The Turnbo Manuscripts
by Silas Claiborne Turnbo
1844-1925
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PICKED UP ON THE SCENE WHERE A SMALL FORCE OF FEDERALS
STAMPEDED A SMALL BUNCH OF SOUTHERN MEN IN WAR TIMES
By S. C. Turnbo
In the month of July, 1905, a holster rifle pistol was picked up by Sam
Pelham 150 yards west of across the hollow the scene where Asa Yocum was
killed during the angry days of war. This pistol is supposed to have been
dropped by one of the southern men in the confusion while trying to escape
from the federals. Mr. Yocum was killed in the month of June, 1863. If it
did belong to one of the men as mentioned which we are inclined to believe
that it did it had lay there 42 years before it was discovered. The pistol
was shown me by Almus Clark and a partial description of the weapon was
noted down as Mr. Clark described it, which is as follows: Patent breech
with two mountings, one of brass the other of silver. The silver mount is
in 1/8 inch of patent breech the brass mounting is 1/32 Part of an inch
toward the muzzle from the silver mount. The hind sight on butt piece attached
to patent breech, same as rifle sight. Length of barrel from breech pin
is 6 inches, Califre 30-70. The brand which is finely engraved on top of
the barrel London Fine Damascus Twist." Barrel 8 square. The barrel
and butt piece of breech pin look and guard all complete except that breech
pin and lock and guard badly corroded with rust. They were all lying near
together. Sam Pelham found the barrel and look. He and Jim Bledsoe went
back together and found the guard which is supposed to be brass and fastened
with a key on front and with a screw at the back part. Rib of barrel 2 3/8
inches In length counting from the muzzle and is supposed to be German silver.
The barrel fastened to the stock by a loop made of iron which is badly rusted.
It is a 7 rifle pistol the barrels loaded heavy, after taking the loads
out some of the powder was put in the fire and it flashed a little. Part
of the balls found in the barrel were round and the others were minnie balls.
The charge of powder was so large that the balls were found to be nearly
half way to the muzzle.
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