Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-18

1881, at Guilford Courthouse, and had
it proved in every respect another
Camden, the interest Of the British in
the south might have become very Sc
curely rooted. But right here at
Guilford Courthouse, we have crisis
in the campaign, turn in British
affairs which led straight OH to the
Yorktown catastrophe. Now, as IA
matter of fact, Greene was so dis
couraged by the state of affairs in
South Carolina which followed the
battle of Camden, that he hardly dared
to risk battle with CORVALLIS until
encouraged by the results of the bril-
liant victory Of Kings Mountain, fol-
lowed by the one of Cowpens. And
Guildford Courthouse was the first OPP
portunity for so doing; for although the
British army kept the battle-ground
of Guilford Courthouse, it appears
to be given up on both sides that
battle and disabled their enemy, and
to contrast the situation of the Wings.
After the battle of Kings mountain,
with what inevitably would have been
their situation in case Ferguson's army
had gained as complete victory over
the Wings as the Wings had done over
them, it must appear that said battle
was the most decisive, the most glori-
ously fought, and although few in
number, was of the greatest Importance
of any one battle in America. AS evil
dence that those hardy mountain men
were not altogether dependent upon
their own exertions in their determina-
ton 10 whip Colonel Ferguson and his
Tory allies, l find as follows: "Early
Oh the 26th of September, the little ar
my was ready to take up its line of
march over the mountains aud through
forests, and the Rev. Samuel Doak, the
pioneers clergyman of the Walauga
settlement, being present, invoked, be-
fore their departure, the Divine protec-
ton and guidance, accompanied with
few stirring remarks beftting the occa-
sion, closing with the Bible quotation,
"The Sword of the Lord and of Gid
con-" When the sturdy Scotch-Irish
Presbyterians around him, clothed in
their tidy hunting shirts, and leaning
upon their rifles in an attitude of re-
spectful attention, shouted in patriotic
acclaim: "The Sword of the Lord and
Of our Gideon"
Good words for the victory and VIC
tors of Kings Mountain have not been
wanting. General Gates returned
thanks, through Colonel Campbell and
his associates, TO the "brave officers and
soldiers under your command.for your
and their glorious behaviour in the
action. The records of the war will
transmit your names and theirs to pos
terity, with the highest honors and ap-
plause, and he desired 10 express the
sense he entertained of the great SER
vice they had done for their country"
General Washington proclaimed the
result in general orders to the army as
all important object gained, and
proof of the spirit and resources of the
country, while congress expressed in
its resolves "a high sense of the spirit
ed and military conduct of Colonel
Campbell and the officers and privates
of the militia under his command
displayed in the action of Octo-
ber 7lh in which a complete victo-
ry was obtained" Campbells "glori-
Gus success at Kings Mountain" was
the terse encomium of Lieutenant Col
onel Lee of the legion of cavalry. "lt
was sharp action" said Chief Justice
Marshall, "gained by the victorious
mountaineers. "The victory at Kings
Mountain" observes Bancroft, (which
lin the spirit of the American soldiers
was like the rising at Concord, in its
effects like the success at Bennington,
changed the aspect of the war. 1t fir
ed the patriots of the two Carolnas
with fresh zeal. 1t encouraged the
fragments OF the defeated and scatter
ed American army to seek each other
and organize themselves anew. 1t
uuickened the North Carolina legisla-
ture to earnest efforts. 1t encourag-
ed Virginia to devote her resources TO
the country south of her border" lr-
wing declares that the battle of Kings
Mountain, "inconsiderable as it was in
the numbers engaged, turned the tide
of southern warfare. The destruction
of Ferguson and his corps gave a com.
plete check to the expedition of Corn
wallis. He began to fear for the safety
of South Carolina, liable to such sud-
den irruptions from the mountains,
lest, while he was facing to the north,
these hordes of starkriding warriors
might throw themselves behind him,
and produce combustion in the prov
ince he had left. He resolved, there
fore, TO return with all speed to that
province and provide for its security"
"Great and glorious" was the exclama-
ton of General Gates when the tidings
of the great triumph of the Kings
Mountain men reached him. "That
memorable victory" declared the pa
triot Jefferson, "was the joyful annun-
citation of that turn of the tide of sue.
cess which terminated the Revolution
ary war with the seal of independence.
And richly did the heroes, who march.
ed under Campbells banners, deserve
all praise so generously bestowed upon
them. Kings Mountain paved the
way for the successive advantages
gained by the American arms at Fish
Dam ford, Blackstocks, Cowpens, Gull
ford and Eutaw, and ultimately for the
crowning victory of Yorktown with the
glorious fruition of independence for.
ever"