2020-09 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2020
Champ Ferguson (1821-1865) was a notorious Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War. He claimed to have killed over 100 Union soldiers and pro-Union civilians. He was arrested, tried, and executed for war crimes by the US government after the war. At the war's end, Ferguson disbanded his men and returned home to his farm. As soon as the Union troops learned of his return, they arrested him and took him to Nashville, where he was tried by a military court for 53 murders. Ferguson's trial attracted national attention and soon became a major media event. One of Ferguson's main adversaries on the Union side, David "Tinker Dave" Beatty, testified against him. Ferguson acknowledged that his band had killed many of the victims named and said he had killed over 100 men himself. He insisted this conduct was simply part of his duty as a soldier. On October 10, 1865, Ferguson was found guilty and sentenced to hang. Small group of period documents pertaining to Jonathan Hale (1817-1896) a staunch Union man from Tennessee, who joined the Federal forces and was the Chief of Scouts for the Union Army of the Cumberland under Generals Rosecrans and George Thomas. He would be a lead witness in the trial of Champ Ferguson. Group includes: Manuscript Document, 3pp. folio, State of Tennessee, being the plea and answer of JD Hale to the bill of complaint by W. McHenry, and reads in small part: "...This Deft has come to remember one of complainants exploits, referring to his coming many miles inside of the Federal lines and gathering the cutthroats Champ Ferguson & Al Hamilton & surrounding the dwelling of this Deft for the purpose of murdering this Defendant and at the same time robing him & his family of horses, mules & clothing...This defendant is advised & believed that complainant during the year 1864 did harbor & conceal a notorious rebel Guerilla in the town & post of Carthage..." More. Fine condition....plus; Autograph Letter by Hale to General Whipple, 4pp. folio, which reads in small part: "...my property was destroyed by Rebels set on hound on by haters of the very name of Yankee...The charge of 'Malic' comes with a bad grace from Alvan Cullom as he hunted me with Ferguson & was with the band who stole my horses & mules....Cullom & Copeland were both members of the community who issued Col. Horace Maynard the privilege of making a Union speech in the tow of Livingston in May 1861. I heard Cullom say to Mr. Maynard 'The time for discussion was past' Their sons had enlisted in the Confederate army & all must go together...At the end of the war I am left with a large family to support & nothing but some land lying in the haunts of those who destroyed my property & who will try & destroy me again...." Plus several other documents related to Jonathan Hales' compensation claims, including a lengthy list of his property and the Pro Union neighbors who had been run off their land by the guerrillas. Fine condition.
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