John Singleton Mosby "The Gray Ghost"

John Singleton Mosby, who is most often referred to as the "Grey Ghost," was a Confederate partisan ranger in the Civil War. He was the leader of the 43rd Battalion, 1st Virginia Cavalry. He engaged in acts such as breaking up supply lines and robbing trains. The 1st Virginia Cavalry became known as "Mosby's Raiders." Mosby was born on December 6, 1833 in Powhatan, Virginia. His family was very wealthy. He attended Hampton-Sydney College as well as the University of Virginia. When he was 19 years old he got into trouble with the law. Mosby and George Turpin, who bullied Mosby on multiple occasions, got into a fight. This resulted in Mosby shooting Turpin in the neck with his pepper-box pistol. Mosby was arrested and charged with unlawful shooting as well as malicious shooting. The trial resulted in a hung jury. Mosby was convicted of both charges and sentenced to ten years in prison. While in prison Mosby befriended the prosecutor in the case William J. Robertson. He told Robertson that he wanted to study law. Mosby was later pardoned by Virginia Governor Joseph Johnson. After his release he was admitted to the bar (he had studied law while in prison and had met all the requirements). He worked with Robertson in his law office, but later set up his own practice in Howardsville, Virginia. He then met his future wife Pauline Clarke who was in town visiting her family. They got married and moved to Bristol, Virginia. They had two children that were born before the Civil War, and one that was born during the war. At the outbreak of the war Mosby was against secession. He later changed his mind and joined the Confederate army as a private. He started the war under the command of J.E.B. Stuart. He was quickly promoted through the ranks. In 1863 he was given command of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. His first raid was at Fairfax Courthouse. Mosby and his men were able to capture three men. One of the men they captured was Brigadier General Edwin H. Stoughton. Mosby and his raiders were very successful in breaking up Union supply lines. One of the reasons "Mosby's Raiders" were so successful was that they were able to escape disguised as civilians (hence the nickname "The Gray Ghost"). They were able to conduct raids their raids almost invisibly. The strategy continued until the end of the war. After Lee's surrender at Appomattox in 1865, Mosby disbanded his rangers. Mosby had a $5,000 reward out for his capture, but was eventually paroled by Ulysses S. Grant. This made Mosby and Grant good friends. When Grant was elected president, he appointed Mosby a U.S. consul to Hong Kong. Mosby also served as a lawyer in San Francisco, California. Mosby later worked for the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Justice. Mosby in a letter to Samuel Chapman, said that he never approved of slavery. He only fought with the Confederacy because he felt that was his duty as a native Virginian. John Singleton Mosby died on May 30, 1916 in Washington, D.C. He was 82 years old. Mosby's service to his country is to be commended. He truly is an American hero.

To this day John Singleton Mosby's legacy lives on. The area of North Central Virginia where Mosby and his raiders operated is known as "Mosby's Confederacy"(there is a highway named in his honor). There have been books written about Mosby (the book To Kill a Mockingbird mentions "The Gray Ghost"). His name has also been mentioned in T.V. westerns, and blockbuster movies.

Above is a picture of Mosby's Raiders.

Above is a picture of Mosby's home in Washington, D.C.

Above is the historical marker along the highway in North Central Virginia named for Mosby.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond.

Cole and Jim Younger

Cole and Jim Younger were partisan rangers who engaged in guerrilla warfare during the Civil War. The two were born in Jackson County, Missouri. Cole was the oldest. In all there were 14 Younger children. Not much is known about the childhood of Cole and Jim. It is not known what drove the two to join William Quantrill's guerrilla band either. They fought alongside Quantrill, Bloody Bill Anderson, and Frank James during the sacking of Lawrence, Kansas. This was their only known activity during the Civil War. After the Civil War ended in 1865, many former bushwhackers returned to living normal lives. This was not the case for the Younger brothers. The two joined a gang of outlaws that was led by Archie Clement. The gang was mostly made up of men who had served under Bloody Bill Anderson. The gang engaged in activities such as bank robbery, and train robbery. The brothers later allied with Frank and Jesse James, the result was the creation of the James-Younger Gang. They continued to rob banks as well as trains. The downfall of the gang happened on September 7, 1876. The four men along with their men (which included Cole and Jim's other brother Bob) decided to rob the bank at Northfield, Minnesota. They picked this bank in particular because of its ties to two former Union generals. The gang was met by brave civilians who fired their guns at them. The Youngers fired their guns in an attempt to clear the streets. The citizens of Northfield continued to fire at the gang killing many members of the gang and wounding others (including Bob Younger). The Younger brothers as well as the James brothers were able to escape. This attempted robbery left two citizens dead, and countless others injured. The remaining members of the gang were captured by the local posse and thrown in jail. Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger were put on trial but were able to avoid being hanged by pleading guilty. Instead the three were sentenced to life in the Stillwater Prison. Bob Younger died in prison of tuberculosis. Cole and Jim were paroled on July 10, 1901. Jim committed suicide in a hotel room shortly after his release. Cole went on to write his memoirs. In them he said that he was more of an avenger then an outlaw. Cole later repented of his crimes and became a devout Christian. He died on  March 21, 1916 in his hometown of Lee's Summit, Missouri. Cole and Jim Younger are just another tragedy of the deadly guerrilla war.

Today the legacy of the Younger brothers lives on. There have been countless books written about them. They have also been the subject of movies and T.V. shows. Below is a poster about a movie that was based on the Northfield raid.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond.

The Legend of Champ Ferguson

The following is a research paper that I wrote last semester (Fall 2013).

      Imagine lying in your bed, sick, unable to move physically. You hear a knock at the door, in walks a red headed man who stops at the foot of your bed with a gun pointed at you. The man is Champ Ferguson, and he has come to settle a score with William Frogg. Ferguson shoots Frogg in cold blood just because he is a Union sympathizer. The legend of Champ Ferguson was forgotten for many years until 1942 when Thurman Sensing wrote a book devoted to the highly publicized trial of one of the South’s most notorious outlaws. Today, authors such as Thomas Mays and Brian McKnight have written even more detailed books accounting the events of Champ’s life. The France Cemetery where Champ is buried has become a part of Tennessee’s Civil War Trails. The legend of Champ Ferguson is alive and well. The argument of this paper is to prove that there were many factors that motivated Champ Ferguson to serve with the Confederate States of America. This paper will also recap Champ’s early life and some of his activities in Appalachia during the Civil War.
     Samuel “Champ” Ferguson was born on November 29, 1821, in Clinton County Kentucky. He was the oldest of ten children, and his parents were farmers. Little is known about Champ’s childhood. He probably performed daily tasks around his parent’s farm. He, like most other children of his day, had little to no access to a formal education. He and his family attended church regularly. The Ferguson’s were most likely of the Baptist or the Presbyterian faith. In 1844 Champ fell in love and married Ann Eliza Smith. Together they had a young son, but in 1847, tragedy struck. Ann and their young son passed away from unknown causes. The loss greatly affected Champ. In 1848 Champ married Martha Owens. Together they had a daughter named Ann. Tragedy struck the Ferguson family again in 1850 when Champ’s father, William, passed away. This loss greatly affected Champ. Champ would take up farming as a profession, and he farmed 194 acres of land in the Spring Creek area where he was raised. Most of it he inherited from his late father. By 1860 the farm contained 462 total acres. Champ’s legal troubles began when he was accused of stealing horses from Floyd Evans. Ferguson claimed that Evans owed him money, so he took the horses to cover the debt. Evans on the other hand claimed that Ferguson simply stole the horses from him. This eventually got the attention of Andrew Johnson. This dispute came to a head when Ferguson was confronted by Evans, along with Elam Huddleston, and Constable Jim Reed. Champ fought off Evans and Huddleston, but he killed Constable Reed in the process. This got Champ in to serious trouble. He was held in the Fentress (TN) County Jail. This was just the infancy of one of the bloodiest guerrilla careers of this time period. 
     Champ Ferguson, unlike his brother Jim, was a Confederate sympathizer. Jim Ferguson had previous run ins with the law much like his older brother. Both Champ and Jim held different political views however. Champ was a Democrat and Jim was a Whig. Champ’s murders of William Frogg and Reuben Wood would lead the entire population of Clinton County to turn against him. Ferguson had no choice but to take his family and flee Kentucky and settle in the Calfkiller River Valley in Confederate Sparta, Tennessee. He thought that if he served with the Confederate States of America he could gain forgiveness for his past crimes.
     Champ was able to live a fairly quiet life as a farmer. He was dealing with a fairly serious head wound that he had suffered in his encounter with Reuben Wood. He still went back up into Kentucky. His brother Ben had also declared his loyalty to the Confederacy. Ben Ferguson was fatally shot by one of Champ’s most loyal friends Raine Philpott. This event did not affect the relationship between Philpott and Champ Ferguson, however. Ferguson and Phillpott rode throughout the Upper Cumberland region engaging in acts such as horse stealing. Legend has it that if you came in contact with the two you would be lucky to get away. Champ had no real competition until David Beaty, a Union guerrilla, came to the area to persuade the people of the region to become Unionists. Tinker Dave, as he was often called, became Ferguson’s greatest enemy. Ferguson and Beaty had some close encounters but neither one could eliminate the other. Beaty eventually testified against Champ at his 1865 trial. People today, especially citizens of Sparta, applaud Champ for his efforts in protecting the region against Tinker Dave and his gang.

     Ferguson and his gang later raided the farm of Jonathan Hale, in Clinton County. Hale was not home, but his wife Pheroba was. Ferguson and his men tore down the yard fence, and walked into the house and took a horn of gunpowder. They then left the farm, but returned a short time later and took three horses and two mules. From there Ferguson and his gang headed back into Tennessee. On their way they decided to stop at Champ’s mother-in- law’s house. They were met by a sixteen-year old boy named Fount Zachary. He was a picket who was working for the Unionist Home Guards. Ferguson dismounted from his horse and demanded that Zachary drop his weapons. Zachary complied and Ferguson took his knife and drove it through his heart. Champ and his gang took the body to his mother-in-law’s house where it was later claimed by the Zachary family. It is believed that the widow Owens did not want to touch the body because she disapproved of the activities that Champ was involved in. This incident solidified Champ Ferguson’s place as one of the most notorious guerrilla leader in the Upper Cumberland region.
     By now Champ was getting the attention of the federal officials. J.A. Brents was one of the first Union officers to hunt Ferguson. On April 17,1862, Don Carlos Buell tasked Colonel Edward C. Williams with sending four companies of troops from his 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry to Clinton County to help prevent these raids. Word soon got to Champ, causing him to stay in Livingston for the rest of April. Ferguson and his men slept in people’s houses in Fentress County. He and his men were preparing for another invasion into Kentucky.
     In May of 1862, Champ, along with his former lawyer Willis Scott Bledsoe made another raid into Kentucky. On this raid Ferguson killed Alexander Huff, a known Unionist. Earlier, Ferguson had taken Huff’s son, Preston, as his prisoner. Champ also held a grudge against Huff because he had been involved in getting him arrested. Ferguson later said that he did not kill Huff; his men did. Next Champ murdered James Zachary, who was the father of Fount Zachary, whom Ferguson had murdered earlier. Ferguson later rode with John Hunt Morgan on his First Kentucky Raid. This made Champ redefine the nature of his service. He said he was a regular soldier when convenient, and claimed to be a Confederate partisan at other times. Ferguson often referred to himself as a captain even though he never enlisted in the Confederate army.
     After these raids into Kentucky, Champ returned home to his wife and daughter in Sparta. After a month had passed, Champ was back on the borderlands in August 1862. Champ would continue these skirmishes until late summer 1862. The Louisville Courier Journal published an article accounting some of the activities he had been involved in. Ferguson’s next big skirmish happened in Clinton County. Ferguson and his killed Thomas Washington Tabor, also known as Wash Tabor. Ferguson shot him in the head. Tabor was not even armed, the reasons for this murder are not known. Tabor was a known Unionist, which could have been a factor. As a result of Ferguson’s actions many residents of Kentucky who were Unionists sought to protect themselves better. J.A. Morrison was one of the first individuals to organize a homeguard to protect himself and his family against guerrillas. Ferguson meanwhile took his gang and moved back to Tennessee to continue his guerrilla activities.
     After returning to Tennessee in 1863, Champ Ferguson befriended General George Dibrell. Champ very much respected Dibrell, and many of Dibrell’s men rode with Champ. Ferguson and Dibrell fought alongside each other at the Battle of Wild Cat Creek in Sparta. Dibrell’s 8th Tennessee Cavalry and Colonel Robert H.G. Minty’s 4th Michigan Cavalry engaged in a battle on Dibrell’s farm. Dibrell’s forces won the battle. Dibrell wrote in his report “that at some time during the battle, the strength of his force was increased when Champ Ferguson arrived with several of his men and a number of Sparta men.” By this point, Ferguson’s relationship with John Hunt Morgan had become strained. Ferguson had formed a strong relationship with Dibrell, one that would last throughout the war. Ferguson also remained close with many of his raiding buddies, especially Colonel John Hughs of Livingston. Hughs had served in the 25th Tennessee Infantry under Braxton Bragg. He accompanied Bragg on his invasion into Kentucky and also fought at the Battle of Stones River, where he was wounded. 
     After fighting at Sparta, Champ Ferguson returned to raiding. One of Ferguson’s most outspoken critics was Dr. Jonathan Hale. Hale was responsible for writing many anti-Ferguson pamphlets. His goal was to alert the Federals of Ferguson’s activities and his whereabouts. On September 1863 Champ and his men raided the Hale place. Ferguson stole the piano of Hale’s daughter, Pheroba. He then took the piano back to Sparta. He consulted Julia Ann Williams who operated a store in Yankeetown. Williams had no idea how much the piano was worth. She would later testify at Ferguson’s trial that she knew the piano belonged to the Hale family. Ferguson eventually sold the piano for $200 to a local woman. Champ along with his wife Martha collected the $200 from the buyer. This leads many historians to believe that Mrs. Ferguson knew of his activities and helped Champ with his financial dealings.
     In 1864 Champ Ferguson was still a major threat in the Upper Cumberland area. Ferguson and his relationship with George Dibrell was still very strong. Both men knew that they could depend on each other whenever the need arose. Ferguson was also gaining occasional recognition from the Confederacy for his actions. The year 1864 also marked a time in which the Federals were beginning to crack down on guerrilla activity in the area. Perhaps the greatest threat to Ferguson was William B. Stokes. He was known as the “anti-Champ Ferguson.” Stokes and his 5th Tennessee Cavalry had one main goal, to eliminate Champ Ferguson. Stokes and his 5th Tennessee Cavalry arrived in Sparta on February 2nd. He and his men traveled north along the Calfkiller River. They traveled as far as Putnam County eventually turning around and retracing their steps. Stokes and his men camped close to Ferguson‘s farm. They came very close to achieving their goal, but could not close the deal. Champ was also pursed by Brigadier General Eleazer A. Paine as well as Colonel Henry McConnell. McConnell and his 71st Ohio Infantry tracked Ferguson all the way into the Flynn’s Lick area in Jackson County. The hunt for Champ Ferguson at the Federal level had just begun.
      Meanwhile back in Sparta, William Stokes was still on the trail of Champ Ferguson. Stokes decided to send two of his companies back up from Sparta along the Calfkiller River on a scouting mission. The men led by W.B. Hyder were instructed to go through the Dug Hill community. What Stokes and his men did not know was that Ferguson and his men along with John Hughs and his men were hiding in the bushes along the road. George Dibrell and his men were at the battle as well. As the Federals approached, Ferguson and his men jumped out of the bushes and into the road, completely surrounding the federal forces. Hyder wanted to surrender, but Stokes did not want to. Stokes ordered his men to “bust through the rebel ranks as it was nothing but Death anyway.” This battle would become known as the Battle of Dug Hill or the Battle of the Calfkiller. Legend has it that Champ’s nemesis Tinker Dave Beaty was at the battle fighting with Stokes. The battle was a rout for the Federals and became a blemish on the records of Stokes and Hyder. Ferguson continued his raiding after the battle. 
     Champ conducted raids south of Sparta following the battle with the federals at Dug Hill. He went all the way to Pikeville. He also raided the towns of Washington and Sulphur Springs, Tennessee. On March 27, 1864, the Nashville Daily Union released a story that Champ Ferguson had been killed. In reality, Ferguson had been wounded in a skirmish with William Stokes. The one person who benefitted the most from Champ being wounded was Tinker Dave Beaty. Beaty, with the help of Military Governor Andrew Johnson, was able to send supplies to those people who had been affected by Ferguson’s activities. By July 1864 Champ was well enough to continue his guerrilla activities. He and his gang traveled down to Georgia and destroyed the railroad lines at Marietta, Cassville, Calhoun, and Resaca. Ferguson was later arrested for these crimes and placed under the command of George Dibrell. This would take Champ Ferguson into Virginia.
     The Union forces led by Stephen Burbridge were executing a raid into Virginia. One of their targets was the salt works at Saltville, Virginia. Ferguson would join Brigadier General John S. William’s forces. Dibrell and his 8th Tennessee Cavalry also were involved at the Battle of Saltville. The Confederates had a total of 2,800 troops, where the Federals on the other hand had a total of 4,500. Once at the battlefield Ferguson, probably rejoined Dibrell’s army. Dibrell was at a disadvantage thanks to many of his men being green in military strategy and tactics. Together, Dibrell and his army, including Champ Ferguson, and General Felix H. Robertson and his 8th and 11th Texas Cavalry fought against Colonel Robert Ratliff and the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry. At some point during the fight, Robertson lost his nerve and retreated back up the hill. Dibrell and his forces stayed firm in an effort to withstand the attack. The Battle of Saltville would be a victory for the CSA, thanks to a lack of ammunition for the Federals. There are no records of how Ferguson did in the fight, but many historians believed that he fought like a normal soldier. The total number of casualties for each side was 350 for the Federals and 108 for the Confederates. The next day one hundred of those Black Union troops were murdered by Champ Ferguson. This would become known as the Saltville Massacre. This incident would gain national attention, making everyone in the Union as well as the Confederacy aware of who Champ Ferguson was. 
     Many historians believe that if any one man was responsible for sending Champ to the gallows it would be Eliza Smith. Smith was a lieutenant in the 13th Kentucky Cavalry. He had been wounded in a battle earlier in the war. Ferguson knew Smith from Clinton County, and he was also Ferguson’s brother-in-law from his first marriage. Smith was staying in a make shift hospital set up at Emory and Henry College. Ferguson along with his partner William Hildreth set out on the hunt for Eliza Smith. When they finally found him, they broke into the hospital scuffling with guards along the way. One guard, Dr. James B. Murfree, became the first known man to make Champ Ferguson stand down. When Ferguson finally located Smith he walked up to the bed and shot him in the head in cold blood. Ferguson waited to make sure that the wound was mortal before fleeing back to Sparta. On April 12, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. This marked the end of the Civil War. 
     On the morning of May 26, 1865, just before daybreak, Champ Ferguson was arrested at his home in Sparta. He was taken to Nashville and held in military prison. Ferguson’s high profile trial lasted three months, going from July through September 1865. The trial gained national attention. Ferguson was featured in newspapers such as Harper’s Weekly. His nemesis Tinker Dave Beaty testified against him as well as the widow of William Frogg, among countless others. Ferguson claimed he had only killed in self-defense. His defense would not help him, as he was found guilty on 53 counts of murder. On October 20, 1865, Champ Ferguson was hanged at the old state prison on Church Street in Nashville. Ferguson was one of only two men to be executed at the end of the Civil War.
     Today Champ Ferguson’s story is alive and well. In 1942 Thurman Sensing published the first ever book written about Champ. Ferguson’s grave is a tourist attraction today and receives many visitors each year. Historians such as Thomas Mays, Brian McKnight, and Troy Smith have written books chronicling his life. The 1976 film The Outlaw Josey Wales was loosely based on his life. Champ Ferguson thought that he was doing the right thing. He wanted to protect his family and his property. He just went about it in the wrong way. If the South would have won the war, Champ Ferguson would be a hero.

Above is a picture of Champ Ferguson and his guards.

Above is a picture of the Saltville Battlefield as it appears today.

Above is the execution of Champ Ferguson.

Above is Champ Ferguson's headstone.

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John Hunt Morgan

John Hunt Morgan was a cavalryman in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He conducted numerous raids in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio. His group was known as Morgan's Raiders. They would become famous in 1863 when they rode 1,000 miles through Tennessee all the way into Indiana. It was the farthest North any cavalry regiment penetrated during the Civil War. Our old friend Champ Ferguson was part of the raid as well. John Hunt Morgan was born in Huntsville, Alabama on June 1, 1825. He was the oldest of ten children. The Morgan family relocated to Lexington, Kentucky after John's father was unable to pay the mortgage on the family farm. John's middle name "Hunt" comes from his grandfather whose name was John Wesley Hunt. John attended Transylvania College for two years, but he was suspended for dueling with one of his fraternity brothers. Morgan fought in the Mexican-American War with his brother Calvin and his uncle Alexander. After the war he became a hemp manufacturer. He married Rebecca Gratz Bruce who was the eighteen year old sister of his business partner. After the death of his grandfather Morgan's fortunes grew. He became a very wealthy man. Joy turned to sorrow however, as Rebecca gave birth to a stillborn son, and later she contracted septic thrombophlebitis (milk-leg). The two grew apart emotionally, and the marriage failed. This led John to dedicate his life to military service. Before the Civil War he formed an independent band of fighters known as the "Lexington Rifles." In his free time he trained them for fighting. At first Morgan was not in favor of secession. He later changed his mind however and took his band of men, and joined the Confederate Army. He became colonel of his 2nd Kentucky Cavalry Regiment on April 4, 1862. Morgan led the 2nd Kentucky at the Battle of Shiloh. After the Battle of Shiloh John Hunt Morgan began his raids. Most of Morgan's raids were into Kentucky. He and his men were able get deep into the rear of Major General Don Carlos Buell's army. Along the way he and his men (with the help of Champ Ferguson and his men) were able to capture, and later parole 1,200 Union soldiers. These raids opened up Kentucky for invasion by Confederate Generals Braxton Bragg and Edmund Kirby Smith. As a result of these raids, and his victory at the Battle of Hartsville, Morgan was promoted to the position of brigadier general. In an attempt to divert Union troops Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and his men (including Champ Ferguson and his men) set off on a raid that would become known as "Morgan's Raid." Their goal was to break up railroads and supply lines that were vital to the Union army. Somewhere along the way however Morgan and Ferguson had a falling out. The reasons are not known, but based on my research, Ferguson believed that Morgan had become to focused on his fiancee Martha Ready, and was neglecting his duty as a cavalrymen. Morgan was able to continue without Ferguson however. He was victorious in some minor skirmishes, and continued to succeed in breaking up railroads and supply lines. Things turned bad however as Morgan and his men were captured and forced to surrender at Buffington Island, Ohio. Morgan and his men were held in the Ohio  Penitentiary. On November 27, 1863 he and six of his officers were able to escape by digging a tunnel out of their cell into the prison yard. The seven men were able to escape to Kentucky. More tragic news greeted Morgan when he returned home. His wife Martha had just had a baby, but the little girl had died just a few days before John got home. John Hunt Morgan returned to military service, but was given a group unlike the one he had before. The men were undisciplined and hard for him to control. Morgan decided to conduct one more raid into Kentucky. The raid proved to be fatal however as Morgan was shot in the back during a surprise attack on September 4, 1864 at Greenville, Tennessee. A tragic end to a great military career.

Above is a picture of members of "Morgan's Raiders" in the Western Penitentiary in Pennsylvania.

The legacy of Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan lives on to this day in Lexington, Kentucky, with this statue erected in his honor.

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The Carmichael Brothers

In the France Cemetery in Sparta, TN are the graves of four Confederate soldiers. All four of them served under General George Dibrell in the 8th Tennessee cavalry. They may or may not have known Champ Ferguson. The fact is we will never know. My best guess is that they did. The brothers most likely were neighbors of Ferguson's in the Calfkiller River Valley. The name Carmichael has been mentioned in books about Champ. These four brothers (Hance, Solomon, Thomas, and William) much like Champ Ferguson were buried in "good rebel soil."

The grave of PVT. Hance Carmichael.

The grave of 1st Sergeant Solomon Carmichael

The grave of PVT Thomas Carmichael

The grave of PVT William Carmichael

I encourage anyone who is interested in history (especially the Civil War) to go and visit the France Cemetery. It is located on Highway 84 (Calfkiller Highway) just north of Sparta, on the White County-Putnam County line. It is most defiantly worth your time.

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Differences in opinion about Champ Ferguson

In the picture above is the historical marker at the France Cemetery in Sparta, Tennessee. Read it, do you notice any bias? The first thing that sticks out to me is that the words "Confederate Guerrilla" are in parentheses. Why is that? Could it be an attempt to alter the legacy of Champ Ferguson? The second thing that stands out to me is that Champ is referred to as Cap't Champ Ferguson. Ferguson as was mentioned in an earlier post was never a captain. There is no evidence of him enlisting in either army. The third and final thing that I noticed is that the text of the sign tends to portray Champ as an all around good guy. In reality Champ Ferguson was a scoundrel. I believe he thought he was doing the right thing, but he was not the Hickory Valley's only protection during the Civil War. He did protect the people of Sparta against William Stokes and his Union cavalry, but other then that he hurt the people of Sparta more then he helped them. There was an incident where Ferguson rode his horse into the Cherry Creek Baptist Church, and threatened to kill anyone who was a Union sympathizer. The true protector of the Hickory Valley was Gen. George Dibrell (see my earlier post on Dibrell). I believe that was more of an incident of hurt then help. Overall this sign does a good job of attracting tourists, but these tourists need to be aware of the historical accuracy of Champ's life.

                                                                           
Above is a picture of the historical marker in Albany, Kentucky about Champ Ferguson. Do you notice any differences between this sign and the one above? The first difference I see is that at the top it says "Civil War Terrorist." This leads one to believe that the people in Albany do not care for Ferguson very much. The sign basically says that even though Champ was born here, he was a scoundrel and we do not want anything to do with him. As a historian I can see why. Most of Ferguson's raids took place in Kentucky. Murders such as that of Jim Reed, and Fount Zachary took place in Kentucky. The relatives of these people probably still live in Albany and have heard the stories of the heinous acts Champ Ferguson committed. This sign was probably put up for tourism purposes, but again these tourists should be aware of the historical accuracy of Champ Ferguson's life.

It is amazing how these signs are completely opposite. Champ was someone who should not be considered a hero, but he was not a terrorist. He was a human being who was doing what he thought was right in order to protect his family, friends, and the region he loved.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about other tales from Tennessee and beyond.

Links for History teachers and students

http://www.historynet.com/champ-ferguson-an-american-civil-war-rebel-guerrilla.htm

Good article by Dr. Troy Smith about Champ Ferguson. Originally published in the Civil War Times magazine, originally entitled "Don't you Beg and Don't you Dodge."

http://murderpedia.org/male.F/f/ferguson-champ.htm

Another good article about Champ Ferguson on Murderpedia.org.

http://www.tennessee-scv.org/champ.html

Article about Champ Ferguson on the Tennessee Sons of Confederate Veterans website. Article does contain quite a bit of historical bias.

http://www.troyduanesmith.com

Official website of Dr. Troy Smith. He has information on his books, as well as a page of useful links for history information.

http://www.tnsos.net/TSLA/cwsourcebook/index.php

The Tennessee history sourcebook. Search and browse both primary and secondary sources within the Tennessee State Library and Archives database.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook27.asp

The Civil War sourcebook at Fordham University. Useful for browsing primary sources published during the Civil War era.

http://www.civilwar.org

Get information on all of the Civil War battlefields.

http://americancivilwar.com/Sesquicentennial/

Timeline of events in the Civil War. Can also search maps.

http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net

Tennessee Encyclopedia, good source for everything Tennessee history.

http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/

The Civil War on PBS, contains images, maps, historical documents, and facts about the Civil War. Also has a page of links relating to the Civil War.

http://www.tngenes.net

TN Genes is a good website for searching through cemeteries in the Upper Cumberland area. Good resource for doing research.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net

Browse old issues of Harper's Weekly. Also contains a page of links relating to the Civil War.

Above is a picture of Gen. Rosecrans' position at the Battle of Stone's River in Murfreesboro, TN.

Frank and Jesse James

The two men pictured above are probably the most notorious outlaws in the 19th century. They have been the focus of multiple movies and books. Young boys dreamed of becoming lawmen and chasing the James brothers throughout the old west. What most people don't know is that Frank and Jesse were vital parts of the guerrilla war. Frank and Jesse James were born in Clay County, Missouri. Frank the oldest was born in 1843. Jesse the youngest was born in 1847. They were born to an average farm family. Both boys preformed daily tasks around the farm. It wasn't until the Civil War that the James brothers turned to a life of crime. Missouri at this time was a border state. Some citizens sympathized with the Union, others however wanted to secede and join the newly formed Confederate States of America. Frank and Jesse were Confederate supporters and favored secession. At this time William Quantrill was forming his band of guerrilla raiders. Eighteen year old Frank James joined this group known as "Quantrill's Raiders." Frank was put under the command of Bloody Bill Anderson. Frank James and Bloody Bill Anderson's relationship withstood the test of time. After the fallout between Anderson and Quantrill, Frank stayed loyal to Anderson and his band of guerrillas. When Frank and Bloody Bill returned to Missouri, sixteen year old Jesse James joined the band of fighters. Both the James brothers participated in the Centralia Massacre. When Bloody Bill Anderson was killed the brothers went separate ways. Frank went with Quantrill to Kentucky, and Jesse went with Archie Clement to Texas. By the end of the Civil War both brothers had become notorious outlaws. Jesse is most remembered for his actions. Frank took part in some minor robbery, the most notable being at Northfield, Minnesota. Frank eventually turned his gun in to Governor Thomas Crittenden. For the last few years of his life, Frank James worked as a shoe salesman, a ticket taker at a local theater, and even as a telegraph operator for AT&T. Frank James died on February 18, 1915. Jesse James however did not settle down. He formed a strong bond with Cole and Jim Younger. The Younger brothers had also been guerrillas in the Civil War. Together they formed a band that became known as the "James-Younger Gang." The gang went through Missouri engaging in acts such as robbery and murder. Before the surrender of Frank James, the two brothers went to Nashville, Tennessee where they went by the names of Thomas Howard (Jesse), and B.J. Woodson (Frank). It is not known however what the two brothers did in Nashville. Jesse James finally met his demise on April 3, 1882. James had befriended the Ford brothers, and they had accompanied James on his raids. Unknown to James however was that Bob Ford had secretly negotiated a reward with Gov. Crittenden for the capture of Jesse James. On the morning of April 3rd the three men had just got finished having breakfast at a house in St. Joseph, Missouri. The three men went outside to prepare the horses. It was a hot day so James took off his coat and his gun. He noticed a picture that was dusty. James decided to go clean it. As he was cleaning it Bob Ford shot him in the back, killing James instantly. One of the old west's most notorious outlaws is dead.

The story of Frank and Jesse James was quickly picked up by Hollywood. Above is a poster for one of the many movies that was made about the James brothers. The brothers have also been the subject of many books. The genres range from historical to even comic books. Country singer Toby Keith referred to Jesse James in his hit song "Should've Been a Cowboy." The James brothers, even though they are deceased, are still having an impact on our culture to this day.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about other tales from Tennessee and beyond.

Bloody Bill Anderson

Bloody Bill Anderson was a notorious partisan ranger in the Missouri-Kansas area during the Civil War. He was one of William Quantrill's sidekicks. He was born William T. Anderson in 1840 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. At a young age Anderson began stealing horses. Those crimes turned much more severe. Anderson formed a relationship with William Quantrill, eventually joining his band known as Quantrill's raiders. Anderson proved to be a skilled fighter. His skills were put on display during the sack of Lawrence, Kansas. Bloody Bill's band which included Frank James killed the most men in the whole massacre. The honeymoon between Anderson and Quantrill did not last long however. Anderson falsely implicated Quantrill for murder. This led to the arrest of Quantrill, and the end of their partnership. Anderson and his men went to Texas for a few months to rest. Bloody Bill eventually went east to Missouri to continue his fighting. He became one of the most feared guerrilla leaders in the entire state. Frank James who went with Anderson to Missouri recruited his brother Jesse to fight under Bloody Bill's command. Together these men terrorized the state of Missouri. They robbed towns, killing anyone who stood in their way. Bloody Bill finally met his demise after the Centralia Massacre of 1864. Anderson and his band were chased down and forced into battle by the Federals led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel P. Cox. Anderson and his men charged at Cox, showing no fear. Bloody Bill was hit in the ear by a bullet, and was killed instantly. Anderson was only 24 years old. Anderson's body was photographed and the pictures were hung in the courthouse at Richmond, Missouri. Today Bloody Bill Anderson's legacy lives on. He is often referenced in movies and books about Frank and Jesse James. Anderson was also included in the 1976 movie Outlaw Josey Wales, he was portrayed by John Russell. Bloody Bill Anderson is just another casualty in the deadly guerrilla war.

Above is John Russell portraying Bloody Bill Anderson in Outlaw Josey Wales. I think there is a strong resemblance between Russell and Anderson. What do you think?

Stay tuned for more blog posts about the men that made the guerrilla war.

Tinker Dave Beaty

David Beaty most commonly referred to as Tinker Dave was a Union guerrilla leader during the Civil War. He was a native of Jamestown Tennessee. Jamestown at this time was opposed to secession. For those who are not familiar with the Upper Cumberland area Jamestown lies on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. Champ Ferguson was from Albany Kentucky. Ferguson had travelled down to Kentucky and got into a fight at Camp Dick Robinson with Elam Huddleston, Jim Reed, and Floyd Evans (who were friends of Tinker Dave). Ferguson killed Jim Reed who was the sheriff of Jamestown. This is widely accepted as the start of the long standing grudge between Ferguson and Beaty. Ferguson's brother Jim was a close ally of Tinker Dave's. Throughout the war Beaty and Ferguson would encounter each other, but neither one was able to eliminate the other. The closest the two men came to each other was at the Battle of Dug Hill where Beaty was fighting alongside William Stokes and Ferguson was fighting alongside George Dibrell. Both men were wounded in the battle. Beaty also worked closely with military governor Andrew Johnson to try and capture or kill Champ Ferguson. Beaty was unsuccessful however, but he did get the pleasure of testifying against Ferguson at his trial. After the war Beaty became a prominent and much respected citizen of Jamestown.

For more information about Tinker Dave Beaty I highly recommend any of the books written about Champ Ferguson. There is just not much information about Tinker Dave. Check back soon for more articles about the guerrilla war, and the men who made it.