The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-28

two armies mot within few miles of
tho town. The ever confident Gen.
Gates displayed little ability In the
management OF this battle; tho militia,
being placed In front, gave way before
the charge OF tho British regulars.
creating u panic which 1t was impossi.
BILE to arrest. Among tho killed was
the brave Baron do Kalb, who had
generously taken up arms in the cause
OF independence. Con. Gates, having
lost almost hall his men and all his
baggage, iled into Northu Carolina.
| Another disaster was sustained by
Inc Americans at Fishing Creek,
where sumter, encountered with pris-
oners and baggage, was surprised and
routed by TarletOn. Almost his ontire
command wore other killed or cap
tured. Lord Cornwallis, seeing the
rooel forces dispersed, proceeded 70
Charlotte, leaving Tarleton and l'orgu-
son to overcome the inhabitants of tho
"back country" Ferguson encamped
on Kings Mountain, where he was at
tackled with great fury by II purity of
Wings, collected for the purpose from
tho up..country and tho adjoining
States of Virginia, North Carolina and
Coils. Campbell, Cleveland, Williams,
Sewer and Shelby. The attack was
made simultaneously from tho four
sides OF tho mountain, the several di-
visions advancing under cover Of tho
trees and delivering their firo rs they
went The action was short and de-
kcisive, and the death Of Ferguson was
followed by ~ surrender of his force.
But two hundred OF them escuped, ,
leaving behind them thirteen hundred
comrades, killed, wounded and prison
Al u 11I h,,s1l l.>c
The gallant Col. Williams lost his life
In this battle. His friend Col Ham
mond, went to his side when hc fell,
and received his dying command :,
Never give up the hill"
Con. Gates, having exchanged his
Northern laurcls for Southern will
lows" was recalled, and Gen. Grceno
was appionted in his place. In Deccm-
ber, 1850, he reached tho Southern
army which ho himself decrlbed as a
shadow without q substance" The
undauntcd Sumter, after his defeat at
Fishing Creek, had collected u new
corps Of volunteers. With this small
force, and no Continental army in the
State, he had kept the field for more
than three months, and had so harass.
ed the onemy that they could only
move with caution and difficulty. He
operated about Eporee, Broad and
Tiger Rivers. Gen. Greene sent Gen.
Morgan with a part Of his force to
the rclief Of Ninety-SiX. Lord Corn
wallis, who had returned to the State,
dispatched Tarleton TO overtake Nor
gan, which he did at Coupons. A
fierce and hard fought battle ensued
In which the British wore defeated,
with aloss to the patriots Of only twelve
men killed and sixty wounded. Never
| l.
the defoat OF Tarleton destroyed the
terror of his name and the friends of
liberty took fresh courage. Congress
presented u gold medal to Gen. Nor
gan, one Of silver each to Lieutenant
Generals Washington and Howard, a
sword to Gen. Pickens, and promoted
others who greatly distinguished them
selves.
Lord Cornwallis, to recover the
prisoners, hastencd to intercept Nor
gan, but failed because Of rise in the
Catawba River. Shortly afterwards
Gen. Greene arrived and took COM
mand OF Morgan's army. He continued
the retreat and crossed the Yadkin
River so closely pursued by the British
that he lost part Of his baggage.
CORVALLIS was q second time detcrrod
from the pursuit by q rise in the river,
and retrcated into North Carolina,
where he was in turn pursued by
Greene.
After the battle of Guilford Court
House, Gen. Greene returned to the
help OF the struggling partisans in
South Carolina He took possession of
Hobkirk's Hill, whore on April 25,
1881, he was attcked by Lord Rawdon
For while, victory seemed to be on
the side OF tho Americans, but Lord
Rawdon by masterly disposition OF
his forces compelled Con. Greene to
retreat. He proceeded to Ninety-Six
by way OF CRANKY, dispatching Gen.
Lee with a force to subdue that fort.
After brief conflict the garrison,
consisting OF four hundred men, sur
rendered. The terms of the capitula-
tion giving the enemy the privilege of
ly complained of by Col. Thomas Tay-
lor and other CaroliniauD, who were
indignant at seeing wagons, drawn by
their own horses, and filled with the
produce OF their own homes, driven
away before their cyos. Gen. Lees
excuse for this action was that Lord
Rawdon was rapidly approaching to
the relief Of the fort.
On may o. Greene took up his posi-
tion before Ninety-Six aud, after be-
seiging it for nearly a month, attempt
GU w garry Illc pldCc ny d5SuulG, out
was beaten OF with heavy loss. He
fell back before Lord Lawdon, until
the latter, weary Of tho hopeless chase,
discontinued the pursuit and gradually
withdrew his army into Charleston.
Soon after this, the news of the sur
render of Lord CORVALLIS at York
town reached South Carolina and, on
May IA, 1882 the British evacuated
Charleston.
The war was over the colonies wore
free our heroes laid down their arms
and returned to their plow shares, re-
joicing that their struggle had not
been in vain.
The love of liberty and the infexiblo
devotion to duty thai wore displayed
by those mon during tho dark and
gloomy period Of tho Revolution, have
kept aglow tho flame OF patr iotism up
on the altar of thoir country. 1t was
their example that inspired such sons
as Andrew Jackson, the hero of the
battle OF Now Orleans as John G.