The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-13
CELEBRATION OF THE BATTLE OF KINGS NOUN
TAIN-MR RANCRoFTS SPEECH.

ls celebration OF the battle Of Kings Mountain in CASTOR
county North Carolina. The OCCASION which was in IL
self deeply interesting made much more SO by the
presence the great American historian George Bancroft
AT the conclusion Of address Of much eoquenee by Co
John Preston the president Of the day, Col D. With
erspoon announced the fact that Mr. Bancroft present
and proposed the following sentiments
aThe Hon George Bancroft: The patriot the statesman,
the truthful and impartial annalsl his presence among s
iuseTarably links his fame with the memories OF Kings
Mountain. We bid him welcome"
This sentiment and the information il conveyed was re-
ceiyed with many demonstrations of pleasure aud Mr. Ban
croft with some little embarrassment but with evident in
teres in the OCCASION appeared upon the stand he
thin but without the appearance of i'll health and though
his head was sable vered and he had quite the appear
ance Of student be stood remarkably erect and spoke
with voice as clear in enuncaton and distinct in utter
auce as would haze become the vigorous and practised
orator From the of his remarks which (says the
Stndard we have been pains report with accuracy
Il will be seen that he animated by untecoming
sprit of compacency over-wnning solicude please
but only by just perception of the great historic truths
of which he was called upon TO speak lie said:
The president Of the day assigns few minutes TO
expre 10 YOU sincere delight in being witness Of this
great panorama of southern life and beauty and patriotism,
and Joining with this countless multitude assembled il
the mountain forest under the shadow of the battle-ground
and animated by the spirit OF the heroes whose virtues
they are gathered commemorate. come among you
10 address yon but to share silently in the
guished orator-o enkndle my love Of country BY
the fires Of your enthusiasm No State may celebrate the
great events of the American revolution with jnster pride
than South Carolina At the beginning OF the srug
gle Of l765 Soath Carolina the FIST adhere to
general union and 10 her is due that the colonies then
met in Congress. When in l77f Jrannical government
endeavored by the slow torture Of starvation crush os
ton into submission South Carolina opened her eranares
OFFICE and minis tered abundWtlJ 10 IT. relief While tn
sons Of the Scotch coSenaners in Meckenbnrg the
first the connexon in Great Britain and institute
themselves,
the great reform within the borders OF this State the
victory gained at the Palmetto Fort by Mouluie was
the bright and the morning which went before the
declaration of American independence Wherever the
camp fires of the emgrant shall light up the forests OF
the West whe the history of country is honest
~ told wherever the struggles OF brave men in The cause
Of humanity respected high honor will be rendered to
the triumph at Kings Mountain and at Cowpens, and to
that sad victory at Eutaw Springs when the voice OF ex
uaton is chasened by for the brave who fell For
the North to take interest III your celebration is but an
of reciprocity. Everywhere in my long pilgrimage to
be present with you ON this occasion, ound evidence OF
the affection with which the South chcrishes the memory
of every noble action in behalf of liberty without regard
to place Beautiful Virginia. land of mountains and low
lands rich in its soil Astounding in healing springs and
the screhousc Of all kinds Of mineral wealth. builds
Lexington in the very heart OF her most magnificent val
ley North Carolina repeats the name in of the love
lest regions in the world and South Carolina desgnaes
by it the great central district of her State There still
stronger why the North should give you its sympa
thy this OCCASION She sent you aid in the hour OF
your greatest need. 1t is blessed thing TO give even
a cup of cold in right spirit it not then pos
sibc to do that All honor must be ayarded to the
South since she left TO herself alone in the hour of
her peril. The OF the American revolu
ton has its for the most part in the South and
the battle of Kings Mountain, of which We celebrate
the seventy-lth anniversary to-day was the most ro-
mantle of ALL The achievement opportune The
American army for the South routed and dispersed J;
Charleston iii the power Of the enemy the govern
scattered; the paper currency all but worthless
Gadsden prisoner doomed the dungeon of ST. Angus
tine; Sumter forced retire beyond the State the
side and Pickens on the other CORVALLIS hoping to ex-
tingush the rebellion by system OF imprisonment
hscalion, and hanging; the British minister promising
himself that before winter the whole country south Of
the Delaware would be subjected The Genius Of Liberty
never bows his head in despair but there for
nnxiety-the tautess partisan the lion hearted Marion
stood alone in his mpenetrabe Businesses the sentinel of
Carolina Such the almost hopeless distress of which
the udngs penetrated the hardy jewellers the Waanga
the Nolchucky, and the three forks Of Hoison All the
difficulties which stood in their way could make them
hesitate. They had distance to in collecting
their forces but swift buried up the valley they
had to the highest range OF the Aeghanes where
there not much bride path they could drive
beeves but must depend mainly parched for
their sustenance meeting from remote districts they had
TO organize themselves the instant for action with unity
The movement commends itself still TO admira
ton voluntary act of patriotism. II planned by
Congress- it ordered by Executive All that is
best springs from the heart and the expedition 10 Kings
Mountain sprang from the heart of the common people
west OF the Aleghnnies. They cheered by mar
ta music your orator has truly observed they had
gilded banners noddng plumes; they south
ern farmers in their everyday dress, to exer-
courage and love Of country and virtue The dangers
which they encountered those from which the
bravest might shrink DO you think refer to the
fact that they attacked enemy superior in Numbers and
still more in the munitions Of war; posted yonder height
which you is precptousy steep and brstng with the
saty rock which crops all along lis sides and summit
No; those things had for them But their de-
parure they knew the signal for British emissares TO
excite ordes of worthless savagcs burn their homes and
murder their wives and children Every breeze from the
West might to bring their the echo Of the In
dams warwhoop tue dying groans Of those they loved
best This the fear which they had under
Let us rejoice then that the of the engaged
at Kings Mountain was they expressed it. complete to
wish The firing us heavy could be conceived
for the numbers engaged the dsodgng Of the enemy from
their advantageous situation equal driving men
from stony hreastworks the vigor Of their is
proved by their holding till every third among
them was wounded or slain and of all the British force
which to have formed the central point OF British
power in the back country and which Ferguson had
mended to CORVALLIS for its courage aud ability more
than twenty perhaps not one of the survivors es-
capped captivity To finish the picture Of this battle the
consequences OF the victory must be called mind It
struck dsmay into the tories and checked the concerted
system OF housebnrnng and domestic carnage which was
filling Carolina with the deadest horrors of civil war
II was the 'tnrnng-pont OF victory which oheered
Sumter and Colonel Washington and Morgan to their
successes, and enabled Greene TO collect army 1t
was the fatal blow which utterly discoucered the
plans Of CORVALLIS and forced him into that change
of policy which had its end at Yorktown The OF
that day fought for Carolina, for the South they
fought Tor America and humanity and the ultimate eff
fleets of their beroism yet be measured The States
bound together by commerce. and doyeaed by canals
and rivers and railroads; the recollection Of the
crowded hours of this glorious action of fathers