Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-03-27

"hu phcioy, ubooiub bleu Ou WdbduBd on
the Goth of September, 1880, with their
followers, and began their march on
the next day. Owing to the desertion
of two of their men who went over to
the enemy, they turned TO the left on
the top of the Allegheny Mountain,
Travelled worse route than ever anarmy
of horsemen did and on getting clear
of the mountains, they fell in with
Col. Cleveland, having with him three
or four hundred men, who were creep
ing along through the woods, to fall in
with any parties who were going to
oppose the enemy. This was about the
first of October. The second day after
was so wet that the army could not
move, but the officers commanding, as
by instinct, met in the evening and
held council, at which it was deter
mined to send to headquarters, wher-
ever it might Be, for general officer
to command them; that in the mean
time they would meet in council every
day to determine on the measures to be
pursued, and would appoint one of
their own body to put them in execu-
tion. But it was remarked to the coun-
Gil by Col. Shelby, that they were then
in striking distance of the enemy, not
more than sixteen or eighteen miles
from Gilberttown, where Ferguson
then lay, who would certainly attack
or avoid them, until he collected a
force which they dare not approach; !;
that it behooved the American army
to act with promptitude and decision,
and proposed to appoint one of their
own body to the command, and to
march the next day to Gilberttown,
and attack the enemy. He remarked,
too, that they were all North Caro-.
linians buG Col. Campbell from Vir-
ginia, whom he knew to be man of
good sense, and warmly attached to
the cause of his country, and that he
commanded a respectable regiment.
He therefore was nominated and ap-
pointed to the command.
Col. NJ M'Dowel was the commanding
officer of the district they were then
in, and had commanded all the sum-
mer against the same enemy. and
although brave man and friend to
his country, was supposed to be too far
advanced in life, and too inactive to
command on such an enterprise as they
were then about to embark in. Col.
M'Dowel proposed as he could not be
permitted to command, that he would
be the messenger to go for the general
officer; and he set off Immediately,
| leaving his men under the command
of his brother Joseph MDowel. On
his route about eight miles from camp,
he fell in with Col. John Williams of
South Carolina, and number of other
field officers from that State with
nearly 400 men, of which he informed
those he had left by express, and stated
that they would join the main army
the next morning, but they did not
join till the evening of the third day
after. The next morning after NJ Dow
els departure the army advanced to
Gilberttown. But Ferguson had de
camped, having permitted many of his
tories to visit their families, under
engagements to join him on short
notice. For that purpose he had out
expresses in all directions, and pub
lished an animated address to the
tories informing them of the advance
of the mountain men upon him, and
exhorting all his majesty's loyal sub
jects to repair to the standard, and to
fight for their king and country. In
the mean time he took circuitous
march through the country in which
the tories resided to gain time and tC
avoid the Americans until his forces
could join him. Having gained @
knowledge of his designs, it was deter
mined in council of the principal off
GERS to pursue him with all possible
dispatch. Accordingly. two nights be
fore the action, the officers were en-
gagged all night long in securing the
best men, the best horses, and the bes
rifles, and at the dawn of day to"k Fer
guson' trail. They pursued him with
9l0 expert marksmen, while those OF
foot and with weak horses were ordered
to follow. In the pursuit the Ameri
can troops passed near where severa
large parties of tories were assembled
and at the Cowpens, where Gen. Nor
gan afterwards defeated Col. Tarltou
they were informed of 600 tories at Mai
Gibbs, four miles to the right, wht
were assembled to join Ferguson tn,
, next day. But the mountain men haC
no other object but Ferguson, and hin
they pursued with so much steadiness
that for the last thirty six hours of tn,
pursuit they never alighted from thei
horses but once, to refresh at the Cow
; pens for an hour; although the day o
, the action was so extremely wet tha
the men could only keep their guns dr.,
, by wrapping their bags, blankets, ant
J hunting shirts, around the locks, there
/ by exposing their bodies to heav,
and incessant rain. About three O. 'clocl
in the saue day, the 7th of October
the pursuers came in sight Of the enem,
: encamped on Kings Mountain, an emf
nence extending from east TO west