The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-10-14
KINGS MOUNTAIN.


Andre comes that of the battle of Kings Noun
tain, which the people of Charlotte n. c., are
preparing to celebrate on Thursday next The
eentennials of the Revolutionary events of 1880
possess all unusual interest, for in that year the
patriot -esuse reached its greatest depression,
and ITS closing days were marked by q revival
which continued until independence was finally
achieved. The disastrous battle of Camden viz
tually ended all organized resistance in the
Southern Colonies, and the British officers con-
graduated themselves that further hostilities in
that section were not to be feared. CORVALLIS
started northwaId from Camden on a leisurely
march through the Carolinas, for the purpose of
encouraging, by the display of his weli-equipped
force, the exultant loyalists, and increasing the
dependency of the patriots His cavalry IN
der Tarleton, spread the red-coat influence later
ally to long distances on each side of the route
of the main army; and u battalion under Mai
Ferguson was dispatched ON a circuit through
the extreme western counties, in order TO
strengthen toryism among the mOuntaineers
CORVALLIS little thought that in sending out
this small force he was preparing an occurrence
which would rekindle the fires of re olution and
restore the shattered hopes of the country; yet
so il happened.
Ferguson was one of the crack officers of the
British nmy-a sort of Hayelock among officers
of his rank. A man of culture, he was famous
among his comrades as IN inventive genius; and
in the history of firearms he stands credited
with contrivances which were m-ritorious when
re-Inyented, nearly century later. Both he
and his chief anticipated nothing more than n
sort of triumphal excursion for the force which
he led to the mountains; but there was a vitali-
~ in the patriotism of that mountain region
with which they We're totally unacquainted.
When he approached the North Carolina line, he
found himself suddenly beset by an army which
seemed to spring from the forest as a spOntane-
Gus production. His own force had been in
creased by accessions of tory volunteers TO about
] 200 men; and the mountain patriots, incensed
af nf thesa Ia
lies, hastily assembled TO the number of a thou
sand, and mounting themselves on fleet horses
suddenly confronted their marauding neighbors,
when least expected. They found Ferguson
| strongly posted a small eminenee called
Kings Mountain, and attacked him, without a
moments delay. According to all the accepted
maxims of war, the battle which followed should
have been a defeat for the patriots. They were
practically without that commonly supposed in
dispensable requisite for military success COM
mander.
The controlling spirit was young Virginia
militia Captain named Isaac Shelby, afterwards
well-known as Governor Of Kentucky, and q
sharcr with Harrison in the victory of the
Thames They attacked in three divisions with
no controlling supervision to maintain the con-
cert of action previously agreed upon, vet,
strange to say, their plan worked to the end
without arrangement Their tactics were sim
pie, but were admirably adapted to the situa-
tion. Their force was an aggregation of sharp
shooters, and they arranged with rare Judgment
to give effect to their superior marksmaHship
From every available cover they poured steady
and accurate fire into the British ranks, which
soon became so destructive that Ferguson was
driven to charge them with his regulars But
the divisions successfully fell back as the bayo-
nets advanced, only to follow them as they re-
tired, and the gallant British commander was
unable to check the pitiless storm of bullets be-
fore which his men were rapidly falling. After
an hours fighting, during which nearly half the
British force was killed OF wounded, Ferguson
fell while bravely leading another futile charge,
and the battle was terminated by the surrender
of the survivors. While the loss of the British
was terribly severe, that of the attacking force
was triiling-not exceeding score or two, all
told. The great disparity of loss can only be at
tributed to the superior tactics of the patriots,
who, without a commander, maintained the
unity of their operations throughout.
The remarkable battle was a surprise to both
sides. 1t was totally unexpected by the loyal
lists, and was the result of local effort, of
which the first news that reached the ears of the
Continental authorities was its success The
men who fought the battle of Kings Mountain
| fought it on their own responsibility, and their
| friends in the country at large were no less as
founded than their foes. But the effect Oh the
| two parties was widely different. The despOnd-
ent patriots of the South became suddenly Ella
ted and hopeful, while the jubilant loyalists
were cOrrespondngly depressed. Affairs i'm
South Carolina Immediately became so threat
| ening that CORVALLIS was compelled to hastily
return thither, and abandon his march north
ward. The British officers were impressed with
a belief that the struggling colonists were pos
sesSed of a latent power of resistance of which
they had not dreamed in their philosophy, and
their faith in virtually completed conquest
| vanished, never to return. From that time on
| ward, British ascendency i'll the Southern Colo
MES steadily declined. Some three months af-
| forward TarletOn struck Morgan at the Cowpens,
and another severe defeat of the British made
amends for the disaster of Camden. To the he
af Ill. IL