Champ Ferguson’s Muster Roll
contributed by John German (no contact information or date); similar article found posted by the Tennessee Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans (via the Internet Archive)
Captain Champ Ferguson, CSA — contributed by John German
A muster roll of Champ Ferguson’s company was “captured” near Ferguson’s White County home in August of 1864 by a Union force commanded by Captain Rufus Dowdy.
After the war, at Ferguson’s trial, Dowdy testified, “I got hold of some blanks in form of a muster roll and payroll with some names written on it. I got it out there in the woods near Ferguson’s house… It was in a box packed up in the hollow of a chestnut tree. The box was held up by some poles punched up the hollow of the tree, and when the boys pulled the poles out the box fell down… I found three sheets or I and some others did.”
Dowdy did not know who got the other two sheets, but now having made his own peace with Ferguson, Dowdy gave his sheet to Ferguson’s lawyers. This muster roll, labeled, “Document ‘P'”, is attached to the trial case file at the National Archives.
According to the roll, all members of the company were enlisted on Nov. 19th ’62 in Overton Co. for a period of 3 years; Ferguson was enlisted by John H. Morgan and all others by Ferguson.
The handwriting, which is not Ferguson’s, is difficult to decipher, and some of the names have been obliterated by folding and deterioration:
| Name | Rank | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Champ Fergerson | Capt. | |
| H. W. Sublet | 1st Lieut. | |
| A. H. Foster | 2nd Lieut. | |
| W. R. Latham | 3rd Lieut. | |
| G. W. Twiford | O.S. | |
| R. H. Philpott | 2nd Serg. | |
| – F–t— | 3rd Serg. | |
| F. Burchet | 4th Serg. | |
| E. Crabtree | 1st Corp. | |
| W. W. Parker | 2nd Corp. | |
| J. Holsopple | 3rd Corp. | |
| A. Heldreth | 4th Corp. | |
| Ard, R. S. | Private | |
| Aberson, John | “ | |
| Braswell, H. D. | “ | |
| Burchett, R. A. | “ | Killed in Wayne Co., Ky. Jan. 21, 1863 |
| Barnes, W. | “ | |
| Barnes, J. M. | “ | Killed in Wayne Co., Ky. Jan. 21, 1863 |
| Barnes, Francis | “ | |
| Barton, B. P. | “ | |
| Berry, B. W. | “ | |
| Boston, G. W. | “ | Killed in Wayne Co., Ky. Jan. 21, 1863 |
| Barnes, James M. | “ | |
| Brooks, John | “ | |
| Bellen[w?], A. | “ | |
| Burk, John | “ | |
| Bradley, S. I. | “ | |
| Cogher, W. H. | “ | Killed in Jackson Co., Tenn. Decmb. 1st, 1862 |
| 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 | “ | Killed in Overton Co., Tenn. Feb. 1st, 1863 |
| Hickey, B[enson?] | “ | |
| Haynes, John | “ | |
| Holsopple, W. | “ | |
| Johnson, H. | “ | Killed in Wayne Co., Ky. Jan. 21, 1863 |
| 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. | “ | Killed in Wayne Co., Ky. Feb. 12th, 1863 |
| 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 | “ |
At the trial, Captain Dowdy offered these additional comments about this roster:
Here is Sublett, one who was represented as First Lieutenant. Abner Hildreth, 4th Corporal, was one of my neighbors; I understand him to be one of Ferguson’s men.
Richard Burchett is represented on the roll as being killed in June, 1863, in Wayne County, Kentucky, when in fact he was killed in October, 1862, in Clinton County, Kentucky. I was along when he was killed. Burchett was killed before Ferguson appears in the roll as having been mustered, and such is my recollection.
I knew J. T. Smith who is represented on this roll as having been killed about July 12, 1863; I understood him to be one of Ferguson’s men.
I know A. H. Foster; he was regarded as Second Lieutenant in Ferguson’s company.
I also know W. R. Latham who is put down as Third Lieutenant; he was regarded as a Lieutenant in Ferguson’s company.
G. W. Twifford told me he was Orderly Sergeant.
I knew Philpot; he belonged to Ferguson’s company.
Some few of the men I didn’t know. Most of them I do know and they were reported belonging to Ferguson’s company.