During the Civil War, Turkey Cove was one of the region’s most fertile and prosperous valleys, with farms large and small, prosperous and failing, and residents whose southern-facing economic interests competed with their traditional loyalty to the Union. When Virginia seceded, local people had to choose sides. The Slemp and Richmond families, among the cove’s most successful farmers, owned large farms and slaves and supported the Confederacy. Early in September 1861, Campbell Slemp and James Buchanan Richmond organized local men, drilled them in fields near the present-day community church, and marched to Camp Lane at the Methodist campground near Jonesville. On September 16, 146 men enlisted there in the 21st Battalion Virginia Infantry, with Slemp as captain of Company A. In November 1862, the unit merged with the 29th Virginia Infantry to form the 64th Virginia Mounted Infantry under Col. Slemp and Lt. Col. Richmond. On September 9, 1863, most of the men were captured at Cumberland Gap. Afterward, 79 of the original 146 enlistees were confined at Camp Douglas, Illinois. A total of 31 died in prison camps, while 9 chose to end their imprisonment by joining the U.S. Army or Navy. Of those not captured, 7 deserted and 4 died otherwise. Although no battles were fought in Turkey Cove itself, the Civil War stung here just the same.