Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-10-14
SHAFT UNVEILED
Impressive Exercises Held on a Historic
battle-ground.
OF KINGS MOUNTAIN

of South and North Carolina, With
Many Other Prominent Men From
the Two States, Take Part i'm Ger
emonies Attending Dedication.
A special from Kings Mountain,
N. c., to The News and Courier.
says upon that historic battlefield
men lived again Thursday the strug-
gle for American liberty. North and
South Carolina We'd with each other
to do honor to the memory of the
heroes OF that decisive engagement
OF the Revolution. Within sight of
the graves OF those who perished
for their country. their descendants
recited the story of deeds of days
gone by. They told of the bloody
battles OF the war with the mother
country. OF the privation OF tho
soldiers. OF the final success Of lib
erty and Americas freedom. In that
mighty conflict Kings Mountain play
ed an important part-the turning
point OF the war;" the spot so sacred
to sturdy mountaineers Is rightly
called. Ferguson was routed here
the brave British warrior lost his
life here-and the fortune of war
was changed.
TO commemorate the brave deeds
OF the American soldiers on this bat
tlefield, the United States has given
monument. This monument was
dedicated at Kings Mountain Thurs
| day. On the very spot Of ground
Where ferguson was routed. the peo-
pie OF the two Carolinas joined in
paying tribute to those who fell for
the cause Of liberty. On the sacred
soil consecrated by the blood of
these men of the Revolution the
nonor due them was given.
lt was a great occasion for the
countryside. From early morning
people came from the neighboring
towns, and from the farms wagons.
ouggies and every form of vehicle
| conveyed the crowds to the noun
tain. On the side OF the hills and
Tor quite distance around groups
were gathered as If at a picnic. The
trains brought hundreds, and in their
enthusiasm of the occasion many did
not hesitate TO walk for miles to
reach the battle ground. The crowd
that packed and surrounded tho
stands and was stretched in eyery
| direction the country around could
hardly be estimated. Many OF those
VINO came could not get within the
sound Of the voices OF the speakers.
Eight thousand people We're probably
In the :" mediate neighborhood.
distinguished gathering packed
the stands provided for the OCCASION.
Governor Martin p. Ansel presided
gracefully over the exercises. The
Governor OF South Carolina, by his
pleasing and happy manner, won the
hearts of the audience. On the
stand with the Governor were seated
Governor W. w. Kitchen, of North
Carolina; Senator Lee s. Overman
and Congressman r. n. Page. of the
same State; Senator Smith and Con-
gresham Finley, of this State; Dr..
H. \. Snyder and DR.. S. C. Mitchell.
presidents of Wofford and the Uni
versity, respectively. the ladies of
the Daughters of the American Rev
olution; Gen. Julian S. Carr. of North
Carolina, and many other distin-
gulshed persons.
On the stands and immediately
surrounding the main stage were the
ladies of the Daughters of the Con-
federacy and visitors who were given
cards to enter. There has rarely.
If ever, been seen in South Carolina
such large assembly OF beautiful
women and young girls, and woman
got her share of tribute 1t is to
woman that the State is responsible.
for the preserving OF true facts of
history. Woman has made possible
all the beautiful monuments to war
heroes. the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution were untiring in their
efforts TO get n monument at Kings
Mountain, and finally succeeded.
The battle heroes will never be for
got as long as the women live to
commemorate their deeds Of. valor.
God bless the women" was the SEN
timent in mems hearts at this un-
yelling, as always.
AS fitting feature OF the cele-
Dratlon the soldiery OF this State and
of North Carolina were represented.
Col. Lewis. commanded the provis-
tonal regiment from this State, COM
posed of the following companies:
Greenville, Cornwell. Rock Hill, Co
lumbia, Camden. Fort Mill and Spar
tanburg. The North Carolina com.
pany was from Dallas. Governor
Kitchin's staff was present as fol-
lows: Adjt. Gen. j. f. Armfield.
Lieut.. Col. w. w. Pierce, Col. c. B.
Armstrong, Personal Aide Col. n.
Montague, Major A. A. Hicks, Col.
T. r. Robertson.
The battle OF Kings Mountain
was fought in sham conflict by the
troops These manoeuvres were un-
der Gen. Boyd's supervision.
The soldier boys are encamped on
the mountains side. and right royal
was their entertainment TO their
AE.