Thomas B. Ferguson
Class of 1861
Hometown: Charleston, SC
- As a cadet Ferguson was assigned to the cadet gun battery on Morris Island in January 1861. The cadets had been ordered to establish a battery on the island to prevent federal ships from entering Charleston harbor. It is believed Ferguson was manning the canon that fired one of the first of rounds to strike the Star of the West, a merchant steamer commissioned by the United States War Department and carrying 200 federal troops and supplies to the federal garrison at Ft. Sumter. Due to the Cadets accurate fire, the ship was turned back to sea.
- At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ferguson joined the Confederate service as an engineer and constructed the batteries at Ft. Sumter after it was taken by Confederate forces. Promoted to major, at the age of 25, he commanded a SC artillery unit in five major battles. Captured and a POW in December 1864 until War's end.
- Appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Sweden by President Cleveland February 14, 1894-1898.