Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-06
MistaFp pt ~ GatuIina.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN

Written for the Yorkville enquirer.
THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM. , {. ..
60 heaven ~ they said, "Our bleeding country save!
Is there no hand on high to shield the brave?
What though destruction sweep these lovely plains!
Rise fellow men Our country yet remains; ..
By that dread wave the sword on hfgh
And swear for her to live for her to dle"
! CANPBELL's PLEASURE OF Horr
The year seventeen hundred AMI eighty
was the darkest period in the Revolutionary
struggle. From the mountains to the sea-
board, gloom rested upon the whole country.
For FIVE years the colonies, against fearful
odds, had been battling for freedom' The
country was overrun, its treasury was empty,
and its soldiers were hungry and naked.
From the hills of Massachusetts, to the ga
vannas of Georgia, darkness that could
be both seen and felt, enveloped the land.
This was especially the cass in South Carroll
ma and Georgia. From the repulse OF o!r
Peter Parker, on the 2Sth of June, 1776, until
the autumn of 1879, South Carolina, although
in open and determined rebellion against the
mother country, enjoyed comparative peace.
Supplies Of arms and munitions of war, to-
gether with food and clothing for the army,
were landed by different nations Of Europe,
at Charleston. From this point, these things,
together with rice and other products of the
| fields of South Carolina, were transportedy by
wagon trains, as far North as New Jersey.
During this period, South Carolina grew and
Aourished, Notwithstanding the existence of
| war: - .. 's'. e.
r. IL 81 1870 +Lo soo,o baro,s IL
change. Col. Campbell was sent from New
York, by. Sir Henry Clinton, to reduce sa-
vannah, the capital of Georgia. On the 10Th
of December, General Howe was forced to
capitulate. Georgia fell into the hands Of
the enemy, aud South Carolina now became
border State, exposed to the active mill
tary operations Of the enemy. A bloody
struggle was made near year atterward tor
the recovery of Savannah, but it proved un-
successful It soon became evident that the
British were determined to capture Charles
ton. Provost, in May, 1779, had attempted
to take the city by siege, but his plans were
frustrated by the adroitness Of Governor but
ledge and the military prowess Of General
Moultrie.
On the 26th of December, 1779, Sir Henry
Clinton, with the larger part of his army,
sailed from New York for the South. In
January of the following year, he landed on
the coast of Georgia! He had but one object
in view, and that was the crushing of the re-
bellion in all the Southern Colonies: His
purpose was to begin at the southern extrem-
ity and 60 northward, leaving the country in
his rear in complete and absolute, it not viii
ling, submission to the British government
The first thing to be done to effect his pur-
pose, was the reduction of Charleston. On
the 10th of February, he set out from Savan-
| nah to accomplish the cherished purpose OF
his heart. He was successful. Whether all
was done that could have been done to save
the city, or not, we will not here inquire
Perhaps it would have been wise, under the
existing circumstances, not to have attempted
its defense. The attempt, however, was made
Sir Henry Clinton commenced and carried on
the siege with as much respect to the rules OF
military science, as If he had been conduct
ing the siege of an old walled town. Redu.
ced almost to starvation, and lily provided
for every way to stand SIEGE. the defenders
of the city, after close siege of nearly
eight weeks, capitulated on the 18th Of May,
1880. The terms of the surrender were
hard, and the conduct of the British COM
mander afterward was calculated to cast a
gloom over, the patriots. The civil govern
ment of Britain was established in the city,
and plans were laid for establishing it over
the whole State. Everything was done that
could be done, to encourage the tories and
loyalists and dishearten the patriots.
Early in June, Clinton and the feet sailed
for New Y York, leaving Lord CORVALLIS to
complete the establishing of civil government
in the State He commenced his march
northward. Parties were sent out in all di-
rections to disperse the patriots and gather up
the tories and loyalists with which to swell
his ranks. This was not enough. He deter.
mined to force those who, from the results Of
war; were resting quietly, to take up arms
against their friends and against the cause
which they loved Lord CORVALLIS soon
found that the country still remained, and
there were many who had sworn for it to live
and for it to die.
In the State, at this time, there was not a
regularly organized army. There were small
parties Of men, in almost every section of the
State, who disputed every inch ofground with
CORVALLIS. Still he pushed on. Tories and
loyaists focked to his standard, and many
who, heretofore, had been regarded as good
Whigs sought British protection. The coun-
try was full of tories and British. Property
was destroyed, old men and children were
abused and cursed, and women insulted.
Many, in dependency, gave up the cause as
hopeless. Calamity after calamity fell upon
the afflicted country. On the 18th of ofAugust,
General Gates, the hero of Saratoga, was de-
feated and his army routed near Camden.
Two days after, the brave Sumter was sur
prised at Fishing Creek, by Tarleton, and his
command scattered.
Such was the general condition of things
in this State and in Georgia, that many brave
men had hid themselves beyond the noun.
tains, that, like Alfred of old, they might
emerge from these mountain fastnesses and
rout the invading foe. These voluntary ex-
lies received a welcome from the patriots of
Watauga and Nollichucky. There they met
Isaac Shelby and John Sewer. Amongst
those refugees was Colonel Clarke, of Geor-
gia, with about one hundred of his overpow-
cred, but not subdued men. These refugees
told the tale of suferings which they had
seen in the States Of Georgia and South Car
olna. Their story aroused the patriotism
and stirred. the spirits Of the hardy pioneers
of the forest.
After the defeat of Gates at Camden, Corn
wallis, as had been done by his predecessor,
Clinton. proceeded at once to establish q civil