Athens in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Athens Sacked and Plundered

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 4, 2009

1. Athens Sacked and Plundered Marker

Marker has been repainted since this photo was taken.

Inscription. 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 1991 by Limestone County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1829.

Location. 34° 48.154′ N, 86° 58.315′ W. Marker is in Athens, Alabama, in Limestone County. It is at the intersection of South Jefferson Street and West

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Washington Street, on the right when traveling north on South Jefferson Street. Located on the courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W Washington St, Athens AL 35611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Athens First Presbyterian Church (a few steps from this marker); Courthouse and Poor Farm Fence (a few steps from this marker); Athens, Alabama (within shouting distance of this marker); Courthouse and South Side of Square (within shouting distance of this marker);

Athens Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 23, 2009

2. Athens Courthouse

James Edwin Horton, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); West Side of Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Limestone County Iraq — Afghanistan Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Limestone County Beirut Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia section on Ivan Vasillevitch Turchinoff (Turchin) in the Civil War. (Submitted on August 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. The Encyclopedia of Alabama article on the Sack of Athens. (Submitted on August 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Then Colonel John Basil Turchin (born Ivan Vasilyevich Turchaninov.) image. Click for full size.

Public domain

3. Then Colonel John Basil Turchin (born Ivan Vasilyevich Turchaninov.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,998 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on July 13, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on August 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.