William Clark Quantrill

William Clark Quantrill was one of the most notorious guerrilla warriors that ever lived. He was a partisan ranger, who committed most of his crimes in the Kansas and Missouri areas. He was a young man when he first became involved in the War between the States. He joined the army as a promising young soldier but later deserted and formed his own band of men. Quantrill is most famous for the sacking of Lawrence Kansas in 1863. He along with his sidekicks Bloody Bill Anderson, Frank and Jesse James, and Cole and Jim Younger murdered over 100 men, and burnt the town to the ground. The Union Jayhawkers led by James H. Lane were able to put down the conflict. The relationship between Quantrill and Anderson became strained when Anderson falsely implicated Quantrill for murder. Quantrill later moved into the Kentucky area to continue his raids. This move proved deadly for Quantrill as he was killed in a Union massacre in 1863. He was only 27 years old. A tragic end to a promising military career.

Stay tuned for more articles about guerrilla leaders in the Civil War. For more info on William Clark Quantrill I highly recommend Daniel Sutherland's book A Savage Conflict.

Overview of Guerrilla Warfare in the Civil War

The Guerrilla war was basically a war within a war. The goal was to tie down armies in one place and prevent them from advancing. Guerrillas also broke up supply lines for both the Union and Confederate armies. The guerrilla war had many key players including Champ Ferguson and William Quantrill. They had differences though. This leads us to the three types of guerrilla warfare.

Cavalrymen were men who conducted raids on supply lines, and also roamed the country breaking up railroads making it difficult for the opposing army to travel. These bands were fully recognized by the army in which they served. The most famous cavalrymen were John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forrest. (Below is Morgan)

Partisan Rangers were groups of men who like cavalrymen raided and broke up supply lines and railroads. Unlike cavalrymen partisan rangers engaged in even more violent acts such as murder. Partisan rangers were sometimes recognized by the army they served. The most famous partisan ranger was William Clark Quantrill. Others included John Singleton Mosbey and Bloody Bill Anderson. (Below is Quantrill)

Guerrillas were basic citizens that commanded their own private bands of men. They had no recognition by the armies they sided with. Most of these men raided supply lines and broke up railroads much like cavalrymen and partisan rangers did. They also committed murders. These men answered to no one. Many of these men were considered outlaws. The most famous of these men was Champ Ferguson. Ferguson's arch enemy Tinker Dave Beaty could also be included in this category. (Below is Beaty)

It is also worth noting that many Native American tribes engaged in the guerrilla war. The Cherokee and Sioux Indians are good examples. The famous Native American Geronimo was known to have engaged in guerrilla warfare. (Below is Geronimo)

The guerrilla war has also become popular in Hollywood. The 1976 film Outlaw Josey Wales starring Clint Eastwood follows the life of a man whose family was murdered and farm burned to the ground. The film is rumored to have been based on the life of Champ Ferguson. Overall the movie does a good job depicting guerrilla warfare. The 1951 film Silver Canyon starring Gene Autry is another movie that deals with guerrilla warfare. Gene along with his sidekick Pat (Pat Buttram) go up against and defeat the fictional guerrilla leader Wade McQuarrie (Jim Davis). This movie also does a good job of depicting guerrilla warfare. Both are highly recommended.

The best book on the guerrilla war is Daniel Sutherland's 2009 work titled A Savage Conflict: The Decisive Role of Guerrillas in the American Civil War.

Make sure to check back soon for more detailed blog posts about men like William Quantrill, John Hunt Morgan and others.

Common Misconceptions about Champ Ferguson

Contrary to what some people think Champ Ferguson was never a "captain", he never enlisted in the Confederate army.

He most likely was a self proclaimed captain, who answered to no one.

It has been rumored that Champ was offered $1,000 to assassinate military governor Andrew Johnson.

It has also been rumored that Champ got a last minute reprieve, and was released through a trap door. The "conspiracy theory" goes on to say that Champ and his wife Martha and daughter Ann went west to Oklahoma and became homesteaders under different identities.

It has been debated as to why Champ served in the Confederate army instead of the Union army like his brothers did. The most common misconception is that his wife and daughter were raped and his son was murdered by Union troops. There is no evidence of this however. The most widely accepted reason by historians is that Ferguson thought he could get forgiveness for his past crimes if he served with the Confederates.

I personally do not believe in any of these "theories", I choose to believe what I have been taught by historians with even greater knowledge then myself on the subject.

If Champ really got a last minute reprieve and went west to Oklahoma, then who is buried in the grave above? Spooky right?

Who was Champ Ferguson?

"To some he was a brutal thug, a heartless murderer-a monster.

To others he was a protector, a beloved martyr to the Confederate cause-a hero.

To a few he was a family man, a good old boy caught up in passions beyond his control-a man.

He was all these things, and more.

He was an American tragedy.

He was Champ Ferguson."

-Troy Smith-

Good Rebel Soil by Troy D. Smith

                                          

Very good book by Tennessee Tech history professor Troy Smith. A work of historical fiction to give readers a new look at the story of Champ Ferguson from his on eyes.

Highly recommended. 

George Dibrell

George Dibrell was a very prominent resident of Sparta Tennessee. He was a farmer who later became a general in the Confederate army. He sort of took Champ Ferguson under his wing. Dibrell and Ferguson fought alongside each other at the Battle of Wildcat Creek, which took place on Dibrell's farm. The two men also fought alongside each other at the Battle of Saltville. Dibrell testified in favor of Ferguson at his 1865 trial. After the war was over Dibrell served in congress. He is entombed in the Old Sparta Cemetery. He is considered a celebrity in Sparta.

The grave of George Dibrell in Sparta Tennessee.

Books about Champ

These 3 books about Champ are very good. The work by Brian McKnight is the one I found the most useful in my research.

Champ Ferguson's Grave

This is the original headstone. On the back is a newer one that has been put up.

Champ Ferguson

The man above was one of the Upper Cumberland's most notorious guerrilla leaders. Born Samuel Champion Ferguson on November 29, 1821, Ferguson became one of the Civil War's fiercest outlaws. He and his band conducted numerous raids in Tennessee and Kentucky. He rode with John Hunt Morgan on his raids into Kentucky. Ferguson also fought at the Battles of Wildcat Creek, Dug Hill, and Saltville. His nemesis was a man by the name of David Beaty (aka Tinker Dave) they had some close encounters throughout the war, but were never able to eliminate each other. Tinker Dave later testified against Ferguson at his trial. At the end of the war Ferguson was hanged at the Old State Prison in Nashville on October 20, 1865 on 53 counts of murder. Ferguson was buried in the France Cemetery in White County in "Good Rebel Soil." I will post more things about Champ in the near future.