The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER xxxIx


The camp was astir early the next
morning and It soon became noised about
that we were to fall back, but only 50
far as might be needful to md strong
position. From this IL was evident that
q battle was imminent. though as yet
there were no signs Of the approach or
the patriots.
From the camp talk we. Tybee and I.
cleaned some better information or the
situation. fortnight earlier Major
Ferguson had captured two or the over
mountain men or Clarks party and had
sent them to the settlement on the
Watauga with a challenge in due form
or rather with the threat to come and
lay the over-mOuntain region waste in
default Of an instant return OF the pio-
neers to their allegiance to the king.
This challenge. SO our scouts told US,
had been Immediately accepted Sewer
and Shelby had embodied some two hun
dred men each from the WatauSa and
the Holston settlements. and colonel
William Campbell. the stout old PreSOy-
terian Indian fighter. had Joined them
with as many more Nirginians
Crossing the mountain these three
troops had fallen in with other scattered
parties of the border patriots under Ben
jamin Cleaveland, Major Chronicle and
Colonel Williams of South Carolina, un-
til now, as the scouts reported the chal-
Ienged outnumbered the challengers.
Learning this Ferguson, who was as
prudent as he was brave, thought IT best
to make his stand at some point nearer
the main body of the army; and 50 the
withdrawal from Gilbert Town had fall
en- into a retreat and pursuit.
From what Captain de PeySter has
since told me there would seem TO be
little doubt that the major meant to
fight when he had maneuvered himself
into favorable pCsitiOns this in spite or
Lord CORVALLIS commands 10 the con-
trary. In his dispatches ne was con-
tinually urging the need for a bold push
in his quarter and asking Tor IarletOn
and a sufficient number OF the legion 10
enable him to cope with mounted en-
emy. But be this as it may. the garbled
letter 1 had brought him turned what
ever scale there was TO turn he had
now with him some eleven hundred reg
ulars and Tories, the latter decently Wen
drilled; he had every reasonetO expect the
needed help from CORVALLIS; and on the
night OF my arrival he had word that
another Tory force under Major Gibbs
would join him IN day OF Two at 1ar-
thest.
For his battle-ground Major Ferguson
chose the top Of a fOrest-covered hill.
the last and lowest elevation in the spur
named that day Kings Mountain.
And if my hand were not sure enough
TO draw YOU some speaking picture OF
this our epoch marking battle of Kings
Mountain, which followed indeed all too
swiftly, it talters stili more on coming
TO the task of setting forth the tragic
horrors of the dreadful after-n1ght-
Wherefore I pray you will hold me ex-
cused, my dears, II l hasten over tne
events tripping upon the heels OF the
victory. touching upon them only as they
touch upon my tale
after-scene YOU may hold in your mind
eye the stony hilltop strewn with the
dead and dying; the huddle o. cowed
. prisoners at the wagon barricade; the
q mountaineers. mad with the victor
: frenzy swarming 70 surround us Twas
: a clipping from chaos and night gone
= blOOd-crazed till Sewer and Isaac Shelby
: brought somewhat of order out CE IT.
! and then came the reckoning
I OF the seven hundred-Odd prisoners
s the greater number were Tories, many
i of them red-handed from scenes or ra-
pine in which their present captors had
: suffered the loss of all that men hold
a dear. So you will not wonder that there
e were knives and rifles shaken aloft and
+ fierce and vengeful counsels in which II
d was proposed TO put the captives one
and all to the cord and tree
:. But now again Sewer and Shelby. sec
= onded by the fiery Presbyterian, William
II Campbell, flung themselves into the
Il breach, pleading for delay and a fair
: trial for such as were blood guilty. And
a. so the dismal night made chill and COM
fortress by the cold wind and most dole
fuI by the groans and cries of the
e wounded. wore away, and the dawn or
II the Sunday found us lying as we were
2. in the bloody shambles of the hilltop.
4 The dead buried and the wounded
= cared for in some rough and ready FASH
: ion, preparations were made in all haste
n for a speedy withdrawal from the neigh
that TarIeton, with his invincible legion.
e within a few hours march; and the
n mountain men, Sodden weary with the
r tolls of the flying advance and the hard
e fought conflict. were in no fettle TO cope
= with fresh foe.
. AS vet / had not made myself known
I; to the patriot commanders, having my
q hands and heart full with the care OF
g poor Tybee. who was grievousIy hurt.
y and being in measure 1nd1nerent 70
d what should befall me-
q But now as we were about to march
: was dragged before the committee OF
- colonels and put to the question
= Your uniform is a strange one TO us.
sir" said Isaac Shelby. looking me up
= and down with that heavy-hdded right
IS standing. If you please"
Is 1 told my story simply, and. as I
is thought. effectively; and had only black
n "'Tis a strange tale. surely. sir-toO
strange to be belevable," quote Shelby.
:, You are a traitor. Captain Ireton-of
3i the kind we need not cumber ourselves
1t who says that word OF me?' I de-
: manded. caring not much for that 10
lie which his threat pointed. but something
D. for my good name.
n Shelby turned and beckoned to a man
N in the group behind him. stand out.
i, John WnfttleSey" he directed. and
= found myself face to face with that rifle
= man of Colonel Davies party who had
p been so fierce to hang me at the fordins
i of the Catawba.
lie This man gave his testimony briefly.
telling but the bare truth. A week ear
5 lier had passed in Davies camp
to for a true blue patriot, this though
le lS ish "S Uniform 1' at at the nome moment. AS
TOT the witness nluSclIr ne ndQ MIS-
- doubted me all along. but the colonel
q had trusted me and had sent me on
> some secret mission. the inwardness OF
le which he. John Whittlesey, had been un-
able to come at. though he confessed
y that. he had tried to worm IL out OF me
K before parting company with me on the
= road to Charlotte.
I looked from one to another OF my
i, judges.
y y IF this be all. gentlemen. the man
"a does but confirm my story" / said
1T is not ALL said Shelby. Mr..
T. Pengarvin, stand forth"
a There was another stir in the back
m grounding group. and the petttfogger
oil edged his way into the circle. keeping
well out of hand reach OF me. How he
:. had made shift to escape from Fergu-
,, sons men. to change sides. and to turn
"a up thus serenely in the ranks Of the
ne over-mOuntain men. / know not to this
r day. nor ever shall know.
Id Tell these gentlemen what you have
- g, nj fHa