Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-14

lhere is an lnScrlptlon upon DOtn slueS vi IL,
and I am not ashamed to confess that dropt
q tear upon it, as copied the words:
Sacred to the memory of
Major William Chronicle,
Capt. John Mattocks,
William Rabb,
and
John Boyde,
Who were killed here fighting in defence of
America,
On the Tth Oct. 17S0.
and on the West side
Col. Ferguson,
An officer belonging to his Brittanic Majesty,
| here was defeated
and killed.
sAnd this, then, is Kings Mountain! I
exclaimed
yes, sir replied Major Borders, 'up
there is where they fought
stood for some time, regarding the hill!
with feeling of awe, not from any grandeur
of scenery, but from the absolute dreariness
of the place. No sound nor sight of human
activity was perceptable, except, through
the spaces in the forliage, the haziness given
to the atmosphere by the coal-kilns in the
surrounding valleys, or perhaps a fancied
clank at the distant iron-forge. At Mus
groves Mill and the Cowpens, the roaring
of the water, the dusty highways, and the
various noises of the neighboring farms re-
hearse for the imagination the shout and
shrek of the deadly fray; but here, at Kings
Mountain, where not pine tree sighs in
the breeze, the mind gathers up those still
small sounds, which, though usually drown.
ed in the din Of battle, are yet the most ap-
palling the blow of the clubbed rife
crushing the skull, the thump of the mus
ket's muzzle against the breast-bone, an
nouncing the home thrust of the bayonet 3
the dull tumble Of the human body down the
mountains side the trickling of blood up
on the autumn leaf, where the dying soldier
has raised himself upon his elbow, and, with
his clumsy hand has clasped his giddy brow.
There is very incorrect notion entertain
ed of Kings Mountain. 1t is not noun
tain or hill ; but rather the abrupt termina-
ton Of lengthy and lofty ridge. I will
give a sketch from nature. Standing at the
ford Of the creek and looking eastward, the
visitor sees before him steep enhance of
perhaps, one hundred and fifty feet elevation,
the rise in the ground beginning few pace,
in front of him. On his right, the south side,
starting up from the bank of the creek, is
steep and difficult to ascend. The front or
western face is narrow and rounded. 1t is
far from being so precipitious as the south
side, and permits footman to ascend it at a
smart run. From the north face, rolling
ridge sets of, and bending round towards
the west, comes down with an easy slope to
the rocks, I have mentioned, where the read
crosses it. A horse can be ridden it full
gallow up the slope. Col. Williams was
shot upon his horse, on the top Of the height,
and could not have gained it any other way
than by charging along this ridge. Beyond
it the declivity is again steep. Between it
and the prominent knob there is necessarily
small ravine. It was near the head of this,
that Major Chronicle and Captain Mattocks,
with their compations, Rabb and Boyde, fell
all at the same time. They were from the
same neighborhood on the south fork of the
Catawba, from which circumstance they were
called the Fork Boys In the heat of the
battle, during the repulse down the Noun
tain, Major Chronicle, with defiance blazing
in his eyes, cried out never let it be said
that Fork Boy rum They stood their
ground, and we're consequently overpowered
and slain.
Major Chronicle was brave to fault. At
the same time, so generous was he, so agree
able in his manners, that to know him was
to love him. After the battle, man by the
name of Caldwell, undertook to lead the
Majors horse home to old Mr. Chronicle.
But so affected was be, when he came in
sight of the old gentleman's house that
although Throughout the fight he had expos
ed his life with heroic fearessness-he wait
ed until night, and, in the cowardice of grief,
left the dumb brute, alone, to tell Of his
masters fate.
John Mattocks was hero of the noblest
mould. It's the traditionary impression of
the people around Kings Mountain, that he
planned the battle in which he lost life. It
was just such plan as turkey hunter would
propose, and john Mattocks was hunter
and knew every square yard Of the wilds Of
Kings Mountain. Certain it is, he did
some service, for which he was promoted
to the grade of Captain, few hours before
the battle was begun. His reply to the COM
piimant was as noble as ever came from a
Spartan hero. Il do not knov,' he said 'ho,c
to handle spord, but, wiM my rifle, IwiN
go ahead Of as many men as soiU .follop me-
All, fancy, that can see him Gtriding
along before his men up the mountain side,
tall, muscular, with the sinews of his swar-
thy neck strained to the utmost in his ca
gerness discharge his duty. And when en-
veloped in the return tide of battle, and Ma
ior Chronicles clear voice was heard forbid
ding the Fork Boys to run, then did John
Mattocks grasp his rifle near the muzzle, and
describe around his brawny shoulders death
circle of ten feet radius. But he fell. They
dragged him to the spring, the traces Of
which can be seen at the foot Of the ravine,
and, with their powder-blacksned hands, dip