St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-10-12
At KINGS MOUNTAIN.


bSOeoDaS
tio~ary War.
Two or three days later word was
brought to Ferguson that the Back
water men had come over the noun
tains; that the Indian-6ghters Of the
frontier, leaving unguarded the homes
ON the western waters, had crossed by
wooded and precipitous defiies to the
help of the beaten men OF the plains
Ferguson at once fell back, sending
ont messengers for help Whom he
came to Kings mountain--a wooded.
hog-back hill on the border line be-
tween North and South Carolina-he
camped on its top. deeming that there
he was safe; for he supposed that be-
fore the backwoodlsmen could come
near enough to attack him, help would
reach him. But the backwoods lead
ers felt as keenly NJ he the need OF
haste, and choosing ont their picked
men-the best warriors OF the force
and the best mounted and armed-they
made long forced march TO assaii
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 of Kings noun
tain.
The little armies were about equal
in numbers, Ferguson's regulars were
armed with the bayonet and 50 were
some of his Tory militia, whereas the
Americans had not bayonct among
them; bat they were picked men, con-
fident in their skill with the rifle. ana
they were SO sure Of victory that their
aim was not only to defeat the British.
but to capture their whole force. Tho
backwoods colonels. counseling to-
gether rs they rode 1T the head OF the
column, decided to surround the noun
tain and assail it ON all sides Ac-
cordingly, the bands OF frontiersmen
split one from the other. and soon en-
circled the craggy hill where Fergu-
sons forces were encamped. They
left their horses in the rear. and imme-
diately began the battle. swarminR
forward ON foot, their commanders
leading the attack
The march had been SO quick and
the attack 50 sudden that FergusOn
barely had time TO marshal his men be-
fore the assault was made. Most OF
his militia he scattered around the top
of the hill to fire down ut the Ameri-
cans rs they came up; while drawing
mp his regulars and few picked MI
litia, he charged in person, with the
hayOnet. first down one side Of the
mountain and then down the other.
SEWER. Shelby. Campbell and the 9TH
er colonels Of the frontiers men led
each his force Of rifemen straight to-
ward the summit Each body in turn,
when charged by the. regulars,
was forced to give way. for they
had NO bayOnets wherewith TO meet
their foes; but the backwoods men
retreated only SO long as the charge
lasted, and the minute that it stopped
they stopped too, and came back ever
closer to the ridge, and ever with \
deadlier fire. Ferguson. blowing
silver whistle aa = signal to his men.
led these charges, sword in hand, ON
horseback. At last, just rs he was
once again rallying his men, the rihe-
men of Sewer and Shelby crowned the
top of the ridge. The gallant 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 hnd-
died together in . confused mass,
while the exultant Americans rushed
forward. A nag Of truce was hoisted.
and all the British who were not dead
surrendered Roosevelt, in
st. Nicholas.