Georgia 3rd Battalion Sharpshooters

[mhscogin]

My 4th great grandfather, James Sanders Ferguson was in this regiment. I am not sure if he was company F or company C. HIs muster roll photo is hard to distuinguish. Any info on this unit, its role in the wheatfield at Gettysburg, or him in particular will greatly help. Great news Fellow ACW buffs! the field trip made! Myself and 6 chaperones will be bringing 40 hisotry hungry teenagers to Gettysburg in the spring! Cannot wait. I want walk in the wheatfield where my ancestor fought

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Believe you are referring to the 3rd. Battalion of GA Sharpshooters, formed in Spring, '63.

The below link has a chronological summary of this unit's activities during the CW:-

History of the 3rd Georgia Sharpshooter Battalion in the Civil War

History of the 3rd Georgia Sharpshooter Battalion in the American Civil War, with timeline of important events, battles and movements

civilwarintheeast.com

A more detailed account of the unit's actions in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg can be found in the memoirs of Maj. William E. Simmons - see 'Confederate Sharpshooter Major William E. Simmons: Through the War with the 16th Georgia Infantry and the 3rd Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters' by Joseph Byrd IV, @ Chapter 12.

As the above work mentions (@ p. 81), the battalion sharpshooters served as pickets, scouts and advanced skirmishers and often, they were handpicked men.

The above work also contains the unit roster and Sharpshooter Company C shows the following entry (@ p. 238) for Pvte. James S. Ferguson:-

...'Enlisted at Center Hill, Georgia (Jackson County), 17 July 1861. Private, Company B (Center Hill Guards), 16th. Georgia Infantry Regiment. Transferred to Company C, 3rd. Battalion Georgia Sharphooters 1 May 1864. Wounded at the Wilderness 6 May 1864. Admitted to CSA Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia 12 May 1864. Furloughed for sixty days 24 May 1864. On wounded furlough 26 February 1865. No later record.'...

From the above information, it appears that Pvte. Ferguson belonged to the the 16th GA Infantry at the time of Gettysburg. (Both the 16th. GA Infantry and the 3rd. Battalion of GA Sharpshooters were part of Wofford's Georgia brigade at Gettysburg).

 

[mhscogin]

thank you so very much

 

[rpkennedy]

Paging @lelliott19. Your expertise is needed.

Ryan

 

[RedRover]

My 4th great grandfather, James Sanders Ferguson was in this regiment. I am not sure if he was company F or company C. HIs muster roll photo is hard to distuinguish. Any info on this unit, its role in the wheatfield at Gettysburg, or him in particular will greatly help. Great news Fellow ACW buffs! the field trip made! Myself and 6 chaperones will be bringing 40 hisotry hungry teenagers to Gettysburg in the spring! Cannot wait. I want walk in the wheatfield where my ancestor fought

There has been some confusion relative to the service of this soldier, in some published compilations based on the compiled service records at the National Archives. To explain.

James S. Ferguson's surviving military records references were compiled in the post-war decades into three separate files, for "J.S." Ferguson and "James S." Ferguson" of the 16th Georgia Volunteers, and James S. Ferguson of the 3rd Battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters (his name was occasionally mispelled as "Fergerson" on unit rolls, etc.). The three files can be seen here...

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/163510163

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/165640204

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/163510583

Now, the problem seems to be that combined in these files are record relative to two different men of the 16th Georgia. One is James S. Ferguson who enlisted in July, 1861 in the "Centre Hill Guards," which served as Company B, 16th Georgia Volunteers, and who transferred to Co. C, 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters in mid-1863 upon the organization of that unit (J.S.F. is shown on the first roll for that battalion, from May-June, 1863).

The other, or second chap is one "J.S. Ferguson" enlisted in Company D, 16th Georgia in Danielsville, GA, on April 20 1864, and never did any service with either Company B (in spite of the compilers references, caused by the misfiling of some records of John Ferguson of Co. B in his file) or the 3rd GA Sharpshooters.

The James S. Ferguson who served in Co. B, 16th/Co C 3rd Sharpshooters apparently died in June, 1864. The other J.S. Ferguson of Co. D, 16th remained in service into 1865.


Company C of the 3rd GA Sharpshooters was composed in early 1863 of men detailed from the 16th Georgia:

The "lost" battalion - 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters | Regimental Histories

It is my understanding that it was only in recent years that the Gettysburg National Military Park historians recognized the 3rd Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters as being a separate unit that fought at Gettysburg; it was part of Brig. Gen. William T. Wofford's Georgia brigade. (The unit still...

civilwartalk.com

More of the confusion, relative to the two Fergusons of the 16th Georgia (in some publications) might be, because while the James S. of Co. B, and Co. C of the 3rd Sharpshooters, was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, apparently the other J.S. serving with Co. D, 16th was wounded about the same time. But while the James S. of the 3rd Sharpshooters died of his injuries at home in June, 1864, the other fellow continued in service, with the 16th, and was wounded again, lastly in early 1865, etc.

The fact that James S. Ferguson of Co. B, 16th Georgia is one and the same with the man of the same name in the 3rd GA Sharpshooters after mid-1863 is evidenced by the statements by his widow, Mary T. Ferguson, in her Confederate widows pension records. She was unaware of his official transfer to Co. C, 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters, and yet referred to him as with Co. B, 16th Georgia (with whom he served 1861-63), explaining that he died of his wounds received at the Wilderness while at home on furlough in June, 1864:

CONTENTdm

vault.georgiaarchives.org

All that said, going through the cards, this seems to be the Basic history of James S. Ferguson of Company B, 16th Georgia Volunteers 1861-63, and Company C, 3rd Battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters, 1863-64:

James S. Ferguson enlisted in the Centre Hill Guards, serving as Company B, 16th Georgia Volunteer Infantry CSA in July 17, 1861. Apparently no muster rolls survive (the compiled record for him with Co. B, 16th being principally from other records), but his muster rolls with the 3rd GA Sharpshooters confirm he was a "Centre Hill" guardsman from July 17, 1861...

Some information on the 16th Georgia's wartime service:

History of the 16th Georgia Infantry Regiment in the Civil War

History of the 16th Georgia Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War, with timeline of important events, battles and movements.

civilwarintheeast.com

As of June 1, 1862 he was absent, having been sent to a hospital at Richmond...

Cobb's Georgia Brigade, including the 16th Georgia was camped and fortified at Warwick Creek dams in the Spring of 1862. There was a battle there on April 16, 1862, and although the above record does not specify that he was wounded, it appears to suggest he was in the Battle at Dam no. 2 and sent to Richmond to a hospital clearly insinuating he was absent from wounds relative to that battle (as proven given his outfit had evacuated that area nearly a month before the above record was recorded in June).

He was admitted to Camp Winder General Hospital at Richmond September 4, 1862, for "Feb. Remitt" for febris remittent, or remittent fever.

And he was in hospital apparently through much of the winter, but returned to duty in February, 1863...

Shortly after, the 3rd battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters was formed about April, 1863 from among men drawn from the regiments of Gen. William Wofford's Georgia Brigade, including the 16th Georgia. Here is some information on the battalion, including notice that Company C of the 3rd BN GA S.S. was formed of officers and men selected from the 16th Georgia Volunteers particularly... apparently including Pvt. Ferguson.

The "lost" battalion - 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters | Regimental Histories

It is my understanding that it was only in recent years that the Gettysburg National Military Park historians recognized the 3rd Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters as being a separate unit that fought at Gettysburg; it was part of Brig. Gen. William T. Wofford's Georgia brigade. (The unit still...

civilwartalk.com

As is noted above, the 3rd Battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters is poorly documented, outside of its muster rolls, as many of the individuals serving with it continued to refer to their original units in other documents.

And apparently the 3rd Battalion of GA Sharpshooters was already formed during the Battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863...

The "lost" battalion - 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters | Regimental Histories

It is my understanding that it was only in recent years that the Gettysburg National Military Park historians recognized the 3rd Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters as being a separate unit that fought at Gettysburg; it was part of Brig. Gen. William T. Wofford's Georgia brigade. (The unit still...

civilwartalk.com

Regarding his service in the period of the Battle of Gettysburg, during May-June, 1863 Private Ferguson was recorded on the roll of the 3rd GA Sharpshooters absent without leave. In the muster roll for July-August, 1863 there is no notation of his status, whether present or absent.

[Edit: in one of the J.S. Ferguson files, is a record of a hospitalization in June-August, 1863, but the card header says "Jno." instead of "Jas." so is another misfile apparently, and related to in fact Pvt. John Ferguson of B, 16th GA.). See posts no. 7 and 8 of this thread.]

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/163510583?objectPage=9

Regarding the 16th Georgia and 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters about the Wheatfield at Gettysburg on July 2, here is some interesting material and maps...

Confederate Tends to Wounded Federal Near the Wheatfield | Gettysburg

It was probably on the night of July 2 when Private W. B. Wofford of Company A, 3rd Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters was posted in a strip of woods that defined the western border of the Wheatfield, and where he encountered a wounded Federal soldier. Many years later he wrote: "I want to find a...

civilwartalk.com

Col. Batchelder's map shows the general movement of Wofford's Georgians in their attack on the evening of July 2 (which I have marked in green over the vague red arrows of the original). They advanced through the Pitzer woods, and across the Emittsburg road, and attacked along and south of the modern Wheatfield road to the base of Little Round top...

Map of the battlefield of Gettysburg. July 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1863

Scale 1:12,000. LC Civil War Maps (2nd ed.), 326 New edition 1883, Positions of troops compiled by John B. Bachelder, 1876. This edition lacks any statement of publication, printing, or engraving. Available also through the Library of Congress web site as raster image. Description derived from...

www.loc.gov

About something like this per Batchelder...

There are markers and monuments on the battlefield regarding Wofford's Georgian's movements...

Monument to Wofford's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg

Monument to Wofford's Georgia Brigade of Mclaws' Division of the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg, with photo, text from the monument and map

gettysburg.stonesentinels.com

Following the Gettysburg campaign roll of the 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters for Sept.-Oct., 1863 shows Pvt. Ferguson was out of the hospital and present with Company C. The battalion moved west with Longstreet's corps in September, 1863, but missed the Battle of Chickamauga, joining Bragg's army shortly afterward, but participated in the siege of Chattanooga and campaign in East Tennessee, including the bloody battle of Fort Sanders at Knoxville, on Nov. 29, 1863, and thereabouts threatening Knoxville into early 1864...

From Lt. Montgomery of Company F:

More history of the 3rd Battalion Sharpshooters might be found in the published diary and letters of Lt. Montgomery:

The battalion with Wofford's brigade and the rest of Longstreet's corps rejoined Lee's Army in the spring, and Pvt. Ferguson of Co. C, was yet shown as present through May 6, 1864 when he was wounded in action at the Battle of the Wilderness...

On May 12, 1864 he was received at the General receiving hospital at Charlottesville, for gunshot wounds (vulnus sclopet). On May 22 he received a furlough for 60 days.

No further military record.

However, his widow Mary T. Ferguson explained many years later in her pension claims, that upon returning home to Georgia, Pvt. Ferguson died of complications to his wounds, which had been received in his head, on June 3, 1864:

More of the history of the 3rd Battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters might be gleaned from some letters by Milton Barrett, of the 3rd GA Sharpshooters, included in this collection...

Relative to the OTHER "J.S. Ferguson" who served with the 16th Georgia Infantry during 1864-65, but in Company D, as mentioned he enlisted in Company D, for 3 years in April 20, 1864, he ALSO was wounded by gunshot in May, 1864 and hospitalized, admitted at Charlottesville hospital May 12, but furloughed from from June 23, 1864 (20 days after the other, assigned to the 3rd sharpshooters, had died at home on June 3)...

This chap returned to duty apparently, and was again shown given a furlough for wounds from November 8, 1864. And he was wounded again on January 26, 1865(!), and on furlough as of Feb. 1, 1865. No further military record.

 

[lelliott19]

I understand that you are planning a Spring trip to Gettysburg and would like to walk in the footsteps of your ancestor's unit. And that you believe your ancestor James S. Ferguson served in the 3d Battalion GA Sharpshooters. From @RedRover 's post, I also understand that there may be some confusion about which J S Ferguson is actually your ancestor - whether the one in Company B 16th Georgia and Company C of 3d Battalion SS ---- or perhaps the one in Company D 16th Georgia.

Let me assure you that no matter which one is your ancestor, there is ONE Gettysburg National Military Park Licensed Battlefield Guide who can give you all the details on the 3d Battalion SS and/or the 16th Georgia. That is @pmuskett . Both the 3d Battalion SS and the 16th Georgia were in Wofford's brigade and there is no one more knowledgeable to guide on Wofford's brigade than Phillip. He worked with me on the research for an article on Wofford's brigade at Gettysburg that was recently published in Gettysburg Magazine. I've been working on the brigade for more than a decade and Phillip's help was invaluable. If you want to want know what happened with Wofford's brigade, you really must engage Phillip to guide for your group. No matter which J S Ferguson and no matter which regiment you want to know about.

Brig Gen William Tatum Wofford hand picked the best marksmen to serve in the 3d Battalion Sharpshooters at/near the end of April, 1863. In a letter dated April 28, 1863, Wofford explained the proposed organization of his new SS Battalion to Maj Gen Lafayette McLaws' Adjutant General, Maj James M Goggins. Wofford defined the strength of each Company of the new Sharpshooter Battalion as 53 men and confirmed that one company was to be selected from each of the regiments of his brigade -- except the 16th Georgia, from which TWO companies would be selected. Many of the companies were pretty small already. In the 16th Georgia, Company B aka Centre Hill Guards had 90 men; Company D 16th aka Danielsville Guard had 103 men.

I understand that your ancestor was James S Ferguson. As @RedRover detailed above, the issue lies in the fact that there were TWO different men named J S Ferguson - James S Ferguson was in Co B (Jackson County) and the other is recorded as serving in Co D (Madison County). To make matters worse, there was also a John Ferguson who served in Company B Centre Hill Guards (Jackson County)

Luckily, there is some clarity to be found based on enlistment dates and so forth. @RedRover has done a good job of outlining it in his post above. If you can provide the birth and death dates for your ancestor and the county of residence at enlistment, it can probably be an open and shut case. I tend to think your ancestor is the James S Ferguson who was one of the original enlistees in Company B aka Centre Hill Guards under Captain Abner Monroe Reynolds in Jackson County and was selected to serve in Company C, 3d Battalion Sharpshooters. I base this one this newspaper article I call the original Muster Roll of the Centre Hill Guards. It names the men who enlisted at the very beginning. They boarded the train July 18, 1861 at Athens and arrived in Richmond a few days later.

There are two versions of this "original Muster Roll." Since each one includes details not included in the other - full names vs initials. Middle initials and so forth, I've included both versions. If your ancestor is the James S Ferguson who served in Company B 16th Georgia and was then transferred to C of 3d Battn SS, he was one of the original enlistees. Meaning he was in from the beginning. See his name included below on both versions of the "Original Muster Roll" of the Centre Hill Guards - which became Company B, 16th Georgia Infantry.

Do you happen to know if your James S Ferguson was a Mason? Abner Monroe Reynolds was Master of the Rockwell Masonic Lodge and most of the members of the Centre Hill Guards (B/16thGA) were Masons. Or the sons of Masons. On June 24, 1861, at the regular monthly lodge meeting, the men expressed their intent to join the Confederate army and each man enrolled his name right there at the Masonic Lodge. It was upstairs in the old Rockwell School. They chose the name Centre Hill Guards. Once in Richmond, them men elected Abner Reynolds their Captain and became Company B of the 16th Georgia Infantry.

 

[lelliott19]

However, the Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond has on hand Pvt. James S. Ferguson, listed under "Co. B, 16th Georgia" (the unit from which he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion)... that he was admitted to Chimborazo on June 22, 1863 for diarrhea, and he remained there until transferred to Camp Winder on August 18, 1863. So he was apparently not at Gettysburg, but sick at Chimborazo Hospital.

The above apparently explains first, that he was apparently sick in hospital at Chimborazo during the Battle of Gettysburg.

@RedRover I don't think we can assume James S Ferguson missed Gettysburg. This card may be filed with J S Ferguson, but the name is clearly Jno Ferguson - Jno for John. There was also a man named John Ferguson in Co B/16th GA. He arrived in August 1861 and carded records show he received commutation of rations for Aug 13-19, 1861. Which means John Ferguson of B/16GA didn't arrive on the train with the original enlistees. John Ferguson is listed as one of the slightly later recruits published in the Southern Banner. (Athens, GA), August 28, 1861, 2. <See below> So this card, recording Jno Ferguson at Chimborazo in June 1863 and transferred to Winder Hospital Aug 18, 1863, is for JOHN Ferguson - not James S Ferguson. That means it's entirely possible that James S Ferguson was indeed present at the battle of Gettysburg.

Southern Banner. (Athens, GA), August 28, 1861, 2.

 

[RedRover]

@RedRover I don't think we can assume James S Ferguson missed Gettysburg. This card may be filed with J S Ferguson, but the name is clearly Jno Ferguson - Jno for John. There was also a man named John Ferguson in Co B/16th GA. He arrived in August 1861 and carded records show he received commutation of rations for Aug 13-19, 1861. Which means John Ferguson of B/16GA didn't arrive on the train with the original enlistees. John Ferguson is listed as one of the slightly later recruits published in the Southern Banner. (Athens, GA), August 28, 1861, 2. <See below> So this card, recording Jno Ferguson at Chimborazo in June 1863 and transferred to Winder Aug 18, 1863, is for JOHN Ferguson - not James S Ferguson. That means it's entirely possible that James S Ferguson was indeed present at the battle of Gettysburg.

Southern Banner. (Athens, GA), August 28, 1861, 2.

You are correct!
I just presumed it was "Jas." but I must conclude it does indeed say "Jno." of Company B, and in fact to prove your observation there's another record in JOHN Ferguson's file relative to his hospitalization that summer, completely corresponding. So the two combined show certainly the Pvt. JOHN Ferguson of Co. B of the 16th was not present at Gettysburg...

John Ferguson's file:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/163510171

In other words, a couple of the hospital records of John Ferguson of Company B, 16th Georgia (1861-), marked "J." or "Jno." appear misfiled in the file of J.S. Ferguson of Company D (1864-65).

And as you mention, this shows that Private James S. Fergusons' (tr. to Co. C, 3rd Sharpshooters) whereabouts in July-August, 1863 relative to the 3rd GA Sharpshooters muster roll for that period, are unknown, since it did not record any notice of his disposition.

I am inclined to go back and correct my previous post. Simply so as not to add to the confusion regarding Private Ferguson!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It appears that the roster for Co. B, 16th GA Infantry shows the below names for two different soldiers:-

Pvte. James S. Ferguson (who seems to have had a dual listing on the rolls of both Co. B and Co. D for the 16th GA, and who transferred to Co. C, 3rd Bttn. GA SS, in 1864, as mentioned previously).
&
Pvte. John Ferguson (who enlisted on Aug. 13, '61, and was admitted to General Hospital at Camp Winder, Richmond, VA, with acute diarrhoea on Aug. 18, '63. He returned to duty on Sep. 12, '63, but there is no later record).

(See https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89059402289&seq=511 @ p. 495 & p. 512).

Interestingly, the NPS listing of paroled soldiers of the AoNV who were paroled at Appomattox Court House in April, 1865 includes an entry for Pvte. Phillip H. Ferguson, Co. D, 16th GA Infantry (see https://www.nps.gov/apco/learn/historyculture/paroled-soldiers-f-l.htm ) but this name cannot be verified from the regimental roster. There is also an apparent 'Find-a-Grave' listing for him at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178553917/philip-henry-ferguson which also indicates he may have been a sibling of James S. Ferguson (or Furgerson).

 

[RedRover]

It appears that the roster for Co. B, 16th GA Infantry shows the below names for two different soldiers:-

Pvte. James S. Ferguson (who seems to have had a dual listing on the rolls of both Co. B and Co. D for the 16th GA, and who transferred to Co. C, 3rd Bttn. GA SS, in 1864, as mentioned previously).
&
Pvte. John Ferguson (who enlisted on Aug. 13, '61, and was admitted to General Hospital at Camp Winder, Richmond, VA, with acute diarrhoea on Aug. 18, '63. He returned to duty on Sep. 12, '63, but there is no later record).

(See https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89059402289&seq=511 @ p. 495 & p. 512).

Those are some of the compilations which have erred in their conclusions that James S. Ferguson was yet in service in 1865, etc., This was apparent given the interfiling of records for Jas. S. Ferguson of Co. B (enl. 1861 to 1863), and J.S. Ferguson of Co. D (enl. 1864-1864) (and some of John Ferguson of Co. B's Records are in those of J.S. of Co. D.) in the compiled service records.

A review and sorting of the record cards in the original Compiled service records shows the roster writers linked using these records erred in combining James S. (Co. B, 16th) and J.S. (Co. D, 16th). James S. was not in service in 1865, as the compilers state, because he died in June, 1864 (widow pension) from wounds received while serving with the 3rd Sharpshooters. The J.S. of Co. D, 16th did not die in June, and is the man shown wounded in early 1865.

 

[lelliott19]

Interestingly, the NPS listing of paroled soldiers of the AoNV who were paroled at Appomattox Court House in April, 1865 includes an entry for Pvte. Phillip H. Ferguson, Co. D, 16th GA Infantry but this name cannot be verified from the regimental roster.

Phillip Henry Ferguson was born September 22, 1844. He originally enlisted in D/16th GA on August 5, 1861 as a musician. He was discharged for being underage. He returned March 18, 1863 and was among the remnants of the regiment surrendered at Appomattox. His carded records are filed under Phillip H Furgerson. I believe he was the brother of the J S Ferguson who enlisted in Company D in April 1864. He is not related to the James S Ferguson of the OP. Or at least not closely related.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Those are some of the compilations which have erred in their conclusions that James S. Ferguson was yet in service in 1865, etc., This was apparent given the interfiling of records for Jas. S. Ferguson of Co. B (enl. 1861 to 1863), and J.S. Ferguson of Co. D (enl. 1864-1864) (and some of John Ferguson of Co. B's Records are in those of J.S. of Co. D.) in the compiled service records.

A review and sorting of the record cards in the original Compiled service records shows the roster writers linked using these records erred in combining James S. (Co. B, 16th) and J.S. (Co. D, 16th). James S. was not in service in 1865, as the compilers state, because he died in June, 1864 (widow pension) from wounds received while serving with the 3rd Sharpshooters. The J.S. of Co. D, 16th did not die in June, and is the man shown wounded in early 1865.

Thanks. The below appears to be the 'Find-a-Grave' listing for the James S. Ferguson who died in June, 1864:-

James Sanders Ferguson (1829-1864) - Find a Grave...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Phillip Henry Ferguson was born September 22, 1844. He originally enlisted in D/16th GA on August 5, 1861 as a musician. He was discharged for being underage. He returned March 18, 1863 and was among the remnants of the regiment surrendered at Appomattox. His carded records are filed under Phillip H Furgerson. I believe he was the brother of the J S Ferguson who enlisted in Company D in April 1864. He is not related to the James S Ferguson of the OP. Or at least not closely related.

Thanks for the extra clarification on Phillip Henry Ferguson.

 

[mhscogin]

Gentlemen, Words cannot express the gratitude I have for both of for this information. I am using this in a presentation to my students and the field trip participants. A common relative who I have talked to on Ancestry confirmed that family lore matches the story given by his widow. He apparently died sitting in the shade of some type of fruit tree while on furlough after his wounding at the Wilderness. As far as being a mason, I do not have a definitive answer, however, most of the men in both sides of my family, in particular my mother's side. were masons. I myself am a 3rd degree mason. James comes from my mother's side.

 

[lelliott19]

Gentlemen, Words cannot express the gratitude I have for both of for this information. I am using this in a presentation to my students and the field trip participants. A common relative who I have talked to on Ancestry confirmed that family lore matches the story given by his widow. He apparently died sitting in the shade of some type of fruit tree while on furlough after his wounding at the Wilderness. As far as being a mason, I do not have a definitive answer, however, most of the men in both sides of my family, in particular my mother's side. were masons. I myself am a 3rd degree mason. James comes from my mother's side.

Great news! It sounds like your James Sanders Ferguson's birth and death dates align with the James S Ferguson who originally enlisted in Captain Abner Monroe Reynolds company, the Centre Hill Guards. Most of the members of the Centre Hill Guards (B/16thGA) were Masons - or the sons of Masons - and many of them initially enrolled their names at the regular Masonic lodge meeting, June 24, 1861 at the old Rockwell School. On July 18, 1861, the 74 original enlistees boarded the train at Athens bound for Richmond. They set up camp at the reservoir (near Hollywood cemetery) when they arrived in Richmond. Abner Reynolds was elected Captain and his little company of Masons became Company B of the 16th Georgia Infantry. The 34 new recruits joined them in August, bringing their number to 108.

As it turned out, your ancestor was among the best marksmen of the regiment. On April 28, 1863, he was handpicked by Brigadier General William Tatum Wofford to serve in Co C of the new Sharpshooter Battalion. A few days later, Wofford's new unit the 3d Battalion Sharpshooters, went into action for the first time in the battle of Chancellorsville. Wofford's brigade suffered heavy casualties at Chancellorsville, but records do not mention Private Ferguson among the casualties of the 16th GW or 3d Battn SS. (Casualties in the 16th GA at Chancellorsville: 11 K, 14 MW, 49 W, 22 W&C, 36 C, and 1 M for a total of 133.) Carded records related to James S Ferguson's service do not indicate he was absent at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.

It's reasonable to assume that James was there on July 2, 1863. Having just passed out of the tree line on Warfield Ridge, through the Confederate batteries, and out onto the open field. He would have just passed through the yard of James Warfield's House. Charging toward the Emmitsburg Road through Warfield's orchard of young peach tress. Just in advance of his old friends in the 16th Georgia when a 12-pounder spherical case shot was fired from a Union Battery about the Emmitsburg Road. It's reasonable to assume that James witnessed the case shot impact his old Company B Centre Hill Guards. And if he was there, he was certainly well aware of the carnage and aftermath - 29 casualties from a single artillery impact is not something that happened regularly or ever. James wouldn't have known it was the most destructive artillery of the entire Battle of Gettysburg. Nobody would know that until 2023.

Here's a video about it you might like to watch.

 

[mhscogin]

One more question. Could his absence without leave in the may june 1863 indicate he could have missed gettysburg? The july muster does not record yes or no.

 

[lelliott19]

One more question. Could his absence without leave in the may june 1863 indicate he could have missed gettysburg? The july muster does not record yes or no.

I added the link to a video in the post above. It's mostly about that monstrous artillery impact on Company B, 16th Georgia. But since Co B was James' original unit, you might like to see it. It includes all the information about the organization of the Centre Hill Guards, pictures of the Old Rockwell School, and the historic Rockwell Universalist Church where the Company trained and drilled before leaving for Richmond. It also includes pictures of a bunch of the members of Company B, including Captain Reynolds. Also images and animated maps of the area where Wofford's brigade was at Gettysburg.

As to your question about James' card for July/Aug 1863 - where it says Present or Absent "not stated." Wofford appointed Nathan L Hutchins, II as Lieutenant Colonel to command the 3d Battalion Sharpshooters. Before the war, Hutchins graduated from Emory college in the class of 1855. After graduation he read law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar just before the civil war began. Despite being a lawyer, he was not what you might call a "meticulous" record keeper. But if James was still absent without leave, Hutchins would have recorded that. In my opinion, James S Ferguson had returned and was almost certainly present.

 

[mhscogin]

thank you. Wonder what would have been the issue in May and June

 

[lelliott19]

No telling. He was probably furloughed after Chancellorsville. Maybe to accompany a wounded man home. If he didn't return right on schedule, he would have been recorded as absent without leave. Transportation wasn't very reliable and it may have been difficult to get back. IMHO, he returned later than scheduled and was recorded as AWOL temporarily. Like I said, if he was still absent on the next report, Lt Col Hutchins would have made note of it and it would have been recorded in his cards.

Just to clarify - those carded records at the National Archives were created in the 1890s to help with pension applications. The original hospital lists and ledgers, Muster Rolls, clothing distribution lists, etc. were transcribed onto individual cards - one per each name listed. Once all the long lists, ledgers, and rolls were recorded to cards "by the man" the cards were filed by name. That allowed a quick way to see a snapshot of an individual's service.

Unfortunately, the transcription process was not entirely complete or accurate. Original records were cursive writing which was sometimes hard to decipher. Some records never made it to the War Department; they were lost somewhere along the way. Some records (especially medical) were taken home by the person who kept them. Anyway, the carded record system was the best available option. But based on extensive experience interpreting carded records for Wofford's brigade and others -- it shouldn't be considered comprehensive.

 

[RedRover]

One more question. Could his absence without leave in the may june 1863 indicate he could have missed gettysburg? The july muster does not record yes or no.

It might.

It is an irregularity that his disposition was not recorded on the July-August muster roll. Why is not presently knowable. What it means is also not comprehensible. In its review of captured Confederate unit records for compilation post-war, the US War Department clerks noted the Confederate unit records which survived the war were frequently "defective" in various manners and incomplete in the data, and this would be such an occasion perhaps, since the whole point of the muster rolls was to record the soldiers' dispositions for official purposes.

It just shows that Private Ferguson's commanders in preparing and submitting that muster roll for July-August, 1863 did so without accounting for him in any wise. This after having for May-June, 1863 shown him as "Absent without leave..."

That roll would have been relative to the period May 1, 1863 to June 30, 1863 (the last day of June, 1863), upon which last date he was recorded by his officers as AWOL. How absented and from what date is not given in the record. But it would appear that as of June 30 he was absent from his company C of the 3rd Battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters, which was then marching with Lee's army toward Gettysburg.

Given the Battle of Gettysburg commenced the day following, July 1, 1863, it seems very possible he was yet absent from his command in the period of that battle. His officers however gave no official answer to the question, as on the next roll left no notice of his disposition whether present or absent in July...

This would be an example of a defective/incomplete record, but that seems to be how his officers chose to handle his circumstances on the muster roll submitted to the Confederacy for that period, for whatever reason.

So to the question was Private Ferguson Present or absent from Co. C, 3rd Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters during July 1, 1863 to August 31, 1863, his commanders did not make official comment. That is what is historically known.

It might be reasonable to presume he remained absent from his command through July-August, 1863. But again, no official record to confirm that presumption.

But he was "present" on the roll for September-October, 1863, and thereafter until suffering his mortal wounds at the Battle of the Wilderness.