ALS signed “S. W. Ferguson,” three pages, lightly-lined, 8.25 x 13.75, April 24, 1885. Letter to P. G. T. Beauregard, who had sent a manuscript to his former aide requesting him to verify the facts surrounding the death of their superior, General Albert Sidney Johnston, during the Battle of Shiloh. In part: “I do not know that I can add anything material to what I reported officially immediately after the battle of Shiloh… but I can state positively that you were informed of Genl. Johnston’s death at the time when you were giving me the order ‘to take command of a brigade reported without a Commander and lead it with action’ which must have been some time before Governor Harris brought the same information…All the circumstances connected with the incident were vividly impressed upon me. A staff officer had reported the Brigade in the condition named. You called me and told me to go with the officer and take Command. While you were giving me instructions what to do, you were interrupted by Colonel [Charles] Wickliffe of Genl. Johnston’s staff (whom I had known in the old Army…when he was an officer of Infantry…) [who] rode up in a very excited manner and interrupted you. He spoke in a low tone and I did not hear what he said but I heard you ask, ‘When did it occur’ and I heard his reply which was ‘about a half hour ago.’ After he rode off you completed your order to me and I went to execute it not knowing what had happened…That night at your own headquarters when of course Gen. Johnston’s death was known…I asked you if Wickliffe had not brought you the news…and you replied in the affirmative…In my official report I say, referring to the above mentioned Brigade and my taking Command of it a second time, that you ‘ordered me to lead them in pursuit of the enemy.’ I might have made this more expressive for I remember that your words were ‘drive them into the River’ and when I changed posit[ion] to the rear to meet, as I supposed, and attack from that direction it was so dark that the flashes of the guns could be distinctly seen. At least two hours must have elapsed between the time when you were informed of Gen. Johnston’s death and your giving me the order to drive the enemy into the River. I suppose that when Govr. Harris informed you of Gen. Johnston’s death you did not let him know that the sad news had already reached you and so he believed you took it very coolly.” In very good condition, with tape repairs to partial edge separations and a few small edge tears. Prior to the Battle of Shiloh, Beauregard had strenuously protested against Johnston’s planned attack on Grant and urged a retreat to Corinth, but Johnston persisted. The struggle began at dawn on April 6th and lasted into the next day. Johnston received the mortal wound at about 2:30 p.m. while leading the final charge which crushed the left wing of the Union Army. Ferguson took an active part in the battle of Shiloh, on the second day being assigned to command a brigade of the Second Corps—however, despite the Confederate Army’s considerable success on the first day, they were ultimately defeated by the Union on the second. Reflecting on the loss after the war, Jefferson Davis proclaimed: ‘When Sidney Johnston fell, it was the turning point of our fate.’ Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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