Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-17
BATTLE oFF KINa5s- MOUNTAIN.
A Notable Contest That Was Fought Tn
 the ReNeIusionarY WaR.

"A NOCADi@ contest iZ2S EOIssHB Ah
 the Revolutionary War.
 Two or three days later word was brought to Ferguson that the Backwater men had come over the mountains; that the Indian fighters of the frontier, leav- ing unguarded their homes on the vest ern waters, had crossed by wooded and precipitous> defiles to the help of the beaten men of the plains. Ferguson at once fell back, sending out messengers for help When he came to Kings mountain, a wooded, hogback hill or the border line between North and South Carolina, he camped on its top, deem- ing tlaat there he was safe, for he sup posed that before the backwoodsmen could come near enough to attack him help would reach him. But the back woods leaders felt as keenly as he the need of haste, and choosing out their picked men-the best warriors of the force and the best mounted and armed they made long forced march to as sail Ferguson before help could come to him. All night long they rode the dim forest trails and splashed across the lords of the rushing rivers. All the next day, the 9th of October, they rode, too, until
 
 Kings mountain.
 The little armies were about equal in numbers Ferguson's regulars were armed with the bayonet, and so were some of his Tory militia, whereas the Americans had not Q bayonet among them, but they were picked men, conf dent ill their skill with the rife, aud they were so sure of victory that their aim was not only to defeat the British, but to capture their whole forceI The backwoods colon&ls, counseling together as they rode at the head of the colun1f, decided to surround the mountains and assail it OH all sides. Accordingly the bands of frontiersmen split one from the other and soon encircled the craggy hiii where Ferguson B forces were encamped. They left their horses in the rear and immediately began the battle, swarm ing forward otE foot, their commanders leading the attack.
 The march had been so quick and the attack so sudden that Ferguson barely had time to marshal his men before the assault was made. Most of his militia he scattered around the top of the hill to fire down at the Americans as they came up, while drawing up his regulars and a few picked militia he charged in | person with the bayOnet, first down one side of the mountain and then down the other. Scvier, Shelby, Campbell and the other colonels of the frontiersmen led | each his force of rifiemen straight to- ward the summit. Each body in turn when charged by the regulars was forced ! to give way, for they had no bayonets | whereWiih to meet their foes, but the | bacl1woodsmen rctreatCd only so long as the charge lasted, and the minute that l it stopped they stopped, too, and came back ever closer to the ridge and ever with deadlicr fire. Ferguson, blowing silver whistle as signal to his men, led these charges, sword in hand, on l horseback. At last just as he was once l again ra1lying his men, the riflemen of Sevier and Shelby crowned the top of 1 the ridge. The gallant British com n1ander became fair target for the l backwoUlsmcn, and, as for the last time he led his men against them, seven bull lets entered his body, and he fell dead. | With his fall resistance ceased. The reg ulars and Tories huddled together i'll a ! confused mass. while the eXultant Amer | jeans rushed forward. A flag of truce was hoistcd, and all the British who were net dead surrendered - Hero Tales Frcm American History" by Theodore Roosevelt, ill St. Nicholas.