Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-31
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.

We are glad 10 nave an opportunity oi bringing
to the notice of our readers the following historical
papers, throwing valuable light on the incidents of
one Of the most important events of our Revolu-
tionary war, and which is supposed 10 have had an
important influence upon its result.
Extract of a Letter from the abingdon Literary
Club to the Editors ofthe abingdon Virginian.
To revive in the memory Of young countrymen the
deeds Of their forahers to keep alive the spirit Of the
luton which achieved independence and established
Union, show what it and how highly should be
valued The Literary Club of Abingdon send you the follow
ing document for publication. 1t is taken entirely from
British writer's and has appeared far have
seen in any American history publication. II is the
British Of COL Ferguson and their account of
the consequences Of the battle Of Kings Mountain The
reader will particularly notice the which COL Fegu
gave bis BROTHER Dr. Adam Ferguson, of Scotland of
that took place the battle Of Brandy wine, about
that me in l777 in which Col Ferguson states he had
fully in bis power have killed both Gen. Washington and
Gen. Lafayette and declined to do The order given
three Of his riAemen and recalled He himself
bad eveled his rifle, and reented Gen. Washington
about hundred yards from him. Ferguson and his
men perfect maksmen He had himself invented the
rifle used by his cerps which superior any army
If Gen Washington bad fallen that day, what would have
been the fate Of the American revolution How slight the
incidents in the Of which to give direction
to the affairs Of this world The fate of this great republic
and rising empire of the West seemed have hung this
occasion the determination of Col Ferguson amost sku
and brave British officer who afterwards slain in battle
by the volunteers Vgin of North and South Carolina,
on the summit Of Kings Mouatain, in October, 1880
The time in which this battle fought gave great i'm
poance its quences The and fall Of 1850
- IL
luton. TIE tide Of disaster had against for nearly
year. In the fall Of 77sour army repused Savannah
with immense loss. Here fell the brave Poe Gen. Pu
ask In the May following Charleston surrendered large
army, with three four gates and large quantity Of mi
tay stores. fewweeks afterwards Col Buford, with his
regiment cut to pieces by Col Taeen Of the British
army. In August following Gen. Gaes's whole army
destroyed at Camden and few days afterwards Gen. Sump-
ter surprised and entirely defeated In September $780,
Arnolds treason detected And at this period
finances all exhausted, the credit Of the country
the lowest ebb and the paper money worthless We had
means to clothe and feed our army Gen. Washington
himself almost the verge Of despair. His letters this
period show the greatest anxiety and distress of mind, and
that be thought the amos, hopeless.
In such gloomy period of counuy's Distress and al
most Of despair, there up in Southwestern Virginia and
in East Tennessee gallant army Of brave young men, who
without pay and without any orders from their Government
volunteered their services to fight the battles Of their country
They seized their own rifles and mounted their horses
and marched hundred miles through Wilderness and
over lofty mountains, and in less than weeks from the
time they had left the place Of rendezvous they demolished
entirely British army Of formidable character They
turned the tide of in favor our country They
broke up the British generals plan of campaign against North
Carolina and Vgnia e1tnguished nearly forever all The aid
he receiving from the tories in the South and compelled
him retreat back into South Carolina, save the country
he thought entirely conquered and subdued The docu
that follow will prove these statements. They contain
the Acknowledgements of British writer's and of Lord Com
wallis himself
Are not these "reminiscences calculated attach this
Union Can think of laying parricdal hands
upon the work of Fathers Can dare attempt
the destruction Of that Government which their heroism con-
trbuted greatly in establishngwhc has attracted
wards the wonder and admiration Of the world and has
given degree Of prosperity and happiness which other
nation Of which history has given any enjoyed
before -
British account of Col. Ferguson, and the conSe-
quences Of the Battle Of Kings Mountain.
Historical justice and fairness require that we should in
what the British writers have said Of their own gallant
officer with whom mounanesrs conended their glo
rous field Of fame. Justice enemy attribute Of
msgnanmy and be who find in his heart any prompt
ings Of this noble and impulse is unfit to re his
tory He may, without this manly virtue, write eulogums
and nvectves and fill bis pages with defamation but they
,rH not be read BY the candid and the sc the sacred
cords ofth. Let do justice COL Patrick Ferguson
who commanded the British army Kings Mountain. He
the Of eminent Scotch Judge, James Ferguson
Pou Lord Of Session and Justiciary, and nephew Of
bleman Of great literary talents, viz Patrick Murray (Lod
Elbank deemed by Robertson Ferguson Hume, and con-
temporary sages genius and eudon equal the authors
Of the Scottish Augustan age. Patrick Ferguson (says
British wrte who commanded the British army Kings
Mountain sought fame by different direction, but of
equally rigorous and brilliant po,0ers" To early youth he
entered the army, and while subate Of eighteen the
war, distinguished by courage cool it
determined his principal object being to become beneficial
by professional skill and effort Before the battle Of Kings
Mountain he had already displayed that combination of ne
pd herosm inventive genius and sound judgment which
constitute the valiant soldier and atle commander.
Before the American he had employed the interval Of
peace in England by improving himself in military know
ledge and science When the disputes between Britain and
her colonies versng civil war, the boased skill of
the Americans in the of the rife exhibited OBJ
jec Of terror the British troops These operated
on the genius Ferguson and his invention produced
species Of the % which be could load the breech without
using the rammtr turning the muzao away from the enemy
and with such qnckne Of repetition FIRE times in