Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-16
NUMBER 20.
BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
A Notable Contest That Was Fought In
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 west
ern waters, had crossed by wooded and
PERCEPTIONS deiiles to the help OF the
beaten men Of the plains. Ferguson at
once fell hack, sending out messengers
for help. When he came to Kings
mountain, a wooded, hogback hill on
the border line between North and South
Carolina, he camped on its top. DEEM
ing that there he was safe, for he sup
posed that before the backwOodsmen
could come near enough 10 attack him
help would reach him But the back
woods leaders felt as keenly as he the
need If 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 fords
Of the rushing rivers. All the next day,
the 9Th Of October, they rode, too, until
in mid afternoon they came IN sight II
King mountain
The little armies were about equal in
Numbers Ferguson's regulars were
armed with the bay0net, and 50 We're
some If his Tory militia, whereas tho
Americans had not bayOnet among
them, but they were picked men, conf
dent in their skill with the rife and
they were SO sure Of victory that their
aim was not only to defeat the British.
but 20 capture their whole fJ.cel The
backwoods colonels, counsoling togc ther
~ they rode at the head Of the column,
decided 20 surround the mountains and
assail il on all sides Accordingly the
bands Of frontierSmen split ore fTDin tho
other and soon cncircled the craggy hill
| where Ferguson ; forces were encanped
...cy lrt. their horses in the rear and
Immediately began the battle, swarm
ing forward on foot, their commanders
leading the attack
The march had been so quick and the
! attack So sudden that Ferguson barely
had time 20 marshal his men before the
assault was made Most II his militia
be- scattered around the top Of the hill
20 fire down at the Americans Ia they
cane up, while drawing mp his regulars
and u few picked militia hc charged in
person with the bayonct, first down one
| side II the mountain and then down the
other. Sewer. Shelby, Campbell and tho
other colOnels # the frOntiersmen led
each his force of rihemcn straight to-
ward the summit Each body IN turn
when charged 10y the regulars was forced
20 give way, for they had no bayonets
! whcrew.th ~ meet their foes, but the
| backw00dSmcn rctreatod only 50 long ~
the ch.rrc lasted, and the minute that
it stopped they stopped. too, and came
back ever closer 20 the ridge and ever
with "A dcadlicr fire Ferguson, blowing
| a silver whistle as Il signal 10 his men,
| led these charges, sword III hand. on
horseback. AT last, just as he was once
again rallying his men. the riflemen of
Sewer and Shelby crowned the top Of
tie ridge. !Ac gallant British COM
| mander bcc.Iac fair target for the
backwoolsmcu. 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 in a
confused mass. while the exultant Amer
leans rushed forward 4 flag Of truce
was hoisted and all the British who
were not dead surrendered. Hero
lales From American History, ~ by
Theodore Roosevelt, in 81 Nicholas