as a military widow instead of as a nurse or soldier.[9] Nadine Turchin died in 1904 and was buried next to her husband in Mound City National Cemetery in southern Illinois.[2]: 141 

Recognition

[edit]

Nadine A. Turchin earned a place in America's collective memory. On April 25, 1961, Fred Schwengel, while speaking in the United States Congress about women in the American Civil War, said,

Have you ever heard of Madame Turchin, the immigrant from Russia, symbol of foreign aid, who went with her husband, a colonel in the Union Army, and served as nurse and mother confessor to the regiment. And, once when her husband became ill, she took over and led the regiment into battle with confidence and poise and won the skirmish.[10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Report favoring S. 3518, to pension Nadine A. Turchin, March 22, 1902. In Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, Issues 85-96, by United States, 1902-1903, p. 175.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Leonard, Elizabeth. All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1999, p. 131. ISBN 0393047121
  3. ^ Pennington, Reina (2003). Amazons to Fighter Pilots - A Biographical Dictionary of Military Women. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 444. ISBN 0-313-32708-4.
  4. ^ Mcelligott, Mary Ellen. A Monotony Full of Sadness": The Diary of Nadine Turchin, May, 1863-April, 1864, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Vol. 70, No. 1 (Feb., 1977), pp. 27–89
  5. ^ Kathy Warnes. (2018). Solo Soldier's Stories
  6. ^ Treichel, James A. Union Cossack: General John B. Turchin's Career in the American Civil War. Master's Theses, Marquette University, 1962, p. 103.
  7. ^ Benge, Shawn, National Park Service press release, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  8. ^ White, Lee, Chattanooga.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  9. ^ Harper, Judith E. Women During the Civil War: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2004, pp. 382-384
  10. ^ Commemoration, Scholarly Effort, and Women of the Civil War. Extension of remarks of Hon. Fred Schwengel of Iowa in the House of Representatives, April 25, 1961, p. 6701

Further reading

[edit]
  • Bergeron, Destiny. Women in Blue: The Story of Three Women from Illinois Who Fought in the Civil War. Thesis (B.A.), Lake Forest College, 2002, 2002. OCLC 50043862
  • Casstevens, Frances Harding. Tales from the North and the South: Twenty-Four Remarkable People and Events of the Civil War. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co, 2007. OCLC 71812754 ISBN 978-0-7864-2870-0
  • East, Ernest E. Lincoln's Russian General, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Vol. 52, No. 1, Lincoln Sesquicentennial (Spring, 1959), pp. 106–122
  • Hall, Richard H. Women on the Civil War Battlefront. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2006. pp. 44, 260-261. ISBN 978-0-7006-1437-0
  • Harper, Judith E. Women During the Civil War: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2004. ISBN 0-415-93723-X OCLC 51942662
  • Kennedy, Deena. "Mrs. General": Nadine Turchin and the Nineteenth Illinois Infantry in the Civil War. Thesis (M.A.)--Illinois State University, 1992. OCLC 26709534
  • Massey, Mary Elizabeth. Women in the Civil War. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1966. pp. 69–70. ISBN 0-8032-8213-3
  • Mcelligott, Mary Ellen. A Monotony Full of Sadness": The Diary of Nadine Turchin, May, 1863-April, 1864, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Vol. 70, No. 1 (Feb., 1977), pp. 27–89
  • Parry, Albert. More on General Turchin, Russian Review, Wiley, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan., 1955), pp. 19–23
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