CAPT. CHAMP FERGUSON

Champ Ferguson was a recognized leader among the ranks of cavalrymen in the area of his home during the War Between the States; Clinton Co., and Wayne Co., KY; Fentress Co., Overton Co., and White Co.,TN. Albany, KY is a small town within the Cumberland Mountains, where Champ was born and lived growing up. The beautiful area sits within a very small valley in these mountains, and the farm land is very productive. He had been swindled in a business transaction by some men who lived in Fentress Co., TN. Ferguson wanting to reacquire his property, traveled to a camp meeting near the Lick River, and was attacked by a gang. After fighting them off, and stabbing one of them, Ferguson was brought up on charges of attemped murder and upon promise to join the Confederacy the case would be dropped. Most of Ferguson's neighbors in Clinton Co., KY, including his own family, were Union advocates and had deeply resented his taking up the Southern cause.
Thus, a group of eleven Unionist "Home Guardsmen" led by Lieutenant Elzy C. Smith, seeking vengeance for what they considered his betrayal, forced their way into Champ's home while he was away, and forced his wife and teenaged daughter to undress and cook a meal before them in this manner,then they proceded to drive the women down the public road in the nude!
When Champ returned to hear of this deed against his family, his anger knew no bounds, and he swore not only to track down and kill all eleven involved, he also swore to personally kill a 100 Yankees for for this crime against his family.
In January of 1862, the Battle of Mill Springs Ferguson was noted to have been attached to Captain William S. Bledsoe's Cavalry, CSA. Champ was one of the best known Confederate leaders on the Cumberland Pleatu.
Champ Ferguson was commissioned in April of 1862, as a Captain in the Confederate service which would later be stolen from his home in 1862 by Yankee soldiers.
As early as March of 1862, John Hunt Morgan's Cavalry were acting with Champ Ferguson in Fentress Co., seeking out Unionist guerrillas and Homeguardsmen there.
In January of 1862, the Battle of Mill Springs was fought in an area outside of Somerset, KY, before the battle Morgan's Men crowded around to meet the man they had heard so much about, namely "Captain Champ Ferguson"! Ferguson was already famous for his tools of war, which were a Colt revolver and a Bowie knife.
Champ was associated with General Morgan's many times. As Ferguson laid the route for both of Morgan's "First and Second KY Raids",and he laid the return route for the "Christmas Raid". By this time Champ had killed a good many Unionist and Federal soldiers. He had a reputation for not taking prisoners (though this is not entirely true). By 1863, Ferguson was working in close with the John Hunt Morgan. During Morgan's "Great Raid" into Indiana and Ohio, (July 1863), Champ himself raided all the way to Bardstown, KY. In August of 1863, Champ and his command joined with the 8th TN Cavalry (CSA)in a skirmish against a brigade of Federals near Sparta, TN.
Champ Ferguson actually even maintained equal footing with the Federal Army in 1864 after General Braxton Bragg's Army was driven from TN into GA, leaving independent cavalry units alone in TN to defend for themselves. On Feb. 22, 1864, Ferguson, with 40 men ambushed 80 Federals with Col. Stokes in command in what is known as the Battle of Dug Hill. Champ Ferguson is mentioned again in the Official Records on July 15th, as leading a party of guerrillas who drove off 500 U.S. horses near Kingston,TN. In August of 1864, Champ linked up with General Joseph Wheeler, and was not with General Wheeler more than a month before he and his men were ordered to report to General Breckenridge.
In October, 1864, Ferguson and his command took part in the controversial Battle of Saltville. soon afterward Champ caught up with the eleventh man of his vendetta, Lt. Elzy C. Smith, who was wounded at the Battle of Saltville. Champ found Smith lying on a hospital cot, and after asking him where he wanted it, shot Smith once in the head. On May 23rd, 1865, after negotiating with Col. Blackburn, Champ Ferguson and his men surrendered. Three days later Federal soldiers came to Champ's farm and arrested, and he was taken to prison for "war crimes". From July 11th to October 19th In a very one-sided trial Champ, was found guilty of 53 "murders" (it is claimed he killed twice that number, and that he himself could not recall the exact number), and on Friday, October 20th, 1865 an order of execution by hanging was carried out. As the executioner took his place Champs last words were "Lord have mercy on me i pray you" and the door was droped, thue ending the the life of the grim chieftain of the Cumberland Highlands.