The National tribune., 1888-11-29
A vindication Of Comrade Ferguson.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: was Mortified
to see an article in your paper of Nov. 10
which reflected very severely on gallant Off
Ger Of the U. S. Navy, and an old comrade OF
the Grand Army and Past Department Officer
of the Department of Pennsylvania. / refer to
VIM J. Ferguson, retired Gunner, u S. Navy
whose family and intimate relations are resi-
dents of Washington, ID. c.
William j Ferguson entered the U. S. Navy
about 1860 as Masters Mate; had been an
officer in the merchant service years before
His father was an old sailmalIer in the U. S.
Navy. and is Remembered by all of the old off,
GERS. VIM. J. Ferguse1 Is weii-known as hay
ing served faithfully in the early part of the
war on board several yessels-one l only re-
member, the U. S. S. Pawnee, 1861; afterward
on the U. s. S. Cambridge, 1862, as Gunner
and was sent, if 1 remember right, to the q. S
S. Dale, Ordnance Depot at Key West, in charge
of ordnance stores, where he served very faith
fully under the command of Rear-AdmiraI
Bailey receiving the thanks of all who served
with him for his energetic and seamanlike
methods. After remaining there for number
of years he was sent to Philadelphia, Pa. and
had charge of the powder magazine at Fort
Mifflin, near that city. He discharged his duty
there in such a manner as to receive the thanks
of the Department, and has been, on the whole
faithful and valuable officer and fine sea-
man.
Shortly after the organization of the Grand
Army of the Republic he joined Post 5, Depart
ment of Pennsylvania, located IN Philadelphia,
and has always taken prominent part IN the
advancement of the work of the Order, and
has been solicited several times to ill the hon.
orable Office in the Post, but has declined on
the ground that he could not give it proper
attention. These facts are sustained by Past
Commandments Z. B. Beath, Quartermas-
ter-General John Taylor, Past Commander-in-
Chief Louis Wagner. and many others.
When The Naval Post, No. 400, was organized
he was solicited to join it, and did so, entering
heartily into the work was one of the four
shipmates who started it, and was elected its
first Commander. So we'll did We succeed that
there are 20 Naval Posts and other Naval Asso-
Citations in the United States to-day.
In 1887 he was elected to the honorable posi-
tion of Junior Vice Department Commander OF
Pennsylvania, and has filed several offices
creditably to himself and with honor to The
Naval Post and Department.
His health failed him in 1888 and the Navy
Department, in recognition of his valuable
service, placed him on the retired list with the
rank and pay of 26 years service as a Gunner
in the U. S. Navy
Comrade Ferguson, in little breeze one
night in The Naval Post about March l, 1888,
asked for and received his transfer card but
the GAR. law is that a comrade is still men,
Der of Post eX-officio for IL months after tax
ing his card, unless he deposits it with another
Post, and he has the right to visit any Post in
the United States during that u months. II
at the end of the year he has not Joined Post,
he is honOrably discharged from the Grand
Army of the Republic
While visiting your city he had right to
visit and to receive all honor due his rank as
Past Oficer.-A PAST COMMANDER, Naval Post,
No. 400.
L'rhe above statement regarding the services
of COmrade Ferguson have been verified by the
Naval Register.-ED. NATIONAL TRIBUNE1