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

name Of mountain. IL N q narrow ridge
Of ground about a third Of mile long, and
nj lis greatest breadth not more than 800
feet wide--a nero spur OF loitier emf
nencc known as Kings mountain. Stand
ing anywhere upon It's summit n man IL
within short range OF n riileman posted on
either side Of the hin. Its sides slope
stecply, and at the time Of the battle were
covered with a heavy growth Of timber,
behind which the ASSISTANTS could shield
their approach; but at the summit they
would be met by a high cscarpmcnt OF
rocks, broken, jagged aud hcapcd con-
fnsedly together, forming in many places
a brcaslwork as difficult 10 scale rs the
stone walls OF fortress. Behind these
rocks Ferguson was posted, his baggage
wagons drawn together to protect the most
exposed point OF his position, which was
at the WIDER extremity Of the elevation. A
portion of Fereuson's troops were British
regulars, the rest were tories, whom he
had carefully drilled during several
months. These las, were armed with
butcher knives, set firmly into the muEzles
OF their pieces, and Ferguson relied on
them with nearly rs much confidence ~
ON his famous regulars Defended by such
soldiers. he regarded his position as i'm
prcpablc.
The oycrmomtan men had marched
for thitiy-siN hours with scarcely any rest
or food, hut nov pausing only long enough
"a strap their blankets Ia their saddles and
tethcr their horses among the trees, they
filed rapidly around the ridge 10 attack an
enemy thus strongly posted, refreshed by
rest aud sleep. and. as their leaders knew
from the captured dispatches, considerably
their superior In numbers. Sewer led the
way with his right wing, Cleveland and
Williams followed with the left, and
Campbell and shelby with the center
brought M the rear, aud In this order the
combined forces moved steadily Ia their
assigned places These taken, they would
completely cncircle the enemy's position.
Shelby and Campbell having shorter
distance 10 march than the Others, they
would be- the inst Ia reach their places
but orders were given them 10 defer the
attack until SEWER aud Cleveland should
~, into position, when Sewer should raise
the Tennessee yell, and all should rush
simultaneously upon the enemy. But the
early firing OF tho British frustrated this
arrangement.
whcn-ihc British bullets began to fall
among slilbyt men they pleaded for per
mission 90 return the fire; but lac an.
swcrc,E No. Press on 10 your places, and
your frc ain not be- wasted. " They
prcssed rapidly on, and thus the battle
began ten minutes bciorc SEWER aud
Cleveland could reach their assigned posi-
tons Meanwhile, hearing the firing,
Campbell ordered ms men Ia scale the hill
and attack on the side opposite to shelby.
The doughty Presbyterian was In his shirt.
sleeves, stripped for the fight; and, waving
A. 4 Ii.
como down 20 him from his Scottish anccs-
tors, he shouted 10 his mem "llcre they
an, my brave boys, shout like h-ll. and
fight lkc dcvils.n The ground at this
point IA craggy. abrupt aud difficult 81 ~.
cent; but, creeping slowly mp the ACTIVITY,
and dodging from tfce 10 tree, u was mol
many minutes before Campbclis wcp
near the summit. There they paused, ant
poured In vollcy upon the solid mass q
British, which moved them down M grain
N moved down by the sickle. Az tn
same moment Shelby, having reached hi
position, opened a fire ON the British real
and soon the signal yell of SEWER brok
from the further end Of the hill. and III
deadly work began all around the noun
ain. The shout was taken up 10y III
whole attacking force, I'LL the WOO,
echoed with the uncarhly suund-mol
terrible even than the sharp crack of Il
backwoods rifles. Hearing a. d. Pcysic
the British second In command, said
Ferguson. This Il ominous these nj
tho~c yelling devils" lie had heard th
shout ut Musgroye's Mills, aud knew TIA
u meant desperate fighting
but Ferguson was not 10 be iniimidat,
by Wells or bullets. Instantly, he orlcrc
his regulars "a charge down upon CAM
bell with the bayonct, aud like forre
tories TO driyc shelby from the other Aid
with their butcher.kniycs. Campbell
men Tell back slowly I'LL some Of thcl
were thrust through aud through, whc
the rest rctrcaiod more mpidly 90 the vel
loot Of the hill and even beyond H. III
Campbell had them well In hand. Whs
II scctned 10 him hat they had gone {
enough he called 10 them 10 halt aud .
load; This they did Ia n moment, ~
NJ the hill they went again driving Il
British bcioro them, and pouring up,
them rapid fire that crimsoncd the hi
side.
In a similar manner Shelby was dnv
down the opposite slope by the buich
knife bayonets Of the Tories. Firing
they went his men fell back slowly 10 /
foot of the dccliyily. However, fall
back with them, as with Campbell, ,
not mean retreat. Every man know Il
be the prcaIrangcd tactics OF the loado
aud whom Shelby shouted, Now, bo
reload, and lets advance and give IN,
another IRE, they quickly turned. form
IN columns, and went up the hill aga
their leader at their head.
Sewer and Cleveland had already Join
In the attack, and now. says Shelby, ~
mountain was covered with fame a
smoke, and seemed 10 thunder" +
thousand stalwnft men were wrcsll
there IN lilo aud death struggle, and
shouts u tlrs combaianls, the cries Of
wounded, the means Of the dying. m
Cling with the sharp reports oithe rifle, .
le startling Indian yell that every n
A. then broke forth along the Amer,
lines, ssatlc up-s din that was dcaion
and appalling Such IL war, stripped
IL sham glory. and seen IN H. utter max
ncss-a carnival Of wild beasts, past
Tor devils. II great principles were no
stake, II through such fiery ordeals
race Of man did not rise 10 higher Lowell
progress and freedom, what human be
would have the heart 20 turn a sin
paec Of this worlds bloody history
AZ Cleveland led bis men into the fe
hc cried, pointing 10 the crest Of the
down which heavy fire was plungi