The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-08

shall keep on shooting till have killed
every one Of them" He said the same to
a second messenger, and he did not desist
till Sewer himself rode up to him. Then
the lad threw away his rifle, aud in
transport Of Joy embraced his father, whom
lac had thought killed by the Tories. IL
was that boy OF fifteen who WIS bound 10
90 10 the war;" and he had been misled as
10 his fathers death by the fall OF his
! Uncle Robert.
On that bloodstained hill there lay,
when night fell upon the carnage, 20
British dead and 1856 more or lcss severely
wounded. OF the corps OF regulars only
twenty were left III for duty. All the re-
mander OF Fcrguson's command were
prisoners. Not man escaped. The
American loss was only eight killed
and sixty wounded. The great disparity
between the American and British loss is
accounted for partly by the liability OF
down.hill firing 10 oveThoot the mark,
and partly by the deadly aim OF the west
ern rflcmcn, and their habit OF singing
out their enemy.
In concluding description Of this battle
In his "Rear-Guard Of the Revolution"
Edmond kirkc" remarks M follows ut
was remarkable battle. II We take no
account Of the small numbers engaged,
and consider only the valor displayed, and
the results that followed, IL must loo
classcd rs one Of the most notable conflicts
in American history. The British fought
~ well as liritons ever fought which Is
saying that they showed all the bravery OF
which man IL supposed 10 DC capable.
Their leader, too, displayed not only valor
and skill, but an indomitablo will and ex-
allied horoism. All through the fight he
was everywhere, animating his men, and,
NO long ~ lac lived, they might be shot
| down, but they could not be- conquered.
| And lac fell ut last because he preferred
death TO surrender. But lac fought against
| Sewer and Shelby. men ~ heroic rs he,
and actuatcd by lar higher motives. With
him IL was love OF glory, and loyalty
| 10 his king; with them, love OF freedom
and fidelity 10 the rights Of man, and 80,
In the long ages that arc coming, when
kings and king-cmft shall have persisted
from the earth, Ferguson will he account
cd brave soldier but Sewer and Shelby
will be among the heroes Of the race, and
~ will the unnamed 900 who, ON that
bloody day, faint with hunger and weary
with hard riding, marched 40 steadily
upon those British bayoncis. One Of
them received what was thought 10 be q
mortal wound In the abdomen, but his
life was saved because he had not tasted
food for iorty-eight hours. Said Sewer
when he was an old man, and the country
was on the eve Of n second war with Great
Britain: II was then ready 10 hazard
everything dear 10 man 10 secure our in
dependence. am now rs willing 10 risk
all to retain H." II was that spirit which
conquered nj Kings Mountain. The Brit
| ish power in the colonies was broken 10y
| this battle. II turned new page In
human history; and for its inception and
successful execution, the world " indebted
20 John SEWER, man who acted without
orders. fought without pay, and ncyc
asked for, or received, one dollar for hi
services, OF for his heavy expenditure II
the supply and equipment Of his soldicry
Surely this great nation, which he "
largely helped To build, should not let hi
name be forgotten.