The North-Carolina standard., 1845-09-24
From the Southern Literary Messenger.

Mr. Editor The following account of the
battle oil Kings Mountain is copy Of the origin
al paper, drawn up by the late General Joseph
Graham, father Of the present Governor of North
Carolina, Of Lincoln county, Moth Carolina, the
county In which The site Of the battle is located
The accompanying plan" of the battle, is copy
by young lady of Carolina, from the original,
taken oy Cen Graham on the ground. The
graphic account, given by an unnerpsted individu.
al, of the battle that led to the retrea, of Cornwall
lis, then on his advance through Carolina, NAV
afford interesting information to your readers that
love TO dwell upon the scenes Of the Revolution
Very respectfully, yours, ""*
Afler the defeat of Gen. Gates and the army
under his command, on the 10Th of August. 1886
and the defeat of Gen. Sumpter, two DAYS after.
wards, near Rocky Mount, by Col Tarlton, the
South was almost entirely abandoned to the ene-
my. Most CT the troops, both officers and men,
who had escaped from Gates defeat, passed thro'
Charlotte, N. c., where most of the militia of
Mrcklenourg county were assembled in eonse-
quence OF The alarm. The regular troops chic f1y
passed on TO HIllsboro, where Gen Gates fina nv
established his head quarters. William L. Da-
wilson, who had served as Lieutenant Colonel of
the regulars in the Northern army, was appoint
ed Brigadier General Of the militia in the Sails
bury District, in the place Of Gen Rutherford,
+
ed brigade and encamped on McAlpin's creek,
about miles below Charlotte, and in the course
OF two or three weeks, was reinforced by Cen.
Sumner, IA continental officer) but having no re-
gulars 10 command he took command of the mi
llta from the counties of Guilford, CaswelI, Or
ange, &c.
After Gates defeat: the attention of Lord Corn
wallis was chiefly occupied with burying the dead,
taking care OF the wounded, and forwarding, un-
der suitable guards, the great number of prison
ers he had taken TO the city of Cha rlcston and re-
gulating the civil government he was establishing
IN South Carolina, and examining the state of The
posts occupied by his troops on the Congaree,
Ninety-Six and Augusta. BY tine Ist of Srptenl-
Der, ne had his arrangements made and detached
Col Ferguson over The Wateree with only | 10
regulars, under the command of Capt Dupiester,
and about the same number of tories, but with an
ample supply OF arms and other military stores.
His movements were at first rapid, endeavoring
to intercept the retreat of party of mountain men,
who were harrassing the upper settlement Of to-
rIe> IN South Carolina. Failing in this, he after
wards moved slowly, and frequently halted to COL
lect all the tories he could persuade to Join him.
He passed Broad river and before the last of Sep
tember encamped at place called Glbertstown,
within short distance Of where The thriving vii
lage of Ruthcrfordton now stands. .. .
His forces had increased to upwards of 1000
men. On his march to this place, he had furnish.
I'd arms 10 such OF his new recruits as were with
out lhem. The greater part of them had rifles
but 10 part of them he had them to fix large
knife they usually carried, made small enough a:
the butt end for two inches or more of the hanAie
TO slip into the muzzle of the rife so that it might
be occasionally used as a bayonet
Although Col Ferguson failed to overtake the
detachment of mountain men alluded to, he took
TWO of them prisoners who had become separated
iiom their comrades In day or two he parolcd
them and enJoned them to inform the officers on
the Western waters, that If they did not desist
from their opposition to the Birth arms, and take
protection under his standard that he would march
his army over the mountains hang their leaders.
ana lay the country waste with fire and sword
Col. Charles Mcdowell, OF Burke county, on
Ine approach OF Ferguson with so large force,
hao gone over the mountains to obtain assistance
and was in consultation with Col John Sewer and
Col Isaac Shelby what plan should be pursued
when Inc two paroled men spoken of arrived and
delivered their message from Col. Ferguson
II was decided that each of them should use
MS best efforts TO raise all the men that could be
enlisted, and that their forces when COLLECTED.
should meet on the Wataga, on the 25th Septem-
per. IL was also agreed, that Col. Shelby should
give intelligence Of their movements to Col. Will
liam Campbell OF the adjoining county of Wash
ington, in Virginia, with the hope that he would
raise what force ne could and cooperate with
them.
They met on the Wataga the day appointed,
and passed the mountan on the 3Oth of September
where they were Joined by Col Benjamin CIeve-
land and Major Joseph Winston, from Wilkes and
Surry counties
On examining their forces, they were found to
number, as follows:
From Washington county, Virginia under
Col w. Campbell, ..- 400
From Sullivan county. North Carolina, -
under Col Isaac Shelby, $40
From Washington, North Carolina, under
Col John Sewer, 24O
From Burke and Rutherford counties, N. C.
uHder Col. Charles Nc DoweIl, 100
From Wilks and Surry counties, North
Carolina, under Col Benz Cleveland
and Major James Winston, $50
Total, -. 1890
:, Col. Ferguson, having accurate intelligence of
tne lorce collecting against him, early on the 4th