The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-04-11
BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
A Notable Contest That Wa. Fought In
the Revolutionary War.

Two OF three days later word was
brought 10 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
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
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 to attack him
help would reach him But the back
woods 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 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 Of
Kings mountain
The little armies were 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 rife, and
they were so sure Of victory that their
aim was not only to defeat the British,
but to capture their whole force The
backwoods colonies, counseling together
as they rode at the head of the column,
decided to surround the mountains and
assail it ON all sides. Accordingly the
bands of frontiersmen split one from the
other and soon encircled the craggy hill.
where Ferguson forces were encamped-
They left their horses in the rear anC
Immediately began the battle, swarm
ing forward ON foot, their commander
leading the attack
The march had been so quick and thu
attack so sudden that Ferguson barrel,
had time to marshal his men before tn
assault was made. Most Of his militii
he scattered around the top Of the hill
to fire down at the Americans as the,
came up, while drawing up his regular
and few picked militia he charged il
person with the bayonet, first down ON
side Of the mountain and then down tn
other. Sewer, Shelby, Campbell and tn
other colonies of the frontiersmen lie,
each his force Of rifiemen straight to
ward the summit Each body in tur
when charged by the regulars was force
to give way, for they had no bayonet
wherewith to meet their foes, but tn
backwoodsmen retreated only so long q
the charge lasted, and the minute tha
it stopped they stopped, too, and cam
back ever closer 70 the ridge and eve
with deadlier fire. Ferguson, BLOWN
silver whistle as a signal to his mer
led these charges, sword in hand, o
horseback At last, just as he was ono
again rallying his men, the rifemen
Sewer and Shelby crowned the top
the ridge. The gallant British con
: mander became a fair target for Il
backwoodsmen, and, as for the last tin
he led his men against them, seven bu
lets entered his body, and he fell dea'
With his fall resistance ceased. The re-
ulars and Tories huddled together in
confused mass, while the exultant Anne
= leans rushed forward A flag of tru
was hoisted, and all the British WI
were not dead surrendered -" He
: Tales From American History"
. Theodore Roosevelt, in st. Nicholas