The Portland daily press., 1895-07-19
THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
A Hard-Fought Combat of the Revolu-
tion

(Theodore Roosevelt in ST. Nicholas.
Two or three days later word was
brought to Ferguson that the Back-water
men had come over the mountains; that
thegIndian fighters of the frontier, leay
ing unguarded their homes on the west
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 noun
tain-wooded. hog back hill on the bor-
der line between North and South Caro-
lina-he camped on its top, deeming THAT
there he was safe; for he supposed that
before the backwoodsmen could come
near enough to attack him, help would
reach him. But the backwoods 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 assail 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-th hey
rode too until in mid afternoon they
came in sight of Kings mountain.
The little armies We're 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 a bayonet among
them; but they were picked men, conf
dent in their skill with the rifle, and they
were SO sure of victory that their aim was
not only to defeat the British, but to cap
ture their whole force! The backwoods
colonels, counseling together as they rode
at the head of the column, decided to sur
round the mountain and assail it on all
sides. Accordingly, the bands of from
tiersmen split one from the other, and
soon encircled the craggy hill where Fer
puson's forces were encamped. They left
their horses in the rear, and Immediately
began the battle, sWarmlng forward on
foot. their commanders leading the at
The march had been so quick and the
attack so sudden that Ferguson barelyhad
time to marshal his men before the as
sauIt 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 few
nicksd militia, he charged in person, with
the bayonet, first down one side Of the
seviey,: Shelby, Campbell and the other
colonies 4! the frontiersmen led each his
force Of riflemen straight toward the sum
NIT. Each body in turn, when charged
by the regulars, was forced to give way,
fot. they had no bayonets wherewith to
meet their foes; but the Dackwoodsmen
retreated only SO long as the charge last
ed and the minute that it stopped they
stonned too AMI came back ever closer to
p the pridge, and ever with deadlier a1is fire,
ferguson, blowing silver, whistle as a
signal to his men, led these charges,
sword in hand, on horseback At last,
Just as he was once again. rallyinag his
men. the rifiemen of Sevie and Shelby
crowned the top of the ridge. The gal
liant British commander became fair
target for the backwoodsmen; and, as for
the last time he led his men against them
seven bullets entered his body and he fell
dead, With his fall resistance ceased.
The regulars and tories huddled together
in confused mass, while the exultantt
Americans rushed forward. A flag of
&r1ce was hoisted. and all the British who
Mere not dead surrendered.