Arthur M. Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Arthur Medworth Ferguson (December 11, 1877 Coffey County, Kansas
- February 20, 1922 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) was a United States Army
officer who received the Medal of Honor
for actions on September 28, 1899 during the Philippine-American War
. He later obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
. He had previously been promoted from Corporal after being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for actions on April 26, 1899. Colonel Ferguson is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
, Luzon
, Philippine Islands, September 28, 1899. Entered Service At: Burlington, Kans.
Birth: Coffey County, Kans. Date of Issue: March 8, 1902.
Company E, 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry
General Orders No. 126
, W.D., 1919
Home Town: Burlington, Kansas
Date of Action: April 26, 1899
. When the war broke out in Europe
, Ferguson was assigned to Fort Riley
, where he became an instructor at the first officers' training camp
. He then became Chief Instructor at the second camp at Fort Snelling.
He was then assigned to the War Department
as an assistant adjutant general
of the U.S. Army, in charge of enlisted men. He received praise from Secretary Newton D. Baker
and General Pershing. During the last five years of his service, he served as the Secretary for the General Service Schools, Forth Leavenworth, where he organized the books division, which publishes textbooks for U.S. Army officers.
related to the removal of a hernia
. He was survived by his widow, brothers and sisters and his elderly parents.
Coffey County, Kansas
Coffey County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,601...
- February 20, 1922 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) was a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions on September 28, 1899 during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. He later obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. He had previously been promoted from Corporal after being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
for actions on April 26, 1899. Colonel Ferguson is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant, 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and Date: Near PoracPorac, Pampanga
Porac is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 102,962 people in 15,686 households.Porac is the largest town in Pampanga...
, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippine Islands, September 28, 1899. Entered Service At: Burlington, Kans.
Burlington, Kansas
Burlington is a city in and the county seat of Coffey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,674.-Geography:Burlington is located at...
Birth: Coffey County, Kans. Date of Issue: March 8, 1902.
Citation:
Charged alone a body of the enemy and captured a captain.
Distinguished Service Cross citation
Corporal, U.S. ArmyCompany E, 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry
General Orders No. 126
General order
In militaries, a general order is a published directive, originated by a commander, and binding upon all personnel under his command, the purpose of which is to enforce a policy or procedure unique to his unit's situation which is not otherwise addressed in applicable service regulations, military...
, W.D., 1919
Home Town: Burlington, Kansas
Date of Action: April 26, 1899
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur M. Ferguson, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Calumpit, Philippine Islands, April 26, 1899, against an armed enemy.
At the imminent risk of his life Corporal Ferguson voluntarily crawled through a network of iron beams underneath a bridge and, inch by inch, worked his way hand over hand across the bridge until he was underneath an insurgent's outpost, obtaining a complete description of the condition of the bridge.
Career
- Appointed from Kansas, Corporal and Sergeant, Company E. Kansas Infantry, May 2, 1898 to July 14, 1899.
- First Lieutenant, 36th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, July 5, 1899
- Second Lieutenant, 14th U.S. Infantry, Regular ArmyRegular ArmyThe Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
- First Lieutenant, September 24, 1902
- Awarded Medal of Honor on February 7, 1902
- Awarded Distinguished Service Cross 1919
Other service
Colonel Ferguson later served in the Mexican Border Campaign and World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. When the war broke out in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Ferguson was assigned to Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, where he became an instructor at the first officers' training camp
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
. He then became Chief Instructor at the second camp at Fort Snelling.
He was then assigned to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
as an assistant adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the U.S. Army, in charge of enlisted men. He received praise from Secretary Newton D. Baker
Newton D. Baker
Newton Diehl Baker, Jr. was an American politician who belonged to the Democratic Party. He served as the 37th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1912 to 1915 and as U.S. Secretary of War from 1916 to 1921.-Early years:...
and General Pershing. During the last five years of his service, he served as the Secretary for the General Service Schools, Forth Leavenworth, where he organized the books division, which publishes textbooks for U.S. Army officers.
Personal life and marriages
Ferguson was the son of Captain R.W. Ferguson and he married Laura Magill Ferguson who died in 1913. He remarried, to Sarah Maddocks Ferguson (1889–1973). He is buried next to both of his wives.Death
Colonel Ferguson died from sudden complications of surgerySurgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
related to the removal of a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
. He was survived by his widow, brothers and sisters and his elderly parents.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Philippine–American War Medal of Honor recipients