The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-05-28
For the Times.
Tho KinR,s Mountain Cantannial.


The battle of Kings Mountain was fought on
the 7th day of October, 1880. The battle ground,
a high stoney ridge. is u 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.
| After the year 1879, oil the important mill
tary operations Of the Revolutionary 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, 178O, Charleston, after siege
Of several weeks, was taken by tho enemy, and
General Lincoln was compelled to surrender his
army Of about five thousand men. AT Sanders
Creek, near Camden, the Americans under Gen
eral Gates were defeated with heavy loss, on
| the 10th day of August, 17S0. General Sumter
| (familiarly known as the "Game Cock, y
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 over-run by the British,
who plundcrcd 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 aud despon-
dency that had fallen on the glorious cause Of
! IAmericafa independence was soon to be dispeled,
! and 'he Au uaeriOons would ere long, by their
! ;n1Incio,e spirit of patriotism anu bravery.
achieve great victory over even the flower Of
British soldiery. October 7th, 1870, was the
memorable day and Kings Mountain the i'm
mortal spot.
1.-The destiny of American liberty was in the
hands of n few undisciplincd 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 grounl for several hours, the British
were defeated and lost eleven hundred men in
| killed, wounded and prisoners-thc 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
5. c., who was also slain.
1t is generally conceded that this battle did
much to hasten the overthrow Of British power
! in tho South and the final surrender of Lord
| CORVALLIS ut Yorktown, Virginia, on the 10th
day Of October, 1871.
| 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 the noble and patriotic work.
| The State of South Carolina has made an 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 q 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
villes contribution will be five 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 expcnd i've thous-
and dollars for n suitable monument to be erec-
tod on the battle ground On the 22I day Of
June the Centennial Association holds its next
meeting, at Charlotte, n. c., when the Cummis-
sioners app tinted by the Governors of North
Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee will be
present, for the purpose of making arrange
mcnts necessary for the celebration of the bat
tie of Kings Mountain. On the 23l day of
June the Corner Stone Of the monument is to
be laid.
Union is expected to contribute at least two
hundred dollars in aid Of the celebration, and
surely a County that can boast of such true and
tried Revolutionary soldiers as Brandon, Hughes,
jolly, McJunkin, Farr, Giles, Long, Young,
Jetfries and others, will not fail to respond
literally to the call of the Association.
Major John W. Daniel, the eloquent and chiv-
alric Virginian, will deliver the Centennial
Grafton on the 7th October, 1880. On that day
the great concourse Of people there gathered to-
gcthcr will feel that they stand on hallowed
ground, and ps they gaze on the monument then
unveiled, their thoughts will turn backward,
unto thc cvcntful day of October, 1780-when
there was no North and no South-whcn our
fore-fathcrs, side by side and shoulder to shoul-
der, fought like frcemcn long and wclr' 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
forcibly brought to remembrance, to join hands
with hearts, and pledge their ''sacred honor
to sink in the of oblivion the late sectional
its dead issues. Then, how appropriate tho
place and how proper the occasion, for tho
vast throng there collected from the North |
East West and South Of this broad land to
proclaim in voice that shall be heard to its |
rcmotcst bounds: We one Propie, hariny
OHe cOuniry aud 0nr RcSi,uy, and here we as |