It was organized in the first half of 1862 by Champ Ferguson, who was born just across the state line in Clinton County, Kentucky, but moved his family to White
County, Tennessee for safety, and organized his company in Fentress and neighboring counties. Federal reports in
the Official Records make numerous references to "his marauding band" as operating in Clinton County,
Kentucky, and in Scott, Morgan, Fentress and Clay Counties, Tennessee, in 1862 and 1863. During this period
he seems to have operated in conjunction with Hamilton's Tennessee Cavalry Battalion. His company was
reported as part of the forces under Colonel John Hunt Morgan in an action at Celina on July 9, 1862. On the
Confederate side, Colonel George Dibrell, in his report of the action at Calf Killer Creek, White County, on
August 9, 1863, said he was re-enforced by Champ Ferguson with a part of his company. In November 1863,
Colonel William B. Stokes, 5th Tennessee Cavalry, reported numerous skirmishes with the forces under
Hughs, Hamilton, Ferguson and others in the area around Sparta. The Hughs referred to was Colonel John M. Hughs, of
the 25th Tennessee Infantry, CSA. On July 15, 1864, forces under Ferguson, Hughs and others made off with
500 United States Cavalry horses from the post at Kingston, Tennessee.
On October 2, 1864, Federal reports charged Ferguson with the murder of a Lieutenant Smith, of the 13th
Kentucky Cavalry, while on his bed wounded and a prisoner at Emory General Hospital, Virginia. On April 28,
1865, Major General George Stoneman, United States Army, reporting on the roundup of Confederate forces in
Virginia, stated "Champ Ferguson is in command of Southwestern Virginia." On May 16, 1865, Major General L.
H. Rousseau, at Nashville, issued an order: "Champ Ferguson and his gang of cutthroats, having refused to
surrender, are denounced as outlaws, and the military forces of the district will deal with them and treat them
accordingly." Ferguson had by this time returned to his home in White County, and finally surrendered to
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Blackburn in the last half of May. He was charged with murder, tried, convicted and
executed by the Federal authorities. Major General Joseph Wheeler, Confederate States of America, testifying in
his defense, stated that Ferguson's company was attached to his command in August, 1864, marched with him to
Georgia and South Carolina, was transferred in the fall to Major General John C. Breckinridge's command until
after the Battle of Saltville, Virginia on October 2, 1864; was returned to his command until February 1, 1865,
when he was ordered back to Virginia; and that he considered Ferguson to be a member of the regular armed
forces of the Confederacy, and entitled to treatment as a prisoner of war.
(Source: Tennesseans in the Civil War)
A photograph of Champ Ferguson and his men, perhaps taken while they were in custody in Nashville.
Champ Fergerson, Capt.
H. W. Sublet, 1st Lt.
A. H. Foster, 2d Lt.
W. R. Latham, 3d Lt.
G. W. Twiford, Ordly. Sgt.
R. H. Philpott, 2d Sgt.
- F--t--- , 3d Sgt.
F. Burchet, 4th Sgt.
E. Crabtree, 1st Cpl.
W. W. Parker, 2d Cpl.
J. Holsopple, 3d Cpl.
A. Heldreth, 4th Cpl.
Ard, R. S.
Aberson, John
Braswell, H. D.
Burchett, R. A.
Barnes, W.
Barnes, J. M.
Barnes, Francis
Barton, B. P.
Berry, B. W.
Boston, G. W.
Barnes, James M.
Brooks, John
Bellen[w?], A.
Burk, John
Bradley, S. I.
Cogher, W. H.
Cowain, J. T.
Denton, John
Elder, John
Franklin, Jeff
Frost, F.
Franklin, I. M.
Franklin, Sheby
Gregry, John
Grayham, Durham
Grisham, O. H.
Guinn, S. T.
Horsup, John
Hickey, B[enson?]
Haynes, John
Holsopple, W.
Johnson, H.
Jones, John
Jones, T. S.
Kelly, Thomas
McGinas, J. H.
Moles, Hansel
Marchbanks, C.
McGee, J. M.
Orness[?], Silvers
Owens, J. B.
Pruet, Henry
Pagett, S. M.
Potter, M. A.
Petage, W. W.
Ritchinson, R. H.
Rumen[?], I.
Rigney, G. W.
Russel, Fount
Shelton, T. A
Smith, J. T.
Singleton, J. S.
Sharp, D. E.
Talent, I.
Taylor, John
Taylor, C. N.
Taylor, A. J.
Turpin[?], E-------
Troxdale, Granvill
Vaughn, G. B.
Vann, T. C.
Wheeler, Silas
Wade, John