Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-10-17
KINGS MOUNTAIN CELEBRATION.

and South Carolina runs along the ridge of this
mountain; but we believe the battle was fought on
the North Carolina side, in what is now cleveland
county-named otter one of the heroes of this bat
tie. with its countryside, Shelby, after another
This battle, fought the American side entirely by
militia, threefourths of whom the hardy noun
taineers of North Carolina, of the most
important of our Revolutionary struggle and we
are glad to that posterity and history are doing
justice.
A correspondent of the Charleston Courier, writ
ing the battle ground gives the following vivid
picture of the mountain scenery:
CAMP LowNDEs, ~
Thursday night, Oct 8, 1856.
"DEAR COURIER Might has set in. The camp
fire has been lit And here about six miles from
Kings Mountain, on the Spartanburg Road, we
spend the night on our way to Greenville. The
rest of the party all engaged, busy in pre-
pairing the long expected supper, and others in cut
ting brush-wood to keep off the cold and piercing
wind while your correspondent has seized the first
spare moment to draw his knapsack his knee
and by the light of the pine to fulfil his promise,
and give you description of the Kings Mountain
celebration.
The night of the third presented never-to-bs
forgotten scene. Kings Mountain from its summit
to its base, and all the hills and declivtes for nearly
two miles, lit with a thousand fires, whose
flames cast forth upon the night, revealed pictu-
rescue and busy appearance. The military and the
citizen, the wagon, with the countryman and his
whole family from the oldest to the youngest, and
the plain farmer, with his wife and himself jogging
along, as did ancestors of yore, the same
trusty steed all there; and the busy hum
spoke of active, busting life. 1t was indeed no
b. tribute to the past, to pouring forth from
the handsome residence, as we'll as from the log cab
in, thousands the hilltop and the valley, and
all assembling around the spot sacred by the deeds
and blood of common ancestry, there to do honor
to their memory, and by revival of their patriotic
to breasts devotion
to their country, and like HANNIBAL of old, in
creased hostility to all who would against her
prosperity and honor.
AS you wandered from fire to fire, and from camp
to camp, there to the sight and upon the ear,
the lively song, the witty joke, and the active dance
Broad cloth and homespun jean walked arm in arm,
and joined heart with heart, in celebrating COM
mon victory.
The same correspondent, after enumerating the
various military companies in attendance, continues
1.-The spot for the speakers stand was well selec-
ted. 1t declivity ofthe mountain, up whose
sides the multitude gathered. 1t commanded COM
plete view of the of the action. The gorge
where the contest first commenced, the place where
Ferguson fell by the deadly woodsman's rifle, the
hill from whence The British made their repeated
desperate bayonet charges, and where the patriots
of the revolution again and again rallied and finally
conquered lay close around and as the orator point
ed to each spot, the whole rushed upon the
mind and became i hfe-picture, making themselves
ere all over tamiiar as household names. 1t
before the eye ard you could almost feel the ground
shake under the fierce charge and rccoilS, and per-
ceve the knit brow and earnest movement of the
rifle men, they swept up the hill or jumped from
brush to brush to send the fatal bullet. And in
this lay the great power of Col. PreStons oration-
We had never heard him before. Our expectations
had been raised high. His form large and COM
manding. His gestures were all appropriate. He
had evidently fainarZed himself with the scene and
its occurrences, and thus proving well each spot,
could convey clearly the emotions and impressions
which glowed within him. He aimed but little at
over-powering or massive eloquenCe. 1t was a de-
scrptve Grafton Its designs appeared to be to give
a clear idea of the battle ITSELF of the state of the
country precedent and subsequent to the struggle,
and to nstl those lessons of virtue and patriotism,
ever to be learned from the study or memory of
those scenes in which our fathers were conspicuous,
and whose results the blessings and liberties of
this happy land. Col. Preston spoke nearly three
hours and half and yet claimed and received the
undivided attention of three thousand of the
freemen of the hills, who surro unded him.
Among the distinguished gentlemen on the stand,
we noticed the Hon. Messrs. Bancroft, Boyce, Sim
ons, VIC. Preston Col. j. d. Witherspoon the presi
dent of the day, and many others.
On the right and left of the speakers desk were
lastly arrayed the flags of the Richland Rifles and
Columbia Blues and the 'front.' at the request of
the orator, the Washington Light Infantry Eutaw
Flag, surrounded by it's detachment guard of
honor. To this latter the orator paid glorious
tribute of the only relics of our revolutionary
struggle which had survived and which might we'll
preserve by the recoectons it excited the patriot
ism of brave and enlightened people.
Col. Preston closed amid warm and earnest cheers,
which made the welkin ring again. Scarcely had
he concluded, when Col Withcrspoon arose and Of
fered, amid great enthusiasm,
"The Hon. George Bancroft-The patriot the
statesman, the truthful and impartial annalist. His
presence among US nseparably links his fame with
the memories of King S Mountain. We bid him wei
come.'
Mr.. Bancroft, as a speaker, is direct and appro-
Ha i,1cfo nuuh tn hiS mo mir
and no more. He assured his auditors of his deep
Carolinians on their patriotism, evidenced by
their revolutionary deeds, and dwelt for few mo-
ments upon the difficulties and success of their
dertaking; and concluded by claiming common in
terest with them in the achievements of the day. on
behalf Of country which enjoyed the happiness and
freedom so hardly His language was we'll
chosen and select and his remarks bore the impress
of and preparation. They were noble SENT
ments, clothed in striking words.
The Barbecue was not yet quite ready, and the
tables, though grooming under the weight of slaugh
tered beef and sheep, scarcely filled enough for the
vast mass who clustered around. 1t therefore
announced that the regular toasts would be read
by Mr. Edward Moore who proceeded to present the
following: E-
l. of Kings Kountain-The Turning Point
of the Revolution. tproved to be the Thermopeian
of American Liberty.
2. The Heroes Of Kings Mountain.-With Spartan
ntrepdity, Roman hardihood, and patriotic valor,
peculiarly American, they grappled with the enemy
here aud conquered. monument should perpetu-
ate the memory of their heroic deeds.
3. Virginia., North Carolina and South Carolina