Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-03

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son, being engaged in the expedion TO Charleston
very sigma! Importance the British army and is mention
with great praises BY Sir Henry Clinton The commandern
cnel OF The British army After the reduction OF Charles
Ton IN May, lT5O when CORVALLIS attempting by jus
ice and madness Justice and mildness. such perhaps
aelon practised about this time upon COL Buords reg
| ment--
when Lord Corvallis Continues this British writer
was attempting by justice and miness harmony
between the province and the mother country he called lo
the assistance o Ferguson. To the vaor enterprise and i'll
ventlon which were so important in war Ferguson was
known TO add the benignan disposition and concanp man.
ners which generate good will and friendship situa
tlons OF peace Among the propositions of Cornwa, for
the security and tranquility of the colony one
scheme TO the wclaected for their own defence
Ferguson, lieutenant colonel in America was en- trust
ed with the charge of narshang the militia throughout
wide extent OF country Under his direction and condc
militia q, numerous and select enrolled and disc
ed One Of the great tests of cearness and riGOr
derstandng is ready Classification either OF things or men,
according 10 the qualities which they and purpo
ses they are fitted or intended TO answer Ferguson e1ecs-
ed his genius in devising summary of the ordinary tactics
and manual exercises for the of the militia. He had
them divided in every dictrct into clssesone Of the
young men, the single and unmarried who should be ready
Join the Kings troops repe enemy that infested the
province; another OF the agcd and heads of families who
should be ready unite in defending their own townships
habitaons and farms In his progress among them he
gained their confidence by the attention he paid the inter
Of the wellaec,ed and by his humanity the
families of those who III against him. We come
not said he, TO make upon women and children and
gave them money to relieve their distresses. The move
ncns oil the Americans having compelled Lord CORVALLIS
proceed with great caution in his northern expedition the
genius and npd efforts of Ferguson required for pro
tecting and facilitating the march of the army and plan
collateral operations devised for that purpose In til"
execution Of these schemes he had advanced far Nine
tySix about two hundred miles from Charleon; and with
his usual vlgor and success acting against different bod
les Of the coonss that still disputed possession when
intelligence arrived from the British officer Col Brown
commander Of the Kings forces in upper Georgia. that
corps OF rebels under Col Clarke had made attempt up
Augusta and being repuSed etreatng by the back
settlements OF Carolina To this information Col Brown ad
dcd that lie meant ID hang the of the enemy and
tatf Ferguson would his route he might be in
terceptcd and his party dispersed This service seemed 10
bc perfectly consistent with the purposes of his expedition,
and did give time to wait for fresh orders from Lord
Corvallis Ferguson yielded his usual ardOr, and push
ed with his detachment composed Of few regulars and M!
tia Into Tryon county.
ain the time bodies Of back settlers
Of the Allegheny mountains were in arms, OF them in
tending seize upon the presents intended for the Creek
and Cherokee Indians which they understood were bur
slightly guarded at Augusta Georgia Others had
bled upoa the alarm Of enemies ikc!y 10 visit them from
South Carolina. These meeting with Col Clarke secured
h3 retreat and made expcdcnt for Brown 10 dess from
his pursuit and return 10 his station Augusta; while Fer
guson, having intelligence Of Browns sill!
tinucd the march which undertaken his request.
"As he continuing his route numerous, fierce, and
unexpected enemy suddenly sprung up in the wouds and
wids The inhabitants Of the Allegheny mountains assem-
blcd without noise warning under the conduct of
srven of their militia colonr the Of 600 daring
we'll mounted, and excellent horsemcn. Discovering these
enemies as lie crossed Kings Mountain Ferguson took the
best position for receTing them that the ground would per
and being likewise dsmayed and asoEshed at finding them
selves unexpectedly surrounded and attacked on every
side by the cavalry OF the Mountains capable of
witstandny tn. impelusity of charge Already l5U
his soldiers killed upon the spot and greater
Der wounded Still however the nnconqncraSle sp,
OF this gallant officer refused TO surrender lie repnsed
succession Of attacks rom quarter until he received
mortal wound Bv the fall OF COL Ferguson his were
entirely disheartened Animated his brave example they
had hitherto preserved their courage under nil disadvantages
In the Of his fertile genius they deservedy placed
the utmost confidence and with him peTshed every hope OF
success Under such circumstances the second in com
mand Judging all further resistance TO be van offered 10 sur!
render, and sued for quarter
From the ability and cxertons Of Col Ferguson, rery
great advantages had been expected and not beer sur
prised and cut Off there is no doubt hat erery expectation
rould hare been july Rratifed By his unfortunate n and
the slaughter captivity or dispersion OF his whole corps the
pn Of the expedition into North Carolina enircy de-
rang heres the acknowledgment of British writer the
western frontiers Of South Carolina were now exposed 10
the incursons Of the nounalneer and became necessary
for Lard CoruaHs TO fall back for their protection and rat
for before he could proceed further has
expedition On the 18th Of October he began his march TO
South Carolina His Lordshp and his army met with very
great difficulties and hadshps Their provisions were 80
nearly exhausted that the soldiers limited as 10 quaint
~ with hardly any means OF cooking. The country was
overowed with nccssant rains. They had no tents ana
could rarely find dry spot to kinde re the soldiers bore
their hardshps without epning, they knew their officers
and generals lared better than themselves His ordsp
himself was taken ILL., but nevertheless preserved his vgor OF
mind and arrived the 29h Of October l7SO, at Winns
borough 10 for fresh einorcements from Sir Henry
Clinton the commandern-chief, at New York"
Such is the British of this daring and accomplish.
ed British officer, whose army was entirely destroyed ." 'r
summit of Kings Mountain, the 7h Of October 7SO, by
the mountaneers Of Virginia and Of North Carolina and
South Caroua and such were the consequences OF his
overthrow as acknowledged BY learned British writer the
countryman of Ferguson himself They led in connected
chain of events entire destruction Of the British cause
in America and the achievement Of American indepen-
dencc. 100
In letter from Mr. Jefferson dated in 1922 now before
the writer in his handwriting the following remarks
ire made In relation TO this victory: 81 remember well
says he "he deep and grateful impression made on the
mind of every by that evermemorabe victory IL was
the oyul enunciaon of that the tide OF success tat
terminated the Revolutionary with the seal OF our ndc
nondance SENIOR MEMBER
Of the abingdon Literary C1nb.