Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-27
BY CLAUDE A. EURY.

quarried by the North Carolina Gran
ite corporation and was erected by the
Southern Marble and Granite compa-
ny of Spartanburs. s. C. Mr.. Harry
Martin Of New York, was the govern
ment's inspector in charge Of the work.
The monument was designed by the
firm Of McKim & White, Of New York
(of which firm Thaw's victim was
member), and Is said to be duplicate
|of the monument erected by the gov
|ernment at Gettysburg. The exterior
work is all Of smooth finish, what Is
known as six-cut. Work was first
started on the foundation on June %,
1908, but the excavation took up 80
much Of the appropriation that work
was discontinued until February, 1909,
pending the change in plans and spec
|iflcations to make the construction
order to do this 1t was necessary to
build a monument SS feet high instead
Iof lis as was first planned and on
which the contract was awarded. The
monument proper was completed on
June l.
Location.
The new monument stands on the
elevated plateau, about midway be-
tween the monument erected in 1880
and the old soapstone monument
placed in 1915. This point is about 100
yards from the spot marked as the
place where Colonel Ferguson was
killed in an attempt to break through
Sewers column of mountain men. 1t
should be remembered here that the
elevation known as the battle-ground
is not the pinnacle" of Kings Noun
tain, which rises majestically in Cas-
ton county, seven miles away and is
the real beginning Of the Kings
mountain range which extends through
the edge Of Cleveland and several
miles into South Carolina. The bat
tleground Is seven and a half miles
from the town of Kings Mountain and
through Kings Mountain 1t is the
easiest Of access. Visitors to the bat
tleground coming to Kings Mountain
can make the trip and return home in
day, which is not possible from 9TH
er points, unless those visitors happen
to live in the neighborhood.
Locating the Site.
On September 1S, 1907, party con-
sisting of Congressman E. Y. Webb, |
Col. and Mrs. A. Coward Of Charles |
ton. s. c., Capt. E B. Steward Of the
United States army engineers; Mr.. M.
II. Shuford of Gastonia; Mr.. Joe Shu-
ford Of Texas; Mr.. E. A. Patterson Of
Cleveland county, and a number of
members OF the Yorkville Chapter D.
A. R., met at the battle-ground and
selected the site above referred to.
The Dedication.
The monument will be dedicated
with suitable ceremonies on October
2, 1909. The exercises will be in charge
of the Daughters Of the American
Revolution Of Yorkville, S. c., and will
probably embrace the entire day. The
programme for this event has not Yet
been arranged, but those contemplate
ing attending can be assured Of an
event which would properly fit the oc-
casion.
Former Celebrations.
Three former celebrations have ta-
ken place at the Kings Mountain bat
tleground, the first in 1915 when Col
onel Mclean and others Of Lincoln
county set up the old soapstone mon
ument shown below. 1t is supposed
by many that this stone marks the
place where Colonel Ferguson was
buried, but this is not the case. Many
have been led to believe this to be
Ferguson's grave from the inscrip-
ton on one side of the stone. This in
scription, which has been greatly dis
figured by bits of stone being Clipped
off, is as follows: Major Ferguson,
belonging to his British Majesty, was
here totally defeated and killed Octo-
ber z, $780,"
On the other side of the stone is
the following: Sacred to the memory
of Major Chronicle, Captain Mattox,
Lieutenant Boyd and Rabb, who
were killed fighting in defense Of