2nd Alabama Cavalry
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
Quite a few years ago I found something extremely interesting which would have certainly involved my 3rd Great Grandfather, if only a witness, who served and fought in Company "B", 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, as part of Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade. Then, at the time of this incident, was comprised of the 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, the 56th Alabama Partisan Rangers, the 12th Regiment Mississippi Cavalry, the 11th Regiment Mississippi Cavalry and the 9th Regiment Mississippi Cavalry. This being during Sherman`s March from Atlanta to Savannah in November and December of 1864.
Soon after the war was brought to a close Capt. Frank R. King, who was the Company Commander of my 3rd Great Grandfather`s Company "B", 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, wrote a letter to the Federal authorities on 16 Jul 1865 from Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama, accusing his former Brigade Commander, Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson, of the crime of cold blooded and deliberate murder of Federal Prisoners, without even the shadow of a pretext.
I post a transcription of the letter below:
Montevallo, Ala. July 16th, 1865
Having been connected with the late Confederate Army I have the honor to respectfully submit to your consideration some facts connected with the history of one of the officers of that army, whose disregard of the common laws of humanity and the rules of civilized warfare, I consider my duty as the citizen of a Christian country to lay before the U. S. authorities.
The person to whom I allude is S. W. Ferguson, who formerly commanded a Cavalry Brigade and is now the resident of the State of S. Carolina. The crime which I charge against him is cold blooded and deliberate murder of Federal Prisoners, without even the shadow of a pretext.
During the fall Campaign of Maj. Genl. Sherman through the State of Georgia, a number of Federal Soldiers fell into the hands of Genl. Ferguson who without any higher authority than his own, caused many of these Prisoners to be carried off in a close distant manner and cruelly shot down. No less than ten Federal Prisoners were thus inhumanely murdered by his orders on one occasion, while many others besides these mentioned met their fate in a similar manner.
Nor did he desist in his diabolical course until a number of his subordinate officers being apprised of the facts sent to him their solemn and indignant protest. Coupled with a refusal to serve under him longer unless he can direct his warfare upon more just and humane principles.
The persons who are the witnesses of these executions perpetrated under Ferguson`s orders were members of the Brigade Provost Guards commanded by a Lt. W. C. Muldrow who resides in the State of Mississippi and who was present at the massacre and directed the affair in compliance with position orders from Genl. Ferguson.
Some of the Guards who persistently refused to fire upon the prisoners when ordered to do, were the first to make known the enormity, one of whom is a Mr. Frank Giovanni of Montgomery Ala. and who can furnish the names of many witnesses. Another is a Mr. L. D. Dock who resides near Montevallo, Ala.
Convinced that the author of such atrocities would not be allowed to go unnoticed if reported to the proper authorities, I deem it but right to lay the facts before you for your investigation, in order that the criminal may be made to feel the penalty of his guilt and held up to the scorn and ridicule of the civilized world.
I am very respectfully
your obedient servant,
Frank King, formerly
Capt. in Ferguson`s Brigade.
In the letter above you will notice the term "position orders" being used by Capt. King at one point. This makes reference to 'layering violations one atop another', as in his eyes the orders at this time issued by Brig. General Ferguson to kill captive Prisoners of War without even the shadow of a pretext, were orders to murder plain and simple, being acts against humanity and therefore violations. So when he would issue them consistently one after the other they were considered "position orders".
In as much, Samuel Wragg Ferguson all but confessed to these allegations much later in life when he was writing his memoirs. Below is how he understood things to be at the time according to his own perspective:
"the next morning (29 Oct 1864) I was ordered (General Hood) to turn back and command all the Cavalry in Georgia until General Wheeler, then on a raid, should return. I followed Sherman and picked up hundreds of prisoners, many of them stragglers out plundering, I have no idea how many of the latter class were killed on the spot for they were robbers and not entitled to the benefits of the rules of War."
So basically Brig. General S. W. Ferguson considered these men "stragglers out plundering" and "robbers" instead of prisoners of War who were captured as part of a foraging party. And then as Brig. General Ferguson states in his memoirs, "they were killed on the spot" being shot through the head with a pistol at close distance.
Which correlates with Capt. King`s account perfectly, substantiating what he claimed as being:
"a number of Federal Soldiers fell into the hands of Genl. Ferguson who without any higher authority than his own, caused many of these Prisoners to be carried off in a close distant manner and cruelly shot down."
Below is what Adjutant, 1st Lt. James M. Bullock, 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, testified about Capt. Frank R. King ("B" Troop) regarding his character during a Brigade inspection of the Regiment on 10 Jan 1865, while at Robertville, S.C. conducted by Capt. Ferry of General P. G. T. Beauregard`s staff:
"Of his gallantry I can hardly speak. Has not a decided character in that respect. Is in-attentive to his duty. Maintain`s his dignity. Morality and sobriety not good. Never saw him drunk, however, but once that I remember of. Has 15 to 25 or 30 men (effective). Aggregate 78. Has no reputation for attention to orders. Absent sick considerably. Complains a good deal of bad health. Is not under arrest."
The Confederate States Provost Guard:
The Provost Guard in Civil War Armies was roughly equivalent to today`s Military Police. Unlike the United States Army, the Confederacy did not create a separate provost department. Instead, it assigned officers, enlisted men and entire military units to Police duties for limited periods of time. The Articles of War adopted by the Confederacy "provided for provost marshals and for military courts to try army personnel charged with offenses against military law".
The provost marshals executed the orders of the military courts. In time, the provost guard performed a number of duties acting in his capacity of a military policeman. In lieu of a military court some times the commanding officer would pass sentence and then order the provost guards to carry out his sentence, such as being carried off and shot dead or being hanged for the crimes committed.
The provost marshal for Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade was 1st Lt. William Cannon Muldrow (1828 - 1900) of Company "H", Perrin`s Regiment of Mississippi Cavalry, which became designated as the 11th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment on 25 Mar 1865, remaining attached with Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade, under whom they had served since 4 Feb 1864 as Sherman`s Meridian Expedition was being initiated. 1st Lieut. William C. Muldrow, from Starkville, Oktibbeha, Mississippi was the older brother of Lt. Col. Henry Lowndes Muldrow (1837 - 1905) commanding Perrin`s Regiment of Mississippi Cavalry.
It was 1st Lt. William Cannon Muldrow (1828 - 1900) and the men under him acting as provost guards for Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade, who Capt. Frank R. King alleged in the above letter to have carried out the numerous executions of Federal Prisoners, ordered by Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson, during "Sherman`s Fall Campaign through Georgia" in November and December of 1864, better known as: "Sherman`s march from Atlanta to the sea" (Savannah).
The last action performed by 1st Lt. William Cannon Muldrow, as provost marshal of Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade, was during the late afternoon of 4 May 1865 while still a part of President Jefferson Davis` Personal Escort and Bodyguard, when he was ordered directly by Brig. General Ferguson to relieve Col. William Boyles of his duty of the 56th Alabama Cavalry Regiment and place him under arrest for refusing to march farther down the road to the camp of General Breckinridge to continue in the War effort, as he was convinced that he and all of the others in Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade were included in the Surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston to Maj. General William T. Sherman at Bennett House, Durham Station, North Carolina on 26 Apr 1865.
This occurring as Ferguson`s men were being paid out in Mexican Silver and Gold, at their camp 1 mile west of Washington, Georgia on the road to Madison. After which around Midnight he convened his Cavalry Brigade to try and reason with them, but only 80 of his command said that they would continue on at which time a couple of hours after midnight in the early hours of 5 May 1865 Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson was left with no other option but to disband his command. Soon after this Brig. General Ferguson stated in his Journal that 1st Lt. Muldrow disappeared and he did not see him again.
Lt. Col. Henry L. Muldrow, the younger brother of 1st Lt. William C. Muldrow also refused to move his command to the new camp as Perrin`s 11th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment was the first to be paid out and thusly the first ordered by Brig. General Ferguson to march to the new camp farther out on the Madison road 6 miles west of Washington, Georgia.
Even though my 3rd Great Grandfather was not ordered to take the Federal Prisoners off at a close distance and shoot them, that being the Provost Marshall and Guard`s duty and responsibility, he would have helped capture them as stragglers and foragers, but once apprehended they were turned over to the Provost Department of the Brigade. Even though he would not have executed anyone he would have been made a witness to the killings at the very least, as would all of the men of the Brigade.
The Federal Government chose not to follow up on the accusations levied against Samuel Wragg Ferguson, figuring it all a part of war and in the interest of healing the great rift between the north and the south they just dismissed the allegations.
The 3 page letter which Capt. Frank R. King wrote accusing Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson of the "actions" is housed at the Alabama Department of Archives and History and you may view it by following the link below.
http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/1947/rec/6
Soon after the war was brought to a close Capt. Frank R. King, who was the Company Commander of my 3rd Great Grandfather`s Company "B", 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, wrote a letter to the Federal authorities on 16 Jul 1865 from Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama, accusing his former Brigade Commander, Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson, of the crime of cold blooded and deliberate murder of Federal Prisoners, without even the shadow of a pretext.
I post a transcription of the letter below:
Montevallo, Ala. July 16th, 1865
Having been connected with the late Confederate Army I have the honor to respectfully submit to your consideration some facts connected with the history of one of the officers of that army, whose disregard of the common laws of humanity and the rules of civilized warfare, I consider my duty as the citizen of a Christian country to lay before the U. S. authorities.
The person to whom I allude is S. W. Ferguson, who formerly commanded a Cavalry Brigade and is now the resident of the State of S. Carolina. The crime which I charge against him is cold blooded and deliberate murder of Federal Prisoners, without even the shadow of a pretext.
During the fall Campaign of Maj. Genl. Sherman through the State of Georgia, a number of Federal Soldiers fell into the hands of Genl. Ferguson who without any higher authority than his own, caused many of these Prisoners to be carried off in a close distant manner and cruelly shot down. No less than ten Federal Prisoners were thus inhumanely murdered by his orders on one occasion, while many others besides these mentioned met their fate in a similar manner.
Nor did he desist in his diabolical course until a number of his subordinate officers being apprised of the facts sent to him their solemn and indignant protest. Coupled with a refusal to serve under him longer unless he can direct his warfare upon more just and humane principles.
The persons who are the witnesses of these executions perpetrated under Ferguson`s orders were members of the Brigade Provost Guards commanded by a Lt. W. C. Muldrow who resides in the State of Mississippi and who was present at the massacre and directed the affair in compliance with position orders from Genl. Ferguson.
Some of the Guards who persistently refused to fire upon the prisoners when ordered to do, were the first to make known the enormity, one of whom is a Mr. Frank Giovanni of Montgomery Ala. and who can furnish the names of many witnesses. Another is a Mr. L. D. Dock who resides near Montevallo, Ala.
Convinced that the author of such atrocities would not be allowed to go unnoticed if reported to the proper authorities, I deem it but right to lay the facts before you for your investigation, in order that the criminal may be made to feel the penalty of his guilt and held up to the scorn and ridicule of the civilized world.
I am very respectfully
your obedient servant,
Frank King, formerly
Capt. in Ferguson`s Brigade.
In the letter above you will notice the term "position orders" being used by Capt. King at one point. This makes reference to 'layering violations one atop another', as in his eyes the orders at this time issued by Brig. General Ferguson to kill captive Prisoners of War without even the shadow of a pretext, were orders to murder plain and simple, being acts against humanity and therefore violations. So when he would issue them consistently one after the other they were considered "position orders".
In as much, Samuel Wragg Ferguson all but confessed to these allegations much later in life when he was writing his memoirs. Below is how he understood things to be at the time according to his own perspective:
"the next morning (29 Oct 1864) I was ordered (General Hood) to turn back and command all the Cavalry in Georgia until General Wheeler, then on a raid, should return. I followed Sherman and picked up hundreds of prisoners, many of them stragglers out plundering, I have no idea how many of the latter class were killed on the spot for they were robbers and not entitled to the benefits of the rules of War."
So basically Brig. General S. W. Ferguson considered these men "stragglers out plundering" and "robbers" instead of prisoners of War who were captured as part of a foraging party. And then as Brig. General Ferguson states in his memoirs, "they were killed on the spot" being shot through the head with a pistol at close distance.
Which correlates with Capt. King`s account perfectly, substantiating what he claimed as being:
"a number of Federal Soldiers fell into the hands of Genl. Ferguson who without any higher authority than his own, caused many of these Prisoners to be carried off in a close distant manner and cruelly shot down."
Below is what Adjutant, 1st Lt. James M. Bullock, 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, testified about Capt. Frank R. King ("B" Troop) regarding his character during a Brigade inspection of the Regiment on 10 Jan 1865, while at Robertville, S.C. conducted by Capt. Ferry of General P. G. T. Beauregard`s staff:
"Of his gallantry I can hardly speak. Has not a decided character in that respect. Is in-attentive to his duty. Maintain`s his dignity. Morality and sobriety not good. Never saw him drunk, however, but once that I remember of. Has 15 to 25 or 30 men (effective). Aggregate 78. Has no reputation for attention to orders. Absent sick considerably. Complains a good deal of bad health. Is not under arrest."
The Confederate States Provost Guard:
The Provost Guard in Civil War Armies was roughly equivalent to today`s Military Police. Unlike the United States Army, the Confederacy did not create a separate provost department. Instead, it assigned officers, enlisted men and entire military units to Police duties for limited periods of time. The Articles of War adopted by the Confederacy "provided for provost marshals and for military courts to try army personnel charged with offenses against military law".
The provost marshals executed the orders of the military courts. In time, the provost guard performed a number of duties acting in his capacity of a military policeman. In lieu of a military court some times the commanding officer would pass sentence and then order the provost guards to carry out his sentence, such as being carried off and shot dead or being hanged for the crimes committed.
The provost marshal for Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade was 1st Lt. William Cannon Muldrow (1828 - 1900) of Company "H", Perrin`s Regiment of Mississippi Cavalry, which became designated as the 11th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment on 25 Mar 1865, remaining attached with Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade, under whom they had served since 4 Feb 1864 as Sherman`s Meridian Expedition was being initiated. 1st Lieut. William C. Muldrow, from Starkville, Oktibbeha, Mississippi was the older brother of Lt. Col. Henry Lowndes Muldrow (1837 - 1905) commanding Perrin`s Regiment of Mississippi Cavalry.
It was 1st Lt. William Cannon Muldrow (1828 - 1900) and the men under him acting as provost guards for Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade, who Capt. Frank R. King alleged in the above letter to have carried out the numerous executions of Federal Prisoners, ordered by Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson, during "Sherman`s Fall Campaign through Georgia" in November and December of 1864, better known as: "Sherman`s march from Atlanta to the sea" (Savannah).
The last action performed by 1st Lt. William Cannon Muldrow, as provost marshal of Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade, was during the late afternoon of 4 May 1865 while still a part of President Jefferson Davis` Personal Escort and Bodyguard, when he was ordered directly by Brig. General Ferguson to relieve Col. William Boyles of his duty of the 56th Alabama Cavalry Regiment and place him under arrest for refusing to march farther down the road to the camp of General Breckinridge to continue in the War effort, as he was convinced that he and all of the others in Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade were included in the Surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston to Maj. General William T. Sherman at Bennett House, Durham Station, North Carolina on 26 Apr 1865.
This occurring as Ferguson`s men were being paid out in Mexican Silver and Gold, at their camp 1 mile west of Washington, Georgia on the road to Madison. After which around Midnight he convened his Cavalry Brigade to try and reason with them, but only 80 of his command said that they would continue on at which time a couple of hours after midnight in the early hours of 5 May 1865 Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson was left with no other option but to disband his command. Soon after this Brig. General Ferguson stated in his Journal that 1st Lt. Muldrow disappeared and he did not see him again.
Lt. Col. Henry L. Muldrow, the younger brother of 1st Lt. William C. Muldrow also refused to move his command to the new camp as Perrin`s 11th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment was the first to be paid out and thusly the first ordered by Brig. General Ferguson to march to the new camp farther out on the Madison road 6 miles west of Washington, Georgia.
Even though my 3rd Great Grandfather was not ordered to take the Federal Prisoners off at a close distance and shoot them, that being the Provost Marshall and Guard`s duty and responsibility, he would have helped capture them as stragglers and foragers, but once apprehended they were turned over to the Provost Department of the Brigade. Even though he would not have executed anyone he would have been made a witness to the killings at the very least, as would all of the men of the Brigade.
The Federal Government chose not to follow up on the accusations levied against Samuel Wragg Ferguson, figuring it all a part of war and in the interest of healing the great rift between the north and the south they just dismissed the allegations.
The 3 page letter which Capt. Frank R. King wrote accusing Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson of the "actions" is housed at the Alabama Department of Archives and History and you may view it by following the link below.
http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/1947/rec/6
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