The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-10-13

take the chief command and when an
hour later Ferguson was definitely
located on Kings Mountain. the plan
OF battle was arranged and agreed
upon.
There were in the patriot army
quite number Of men who had
hunted deer and wolves on Kings
Mountain, and they baing thoroughly
familiar with the ground. 1t was
compara,iviy easy to plan Al ar
-angement, whereby approaching the
hill from the southwestern end. a
part Of the troops going to the right
while the others went to the left. and
both divisions continuing until they
met. the enemy would be completely
surrounded a: the northeastern e1-
:remi:y. and this plan was agreed
upon.
The battle commenced at 3 O'Clock.
being opened by the British with
voliey on the troops Of Col. Shelby
as they wee marching TO their as
signed position. Col. Mcdowell re-
piled and sooc the firing became gen
eral. Tie battle lasted for An hour
and FIVE minutes. and is easily TO be
classed as a wild. fierce struggle.
characterized by heroism and bcaT-
cry on both sides. For bayonets. the
British used the sharpened handles
of their butcher knives stuck into the
muzzle OF their rifles and nuskets.
The Americans fought principally
with their rites; but there were au-
merors single conbats at close quar-
,ers. and the grit, ya!or and daring
OF the combatants was proved TO the
utmost. The most marked feature OF
the batt:e was the tactics OF the
Americans in meeting the charges Of
the British and Tories. From their
position Oh the top Of q narrow ridge
the British could be picked OF by the
American rifemen in the ravines on
either side. Had the British under
:aken t. stand and shoot it out. they
could have lasted but shcrt while.
Their only hope was TO charge with
the bayonet. and this they attempted
to do. The Americans in front OF
them gave way with comparative
ease: but the Americans behind soon
showed Up in their rear firing into
their backs. This compelled them TO
face about and charge back up the
hill. The Americans who had been
following turned about and retreat
ed: but the Americans who had been
yielding also came back and served
them as the others had served them
before. These manoevers were re-
pea.ed again and again to the IL
creasing distress Of the British. until
al length a white flag was raised.
Col. Ferguson cut the flag down
twice with his sword: then Ferguson
fell and the flag was raised again.
Having been fooled twice before. the
Americans continued to FIRE on the
British. now all hIddled UP among
their wagons and the firing did not
cease up:ii the British threw down
their muskets and walked away from
them.
The Americans had for their eoua-
Z, tersign that day the word "Buford." :"
TIE word was necessary. because
many OF the Tories were without uni
forms. and it wassreaiized tha: there
would be times during the battle
" hen it would be difficulty TO distin-
p, suish friend from Zoe.
/! I, is pretty certain that the Bril-
ish force numbered eleven hundred
end FIVE men. and Of these fve han
| dred and Ave were either killed or
80 badly woun5-d that they could
~, be moved. The balance ""rs
.akcn prisoners. How many fouS.c
on the American side is uacer.a!a.
/; or the nineteen hundred and thirty
Sven who left Cowpens the evening
before. many struggled during fac
night. and the number who were q
~ the beginning o! the attack IS va
rious!y estimated at from $50 to L.
zoo. There seems TO be no doubt.
towever, that people from the sur
rounding country for many miles
continued 70 arrive all during tie
battle. and joined IN without stand
ing upon the manner o: their so do
ing. The American loss was twenty
eight killed and sixty wounded.
The American army was disbanded
much more rapidly than 1t had as
sembied Most Of the men remained
on the field that afternoon and night.
but the next morning. there was q
general scattering. North Ca-olina
and Virginia divisions took charge OF
the prisoners and hurried them into
the mountains. fearing that other
wise CORVALLIS might overtake them
and get the prisoners back.
The natural result OF the defeat
Of Ferguson was 10 Undo all ne had
lone. and greatly weaken Cornwall
lis The Americans got hold and be-
gan 10 orcrrun the country. and
wten Tarleton was defeated a, Cow
peus IL January following. Cornwall
lis became convinced that this part
OF the country was TOO warm. and
soon after NE, his finish al York
town.
IL rrik