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

but his point Of destination was Char
lotte, North Carolina They were
urged to annul the previous resolution
Of the night, and meet the troops under
Williams, Hill and other leaders, at a
place called the Cowpens, on the 9Th.
This was done, and after Lacy had fed
his horse, eaten a supper Of what the
partisan camp could afford, and enjoy
ed few hours sleep on the ground,
he was up and away to join his COM
mand which was now on its way to
the Cowpens.
Let us leave the two armies and trace
the movements Of Colonel Ferguson.
| On the 4th Of October-the day that
Campbell and his men arrived at Gil
bert Town-Ferguson had broken up
his camp. The two deserters from
Campbells command had informed him
of what was going on. He knew the
some Of them before. Wisely, he con-
cluded that his safety depended on get
ting out Of their way. It would not be
true to say that Colonel Ferguson was
frightened, for no Drawer man ever
lived or fought or died on a battle
field: but he most assuredly felt that
he was in critical situation. Corn
wallis had already perceived the dan
ger with which Ferguson was sur
rounded, and had ordered him to join
him at Charlotte. Ferguson now saw
that IL would require all his skill to
reach that point. On breaking up his
camp at Gilbert Town, he sent two To-
ries-Abe Collins and Peter Quinn-to
CORVALLIS at Charlotte. to inform that
officer Of his critical situation and to
request aid. The messengers were him
dered on the way by the presence of
the wings In the neighborhood, and did
not reach Charlotte until the 7th; con-
lsequently, the aid was not received.
Ferguson, on leaving Gilbert Town,
made the impression that he was going
to Ninety Six, and when Campbell and
his party arrived at Gilbert Town, they
were told that Ferguson was distant
fifty or sixty miles. This was feint.
On the fourth Of October Ferguson
camped at the Cowpens, about twenty
miles from Gilbert Town. On the 9Th,
he crossed Broad river at Tate's Fer
ry near where the Air Line railroad
now crosses Broad river, and spent the
night about mile above the ferry.
On the 9th, he pushed OIL up the ridge
road between Kings creek and Buffalo
creek, until he came to the fork near
Whitaker Station, on the Air Line rail-
road. There he took the right prong,
leading across Kings creek, through a
pass In the mountain, and on In the
direction Of Yorkville. Here. short
distance after crossing Kings creek,
on the right of the road, about two
hundred and fifty yards from the pass
In the mountain, on an eninence which
he claimed, in honor of his majesty, to
have called Kings Mountain, (2) and
which still retains the name, he en-
camped, determined to remain until his
reinforcements from CORVALLIS would
arrive.
From Gilbert Town to Kings Noun
tain, he evidently was retreating.' He
felt that he had terrible foe to deal
with. He begged, he entreated the To-
ries and loyalists to turn out and rem
der him assistance. Finding that gen.
tie measures accomplished nothing he
threatened to hang them IL they did not
shoulder their muskets and march
against the rebels. His threats were
as unavailIng as his entreaties. On ar
irving at Kings Mountain, he granted
some Of the royalists and Tories per-
mission to go into the surrounding
country for the purpose of beating up
recruits.
The inhabitants Of the region sur
rounding Kings Mountain, were, with
a few exceptions, Tories. These re-
cruiting officers Of Ferguson went to
plundering their Whig neighbors. In
stead Of hunting up recruits for the
Kings army, they went to robbing the
gardens and killing the hogs Of the
Wings in the community. Here, strong
ly posted on Kings Mountain, let us,
for short time, leave Colonel Fergu-
son.
Before sunrise on the morning OF the
9Th Of October, the forces under Colo
mel Campbell were ordered to march.
The immediate point Of destination was
the Cowpens. The whole Of the night
previous had been spent in selecting
from his entire force, which now mum
bered about three thousand, the best
men, the best horses and the best guns.
The number selected was nine hundred
and ten. These were ordered to ad-
vance rapidly in pursuit Of the foe,
whilst the remainder were to follow
leisurely. Before sundown, they reach
ed the Cowpens. There they found
Col. Hambright and Major Chronicle,
with sixty North Carolinians from
Tryon county, and Col. James Williams
with near two thousand South Caro-
linians. From these, nine hundred and
thirty three were selected to join the
nine hundred and ten under Camp
bell, in pursuit of Col. Ferguson. (3)
Many of the officers were without COM
mands, occupying simply the position
Of men in ranks 1t was raining and
dark, but all were enthusiastic. They
had set out to find Ferguson, and find
him they would. An hour was given
the troops to rest, during which time
two beeves were killed.; but the time
was so short that some Of the men did
CD Notwithstanding this declaration
OF Colonel Ferguson, 1t Is probable that
Kings Mountain was so called from
man by the name Of King, who lived In
the neighborhood. From the same in
dividual, 1t is probable that Kings
creek derived its name.
(3) 1t is not very easy to determine,
with any degree Of certainty, the exact
number Of Americans actually engag-