Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-13

had broken up his camp. The two dc<erters
from Campbel's command had informed him
of what was going on. He knew the men he
had to deal with He had met some Of them
before. Wisely, he concluded that his safety
depended on getting out of their way. 1t
would not be true to say that Col. Ferguson
was frightened, for no Drawer man ever lived
or fought or died on a battlc-feld but he
most assuredly felt that he was in a critical
situation. CORVALLIS had already perceived
the danger with which Ferguson was sur
rounded and had ordered him to Join him at
Charlotte Ferguson now saw that it would
require all his skill to reach that point. On
breaking up his camp at Gilbert Town, he
sent two tories-Abe Collins and Peter
Quinn-to Cornwallis at Charlotte, to inform
that officer Of his critical situation and to re-
quest aid. The messengers were hlndcred on
the way by the presence Of the Wings in the
neighborhood, and did not reach Charlotte
until the 7th; consequently the aid was not re-
ceived. Ferguson, on leaving Gilbert Town,
made the impression that he was going to
Ninety-Six, and when Campbell and his par
ty arrived at Gilbert Town, they were told
that Ferguson was distant fifty or sixty miles.
This was a feint On the night Of the 4th
Of October, Ferguson camped at the Cow
pens, about twenty miles from Gilbert Town.
On the 9th, he crossed Broad river at Tate's
(since Dear's or Adair's) Ferry, and spent the
night about mile above the ferry. On the
9th, he pushed on up the ridge road between
Kings Creek and Buffalo Creek, until he
came to the fork. There he took the right
prong, leading across Kings Creek, through
Il pass in the mountain, and on in the drec-
ton Of Yorkvlle. Here, a short distance af-
ter crossing Kings Creek, on the right OF the
road, about two hundred and fifty yards from
the pass in the mountain, on an cmincnce
which he called Kings Mountain, and which
still retains the name, he cncamped, deter
mined to remain until his reintorcemcnts
from CORVALLIS would arrive.
From Gilbert Town to Kings Mountain,
he evidently was rctreating. He felt that he
had terrible foe to deal with. He begged,
he entreatcd, the tories and loyalists to turn
out and render him assistance. Finding that
gentle measures accomplished nothing, he
threatened to hang them if they did not
shoulder their mu<kcts and march against the
rebels His threats were as unavailing as his
entrcaties. On arriving at Kings Mountain,
he granted some of the royalists and tories
permission to 60 into the surrounding country
for the purpose Of beating up recruits
The inhabitants Of the region surrounding
Kings Mountain, were, with Il few exceptions,
tories. These recruiting officers Of Ferguson
went to plundcring their Wing neighbors.
Instead of hunting up recruits for the Kings
army, they went to robbing the gardens and
killing the hogs Of the Wings in the commune
ty. Here, strongly posted on Kings Noun
tain, let us, for a time, leave Col. Ferguson.
On the 9TH Of October, according to APP
pointmcnt, the troops under Williams, Lacy
and Hill arrived at the Cowpcns and about
sundown, the back-mountain men under
Campbell, came up. All the weak men and
horses belonging to each party had been left
behind, and only the best marksmcn and the
best rifles selected for the occasion. The uni
ted forces, selected for this bold enterprise,
amounted to eighteen hundred and fortythree,
Many of the officers were without commands.
occupying Simply the position ofmen in ranks,
1t was raining and dark, but all were enthu-
SiaStic. They had set out to find Ferguson.
and find him they would. An hour was Civ
en- the troops to rest, during which time two
beeves were killed, but the time was so short
that some Of the men did not get mouthful
prepared. There were several bands Of to-
rie< in the neighborhood, which they could
have easily captured, but they were in search
Of Ferguson, and they let the tories alone al
though it was known that these tories were to
join Ferguson the next day. BY eight o'clock
every man was in the saddle and on the trail
of Ferguson. 1t rained all night, and was
dark. The guide got lost for time The
men, in order to keep their guns dry, wrapped
them up with their over-coats and blankets
when they had them, and with their hunting
shirts when these were wanting. On the
morning of the 18th, just before sunrise, they
reached Broad river, about mile and halt
below Cherokee Ford, expecting to find Fer
guson on the east bank. They crossed the
river, and marched up its bank, and soon
came to FcrguSon's camp the night of the
9TH. Here Il halt was made, and those who
had anything to cat, eat it, and those who had
nothing did without. The delay was on y for
moment. Although hungry, wet and tired,
they pushed on with as much zeal as if the
search had just commenced. FerguSon's trail
was fresh, and they knew that they would
soon see who would do the hanging! For a
their own party, and learned nothing Of Fer
guson's whereabouts. When they had gone
about twelve miles, after crossing Broad river,
the advanced party met some persons coming
from Ferguson's camp. At the same time, Il
boy about fourteen years old, by the name Of
Fondcrn, was found in an old field. The
boy said his brother was in Ferguson's camp
The story Of the men and boy agreed, and
from them it was learned that FerguSon's
camp was only three miles distant. The To-.
cation was accurately described by these men
and young Fondcrin, and the intentions Of
Ferguson learned y dispatch, which he had
sent to CORVALLIS for aid, was attcrward i'll
tcrccptcd. From this his force was learned, and
also what he thought about being able to de-
fcnd himself. In that dispatch he boaStingly,
or rather protanely, we should say, declared
that such was the nature Of the place, he had
chosen for Il camp, "that all the rebels out Of
hell could not drive him from it" This dis.
patch, with the exception of the statement of
the number of Fcrguson's force, WAS read
aloud to the men, The officers held Il consul
tation on horseback, and concluded upon the
mode Of attack.
Itwas agreed that since Campbell had come
the greatest distance, and had brought the
largest number Of men, that he should be the
commandcr-n-chicf. 1t was now past twelve
o'clock. The rain had ceased, the clouds had
passed away, and the sun was shining brightly.
The pursuers of Ferguson had followed his
trail from eight o'clock on the previous night,