Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-18
aNistellanrou5 &eadins.
STORY OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
How the American Patriots Whipped
Colonel Ferguson.

How the American Patriots Whipped
Colonel Ferguson.
Until now The ENQUIRER has not
had the space in which to publish the
admirable address that Major A. H.
White delivered before the Kings
Mountain Chapter of the Daughters OF
the Revolution, on the afternoon OF
October 6. But we recognized at the
time that the story was good enough
to keep, and it will prove as interesting
and valuable now as it would have
been then. Major White has evidently
made great deal of useful invesliga-
ton, and his story is one that ought to
be readily comprehended throughout.
Here is what he has TO say:
A short lime before the 9th day Of
October, 1l9 years ago, anyone in the
country Of Watauga, might have seen
little almy of men assembling together
on very important business, apparent
y cool and resolute, and with de-
termination written on their faces to
do or die. The question would natur.
ally arise what is the cause of all this
rommoliOn?
In the early part of the year 1880,
Colonel Shelby was appointed colonel
of Sullivan county, in North Carolina,
with the authority ofcounty lieutenant.
Colonel Sewer held the same in Wash
nglon county, of the same state.
These counties now form part Of the
.tale of Tennessee. Colonel William
Campbell, at the same time, command.
I'd regiment in Washington county,
Virginia.
After the defeat of General Gates at
Camden, on the 18Th of August, 1880,
the patriots were very much dispirited.
Many who resided in the eastern por
lions of North and South Carolina
sought safety and liberty in the noun
lains of North Carolina and Virginia,
amidst the hardy mountaineers of
those districts.
In September, 1880, Major Ferguson,
who was one of the best and most en-
tcrprising of the British officers in
America, had succeeded in raising Il
large body Of Tories, who, with his
own corps Of regulars, constituted an
effective force of 1,l25 men, with IL
view of cutting of Clarke, of Georgia,
who had recently made a demonstra-
lion against Augusta, which was then
| in the hands of the British. Ferguson
had marched near the Blue Ridge and
had taken post at Gilbert Town, which
is situated but few miles from the
mountain. Whilst there he discharged
IL patriot, (Sam Phillips by name-a
distant relative of Colonel Shelby, who
had been taken prisoner on his parole
and directed him to tell Colonel Shell
| by, (who had become obnoxious to the
British and Tories from The affair al
Mussrove's milD that if Shelby did
not surrender, he (Ferguson) would
come over the mountains and put him
TO death and burn his whole county.
1t required no further taunt to rouse
The patriotic indignation OF Colonel
Shelby. He determined to make an
effort TO raise a force, in connection
with other officers, which should sur
prise and defeat Ferguson. With this
object in view he went to horse-race
near where Jonesborough has been
built, to see Sewer and others. Shelby
and Sewer there resolved that if
Campbell would join them, they
would raise all the force they could
and attack Ferguson and if this was
not practicable, they would cooperate
with any troops of the Continental
army with which they might meet,
for they were determined to do some-
thing.
Colonel Campbell was notified of the
determination and place of rendez-
vous appointed in the mountains east
of Jonesborough. At the time ap-
pointed 25lh-Campbell
Joined them, and their united force
numbered about 1000 mountain rifle
men. They crossed the mountains on
the 9th in Il ravine, and fell in accl'
dently with Colonel Cleveland, of
North Carolina, who had under his
command about 400 men. Colonel
Campbell was selected as the COM
mander of this little army, which was
considered still too small TO attack
Ferguson, as his strength WAS not
known. About this time they fell
in with Colonel Williams, of South
Carolina, who was at the head OF
from 200 to 300 refugees, who at once
ioined the army, and thus made mus
ter roll Of about |. 600 men. The
board of officers then determined TO
march upon Ferguson.
The army marched to Gilbert Town
and found that Ferguson had left it
several days before, having taken the
route towards fort Ninety-Six. Find
ing that Ferguson was retreatlng, and
learning what his real strength was,
they determined, on Thursday night,
the 9Th of October, to make desper-
ate effort to overtuke him before he
should reach any British post or re-
ceive any further reinforcement. Ac-
cordingly they selected all who had
good horses-who numbered about 9lO
men-and started the next morning in
pursuit of Ferguson as soon as they
could see. Ferguson, after marching
, chart distance towards Ninety Six
had filed of to the left towards Corn
wallis. His pursuers never stopped
until late in the afternoon, when they
reached the Cowpens. They then