Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-02


not get a. mouthful prepared. There
were several bands Of Tories in the
neighborhood, whom they could have
easily captured, but they were in search
of Ferguson, and they let the Tories
alone, although 1t was known that
these Tories were to join Ferguson the
next day. BY eight o'clock every man
was In the saddle and on the trail Of
Ferguson. 1t rained all night, and was
dark. The guide got lost for a time.
The men, in order to keep their guns
dry, wrapped them UP with their over
coats and blankets when they had
them, and with their hunting shirts
when these were wanting. On the
morning Of the 7th, just before sunrise,
they reached Broad river, about a mile
and half below Cherokee Ford, ex-
recting to find Ferguson on the east
bank They crossed the river and
marched up its bank, and soon came to
Ferguson's camp OF the night OF the
5th Here halt was made, and those
who had anything to eat, eat 1t, and
those who had nothing did without
The delay was only for moment AL
though hungry, wet and tired, they
pushed on with as much zeal as IL the
search had just commenced. Fergu-
sons trail was fresh, and they knew
that they would soon see who would do
the hanging! For distance Of twelve
miles, they saw no one but their own
party and learned nothing Of Fergu-
sons whereabouts. When they had
gone about twelve miles, after crossing
Broad river the advance party met
some persons coming from Ferguson's
camp. At the same time. boy about
fourteen years old, by the name Of
John Fonderin, was found in an old
field. The boy said his brother was
in Ferguson's camp. The story OF the
men and boy agreed, and from them 1t
was learned that Ferguson's camp was
| My three miles distant. The location
vas accurately described by these men
md young Fonderin, and the inten-
lions of Ferguson learned. A dispatch.
which he had sent to Cornwallis for
lid, was afterward intercepted. From
this his force was learned, and also
what he thought about being able to
1efend himself. In that dispatch he
boastingly, or rather profanely, we
should say, declared, that such was the
nature of the place he had chosen for
camp, that all the rebels out Of hell
could not drive him from it." This
,ispatch, with the exception Of the
statement Of the number Of Ferguson's
force was read aloud to the men. The
Ulcers held a consultation on horse
back, and concluded upon the mode Of
| tack.
| It was agreed that since Campbell
had come the greatest distance, and had
brought the largest number OF men,
that he should be the commander in
chief. It was now past 12 o'clock. The
rain had ceased, the clouds had passed
away, and the sun was shining bright
ly. The pursuers Of Ferguson had fol-
lowed his trail from o'clock on the
previous night, and now they were
within four miles Of his camp. The
order was given ito tie up overcoats
and blankets, throw printing out Of
pans, pick touch holes. prime anew,
eyam.ne bullets, and see that every
things is I'm readiness for battle" They
were now within sight Of the object for
which some Of them had been in search
for nearly two weeks. They were fully
aware Of the kind of foe they had to
encounter a brave man and cool
officer. They had to face British regu-
lars, who would rush upon them with
bayonet; and Tories who knew 1t was
victory or death. On they went, deter
mined to be free or die. They ascend
ed an eminence on the western side Of
the mountain, and Ferguson's camp was
in full view. They dismounted and
tied their horses and prepared for the
conflict. The mode Of attack deter
mined upon was to surround the noun
tain and pour in deadly fire upon the
enemy from all sides at the same time.
Kings Mountain, upon which Col
onel Ferguson was encamped, is a spur
| Of the Blue Ridge. It is a narrow, oval
shaped knoll, having the direction Of
the Blue Ridge, and terminates abrupt
ly at its northern extremity. 1t is COW
cred with kind Of slate stone. The
ridge, which Is about one hundred and
twenty feet above the ravines by which
1t is surrounded, and about a mile long,
is not more than thirty yards wide, and
the sides, especially on the north, are
precipitous. It Is situated in York
county South Carolina, about a mile
and a half from the North Carolina
line. Many Of the men in Colonel Will
liams' command were Wings from the
surrounding country. They had left
their hiding places when, in the Ian
yuage Of an old Revolutionary war
song, "Old Williams came from Hills
borough. they flocked to him amain."
These men understood the nature OF
the ground accurately. They had hunt
ed deer on the same place frequently.
In view Of this fact, the guides for the
other troops were chosen from Will
tiams' men.
When the exact location Of Ferguson's
camp was learned, the army Of pursuers
m"rched in four columns Col. Camp
bells regiment, with part Of Clevelands
regiment, commanded by Major Win
ston formed the right centre. Col.
Shelbys regiment the left centre. Col
Sewers regiment composed the right
wing; and the troops under Col. Will
liams and the remainder Of Col. Cleve-
lands regiment commanded by him.
self, formed the left wing.
On ARRIVING in full view Of the ene-
my, and having tied their horses and
leaving small guard to watch them,
the troops commanded by Shelby, Sc
vier, Mcdowell, Campbell and Winston,
were ordered to file to the right and
pass round the enemy's camp on the
mountain. Those under Cleveland,
Chronicle, Hambright and Williams,
were to file to the left and pass round.
Both parties were to continue their
| l,-,roh uytbout firing until thew met