The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-21
The Kings Mountain Centennial.

Nothing contributes more to that revi-
val of national sentiment at the South,
which is now one of the chief objects of
American craftsmanship, than the patri-
otic celebration of those glorious achieve
ments in the first revolution which were
accomplished by Southern men upon
Southern soil, and the memory of which
links our State pride with the glory of
the Union. It is therefore fortunate that
the meeting which was held at Kings
Mountain on the 25th of July, to organ
ize for Centennial celebration of the
battle which occurred there on the 7th of
October, 1880, was composed of men of
influence and intelligence, and that the
measures they adopted were such as are
best calculated to accomplish the end in
view.
The battle of Kings Mountain was one
of those abnormal contests which so fire.
quently occurred during the revolution,
each one of which illustrates what the
results of the revolution itself proved, the
inadequacy of military science, even when
supported by numbers and courage, to
overcome the advantages given by ardent
and reckless patriotism and thorough
knowledge of the scene of operation.
The british and their Tory allies were
superior in number to the patriots, and
occupied vastly superior position, and
their commander, Col. Patrick Ferguson,
was an experienced officer and man of
undaunted courage. But the Americans
divided themselves into three parties and
attacked from three different directions.
The first that attacked him Ferguson
charged with the bayonet and drove
down the hill, but in so doing he exposed
himself to heavy flank fire from the
second party, and when he turned on
them the first rallied and the third joined
in the fray. In hand to hand encoun-
ter Ferguson was killed by Col. Williams,
his troops became disheartened, and see-
ing they were out-Generaled and sur
rounded, surrendered, as they had fought
according to rule. 1t was fight OF
which the conquered had no reason to be
ashamed, but of which the victors were
Justly proud, and which the defendants
of those victors may we'll celebrate as a
glorious event in the history of their
country.
The plan of organization for the
Kings Mountain Centennial proposed by
the meeting, embraces the seven States
of North and South Carolina, Georgia,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and
West Virginia. An Executive Com
mitteee was appointed, headed by Col
Asbury Coward, whose position as the
the head of the Kings Mountain Militia,
ry School and his military training and
personal popularity and influence emf
nently fit him to performI. effectively the
duties of that Office. There are also
Committees on invitations and CORES
pondence, on troops, on police, on trans
portation, on ways and means, on his
torical records, on a monument and on
preparations of the grounds, on all which
appear the names of men of ability and
| influence. 1t was determined to memo
rialize the Legislatures of the seven
States already mentioned for such assis-
tance in the celebration as:they may see
fit to give, and, in short, a most thorough
organization was effected of all interes-
ted in the patriotic object of the meeting
and there is every reason to expect the
Kings Mountain Centennial to be the
greatest American celebration ever held
6v Sontberners.-Neus and Courier.