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Champ Ferguson: An American Civil War Rebel GuerrillaCivil War Times | 3 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
When the time came for Ferguson’s defense, he could muster only a handful of character witnesses. One was Joseph Wheeler, but support from even this well-respected general was not enough to sway the court. On October 10, Ferguson was found guilty and sentenced to hang. Subscribe Today
‘I was a Southern man at the start,’ Ferguson said in his final statement. ‘I am yet, and will die a Rebel. I believe I was right in all I did.’ He reiterated that he had killed only those who had intended to kill him and that he had treated prisoners the way his own men had been treated by the enemy. ‘I repeat that I die a Rebel out and out, and my last request is that my body be removed to White County, Tennessee, and be buried in good Rebel soil.’
Ferguson was hanged on October 20, his wife and tearful 16-year-old daughter watching as his lifeless body dangled at the end of the rope.
Ferguson’s bloody war record reveals him to be a murderer who deserved his fate. Still, many of his contemporaries were no better than he, including some men on the pro-Union side, yet they escaped similar retribution. Beaty admitted he had taken up arms for the Union government without pay, which by definition made him a guerrilla. He could have suffered the same fate as Ferguson. Clearly, a double standard was being applied. Indeed, when pro-Union newspapers in Nashville covered the Ferguson trial, they referred to the defendant as ‘the monstrous criminal’ and Beaty as ‘the celebrated Union scout.’
After Tennessee was readmitted to the Union, Beaty became a respected citizen of the state. He even served as a member of the county court when he returned to Jamestown.
The irony of the similarities between Beaty and Ferguson could not have escaped Ferguson’s defenders. The same deeds that made a man a criminal could make him a hero if his side won. This article was written by Troy D. Smith and originally published in the December 2001 issue of Civil War Times Magazine.
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            Tags: 19th Century, American Civil War, Civil War Times, Historical Conflicts, Historical Figures
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3 Comments to “Champ Ferguson: An American Civil War Rebel Guerrilla”
As a Ferguson historian & having portrayed “Champ” in 1st person for the past 12 years, I enjoyed this article, however I must correct a mistake made right at the outset. Ferguson was born November 29, 1821; which would have made him just shy of his 40th birthday on November 01st, 1861, NOT 20 yrs of age.
Confederately,
“Champ”
Ferguson’s Independent Co. (reactivaited)
Southern Guards Battalion
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Fort/2754/
By T. E. "CHAMP" HOLMES on Aug 26, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Rot in hell champ that bastard killed my family!
By Adam Zachary on Feb 16, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Jacob Silver Eastman, great grand father of Colleen Anspach was a union soldier of Cassopolis MI, guarded Champs Ferguson until his death.
i have documentation of this time period and records of my great grand father guarding champs Ferguson.
By Colleen Anspach on Feb 20, 2009 at 7:40 pm