The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-10-14
THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.

THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
On the occasion of the centennial
celebration of the battle of Kings
Mountain, fought in North Carolina
one hundred years ago, there were
assembled twelve thousand people
from many portions of the Union
The so-callcd mountain is a narrow
spur about one mile long, with an
average width of about thirty yards
and is one hundred feet high. The
ridge on one side is precipitOus, and
on the other it is very rugged, while
the whole is almost bare of vegeta-
ton. Such was the point where was
fought one of the most decisive
battles of the American revolution
In the year of which this is the
centennial, the patriot cause reached
its greatest depression. Arnold's
treason had troubled Washington in
the North and the disastrous battle
of Camden had ended all organized
resistance in in the Southern colo
nies. After his decisive defeat OF
the incompetent Gen. Gates, Lord
CORVALLIS started northward from
Camden on leisurely march
through the Carolinas, for the pur-
pose of encouraging, by the display
of his well-equipped force, the ex-
ultant loyalists and increasing the
dependency of the patriots. When
he arrived at Charlotte he halted,
sending Tar on to spread the red
coat influence along the great Gaia
waba, and dispatching Major Fer
guson into the counties along the
Broad. Ferguson was one of the
crack officers of the British army-a
sort of Havelock among officers OF
his rank. Both he and his chief an
ticipated nothing more than SORT
of triumphal excursion for the force
which he led to the mountains, but
when he approached the North Car.
DINA line he found himself beset by
an army which seemed to spring
from the forest and the very rocks
His own force had been increased
by accretiOns of Tory volunteers to
about 1900 men, and the mountain
patriots, incensed by the depreda-
lions of these ungOvernable allies
hastily assembled to the number OF
a thousand and mounting themselves
on fleet hOurses confronted him.
When, on the 9th of October
1880. the dashing major found HIM
self met at every point by the crack
of the rifle, lie pushed on to the
rugged spur which the Tories told
him was named from tho king.
Once OH the brow of the mountain
Ferguson selected what he believed
TO be an impregnable position and
said to Tory gentleman: "GOd
Almighty cOnld not drive me from
here" But Ferguson's foes were
wakeful and desperate. Among the
rocks around were Col. Isaac Shelby,
with a force from Sullivan county,
now part of Tennessee; Col. Will
liam Campbell, with men from Nir-
ginia; Col. Benjamin Cleveland,
Col. Charles Mcdowell. Col. John
Sewer and Col. James Williams, the
CarOlinians, the whole force num-
herring about 5000 men. From that
little army 1000 of the best men were
selected and Colonel Campbell was
selected to lead the attack. ID was
an impromptu unpaid army Of vol
mteers, hastily combined LOT the
purpose of Kidding the country OF
FergusOn's corps.
On ascertaining the exact location
of Ferguson's camp the army of pur-
suers formed in four columns and
marched onward. Colonel Camp
bell, with part of Cleveland's regi-
ment, commanded by Major Wins
ton, formed the right centre Col
onel SEWERS regiment composed the
right wing and the troops under
Colonel Williams and the remainder
of Colonel Cleveland's regiment,
commanded by himself, formed the
left wing, On arriving in full view
of the enemy the troops commanded
by Shelby, Sewer, Mcdowell, Camp
bell and Winston were ordered to
file to the right and pass around the
enemy's camp on the mountain.
Those under Cleveland, Chronicle,
Hambright and Williams were to file
to the left and pass round. Both
parties were TO continue their
march, without firing, until they
met; then the camp would be COM
pletely surrounded. The order was
then to face toward the enemy, raise
the Indian war-whoop and rush
forward upon the foe.
The advance upon the mountain
was made at 3 o'clock on the after
noon of October z. The day was
bright and cool. As the right wing
of Shelby's command passed into
range the British opened fire, which
was returned from their side of the
mountain by Shelby, Mcdowell and
Campbell. The fighting was terri
fic. The patriots faltered and turned
back. but hardly had the redcoats
time to cheer before the storming'
parties ofChronicle Hambright, Will
liams and Cleveland appeared on
their flank. Ferguson stood in the
midst of his men. who were falling
the seventy. first British regiment
fought with such spirit that in three
bay charges they crowded their
asSailants down the slope. In turn
the brave mountaineers struck for
the summit and drove the regulars
before them. Campbell, too. reached
the summit and poured upon the
enemy deadly fire.
The desperate Ferguson, like a lion
at bay, turned upon these new adj
and advanced with fixed
bayOnets. They gave way for a mo-
ment under this mpetuous charge,
but rallied again for the attack.
= The whole mountain was covered
with smoke and seemed to thunder"
But this valiant onslaught was ofno
avail. The Wings were surrounding
Ferguson and dire confusion was in
he British camp. Capt. Abraham
De PeiSter, of the Kings American
regiment, hoistcd a white flag, which
was instantly torn down by Fergu-
son. De PeiStcr raised il at the 9TH
er extremity of the camp. Fergu-
ION saw it and darted-- at it
With sword in hand and cut
{ down, swearing he would never
TO militia. lie had been
in the hand. but in this
hand he bore silver
which he blew ever and
mon, its shrill sound inspiring the
with renewed courage.
But that new born hope and cour-
ICE was soon to die. for while the
Ferguson was urging his
men onward, his brave heart was
'ierced by bullet from some I'M
=. 4 4.