22 Facts About Champ Ferguson

Samuel "Champ" Ferguson was a notorious Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War.

Champ Ferguson claimed to have killed over 100 Union soldiers and pro-Union civilians.

Champ Ferguson was arrested, tried, and executed for war crimes by the US military after the war ended.

Families were often divided; one of Champ Ferguson's brothers fought as a member of the Union's 1st Kentucky Cavalry and was killed in action.

Early in the war, Champ Ferguson organized a guerrilla company and began attacking any civilians that he believed supported the Union.

Champ Ferguson's men cooperated with Confederate military units led by Brig.

Champ Ferguson's men were seldom subject to military discipline and often violated the normal rules of war.

Champ Ferguson was said to be willing to kill elderly and bedridden men.

Champ Ferguson was once arrested by the Confederate authorities and charged with murdering a government official and was imprisoned for two months in Wytheville, Virginia.

At the war's end, Champ Ferguson disbanded his men and returned home to his farm.

Champ Ferguson's trial attracted national attention and soon became a major media event.

Just as Champ Ferguson had led a guerrilla band against any real or presumed Unionists, Beatty led a guerrilla band against any real or presumed Confederates.

Champ Ferguson acknowledged that his band had killed many of the victims named and said he had killed over 100 men himself.

Champ Ferguson insisted this conduct was simply part of his duty as a soldier.

On October 10,1865, Champ Ferguson was found guilty and sentenced to hang.

Champ Ferguson made a statement in response to the verdict:.

Champ Ferguson was hanged on October 20,1865, one of only three men to be tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes during the Civil War.

Champ Ferguson was buried in a comb grave in the France Cemetery north of Sparta, White County, Tennessee.

Champ Ferguson claimed nine of the men were killed in self-defense.

Champ Ferguson believed that one was committing murders and robbing private houses.

Champ Ferguson stated that he had been convicted of the murders of several men who were killed by other members of his group.

Champ Ferguson felt that his trial had been neither just nor fair.