The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-05-28
For tho Times
The Kings Mountain Centennial.s


a high stoney ridge. is a spur Of the Blue Ridge
mountains, and is situated in York County,
South Carolina, about seven miles distant from
the village of Kings Mountain, on the Atlanta
anil Charlotte Air Line Rail Road. l
After the year 1779, oil the important mill
tary operations Of the Revolutionary war were |
made in the South, and the cause Of the patriots
had become almost desperate. Georgia was al |
ready in the possession Of the British. On the
18th day of May, 17sO. Charleston, after siege
Of several weeks, was taken by tho enemy, and
General Lincoln was compelled to surrender his
army Of about Eve thousand men. At Sanders
Creek, near Camden, the Americans under Gen
oral Gates were defeated with heavy loss, on
the 16th day of August, 1880. General Sumter
(familiarly known as the "Game Cook
was surprised and his command routed by the
bold Tarleton, at Fishing Creek, on the 18th day
of August, 1880.
South Carolina was now in desolate condi-
tion. The Country was ovsr.run by the British,
who plundered the houses and destroyed the
property of its inhabitants. After such reverses
and disasters sustained by the Americans, many
who had been good Wings now went over to the
British. Yet, this night of gloom and despon-
dency that had fallen on the glorious cause Of
,American, independence was soon to be dispelled,
and iae Alkerioons woqld ere long, by their
.iaTrncioIe spirit of patriotism and bravery,
achieve great victory over even the flower of
British soldery. October 7th, 1880, was the
memorable day and Kings Mountain the i'm
mortal spot.
"The destiny of American liberty wns in the
hands of q few undsciplined militia" Col. Fer
guson, with his British regulars and Tory re-
cruits, was posted on the stony ridge. The patri-
OTIS commanded by their leaders, Campbell and
Shelby, Sewer and Mcdowell, Cleveland and
Williams, marched up the eminence and the
conflict began. After hotly contesting every
inch of groun1 for several hours, the British
were defeated and lost eleven hundred men in
killed, wounded and prisoners-the patriots lost
twenty men. Colonel Ferguson fell at the head
of his regulars, pierced by seven bullets, dying
it is said by the hands of Colonel Williams, Of
s. c., who was also slain.
1t is generally conceded that this battle did
much to hasten the overthrow Of British power
in tho South aud tho final surrender of Lord
CORVALLIS ut Yorktown, Virginia, on the 10th
day Of October, 1881.
The Kings Mountain Centennial Association
was organized in 1879, for the purpose of hold
ing Centennial Celebration of the battle of
Kings Mountain. The Association is making
good progress in tho noble and patriotic work
The State of South Carolina hos made on appro-
priation Of one thousand dollars in aid of the cec
bration North Carolina has appropriated fifteen
hundred dollars to aid in the erection Of suit
able monument on the battle ground the peo-
pie Of York County, South Carolina, have shown
their deep feeling and patriotism by subscribing
one thousand dollars. 1t is said that Green
ville's contribution will be i've hundred dollars
From such assurances given by the States of
North and South Carolina and from the encour-
States Of Tennessee and Virginia as we'll as from
other sources, the Association at its last meet
| ing appointed committee to expend five thous-
and dollars for suitable monument to be erec-
| tod on the battle ground. On the 22d day of
| June the Centennial Association holds its next
meeting, at Charlotte, N. c., when the Commis-
sioners appointed by the Governors of North
Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee will be
| present, for the purpose Of making arrange.
ments necessary for the celebration Of tho bat
tie of Kings Mountain. On the 23d day of
| June the Corner Stone of the monument is to
| be laid.
Union is ex xpected to contribute ut least two
hundred dollars in aid of the celebration, and
| surely County that can boast Of such true and
tried Revolutionary soldiers as Brandon, Hughes,
Jolly, McJunkin, Farr, Giles, Long, Young,
Jeffries and others, will not fail to respond
literally to the call Of the Association.
| 1T. -
alrio Virginian, will deliver the Centennial
oration on the 7th October, 1880. On that day
the great concourse Of people there gathered to-
gether, will feel that they stand on hallowed
ground, and IS they gaze on the monument then
unveiled their thoughts will turn backward,
unto che eventful day Of October, 178O-when
there was no North and no South-when our
fore-fathers, side by side and shoulder to shoul-
der, "fought like freemen long and welp' in de-
fence of this our common Country-for freedom
| and for home.
| What grand opportunity for the thousands
there assembled, having these great truths so
foroibly brought to remembrance, to join hands
with hearts. and pledge their "sacred honor"
to sink in the seq Of oblivion the late sectional
| strife, and to bury in its deepest depths
| its dead issues. Then, how appropriate the
place and how proper the occasion, for the
vast throng there collected, from the North,
East, West and South Of this broad land, 10
proclaim in voice that shall be heard to its
remotest bounds: We are one people, having
one country and destiny, and here, we, as
joint heirs Of the glorious heritage descended
to us from our fore-fathers, hero, on this mionu-
ment Of liberty, we, the people, solemnly de-
clare that this government is still o Union Of