The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-10-13
TURN OF THE TIDE
BY TIE AMERICAN VICTORY AT
KINGS MOUNTAIN.

Where the Whole British Army Was
Either Killed, Wounded or Cap
tured by the Patriots.
There has been great deal writ
ter about the battle Of Kings Noun
tain, but in view OF the celebration
that took place on that famous bat
tie feld on Thursday, brief revte"
of that notable even: IS not out OF
place a, this time. II should be
interesting 10 all. but especially 70
the school boys and girls.
It will be remembered that after
the defeat OF Genera! Gates by Corn
wallis at Sanders Creek. near cam
DEN or the 18th OF August. 1850.
the British had the whole OF South
Carolina very much at their mercy.
and proceeding at once TO ore:rua
the State from the sea to the noun
;ains. for the purpose OF stamping
out every remaining vestage OF op-
position 20 their authority.
OF the patriots who had been do
ing partisan service throughout the
war. some hid III INC swaInps and
forests, but most OF them crossed
the border into the adjoining sec
tons OF North Carolina while stil!
others took refuge IN the new SET
Elements that had been established
beyond the Grea, Smoky mountains.
along the valleys OF the Watauga and
the XolichucEy rivers.
Having proceeded as far as Gil
bert Town IN Rutherford county. y.
c., without having met with great
deal Of opposition. Ferguson was
here confronted with the Qualdary.
as 10 wha, would happen II he should
return, and the partisans who had
passed on before him should come
back 20 question the rights OF the
Tories and Loya!ists who had been
put In possession of their previous
holdings during their absence. and
instead OF going on after them. Fer
suson established his headquarters
End sent word 10 the leaders wno
were troubling him. that II they die
not come in and surrender, be would
cross the mountains and hang them
Upon receipt Of Fersuson's omn:-
GUS message. Isaac Shelby. John Sc
y.er and others. Immediately bes;ir'
red themselves n the raising OF
force with which 10 descend on Fer
guson q, Gilbert Town. They secur'
ed the cooperation Of Col. William
Campbell Of Virginia. along with the
help Of number OF other leaders,
and on the 18th OF September. 1850,
| mobolized quite 2 respectable little
army at Sycamore Shoals Ok the Wa
:auga
The army left Sycamore Shoals On
September 26. and proceeded as rap
idly as possible toward Gilbert Town.
gathering additional strength as i;
came. but finally when il reached the
vicinity OF the place where It e1-
pected to find the British force. il de.
veioped that Ferguson had already
commenced rapid retreat toward.
thev were told. Ninetv-Six. and as
the result OF conference IL ~as de-
c;deS 10 proceed no further
But the mobilization Of Gilber.
Town was not the only gathering OF
Americans 20 take part in the over
throw OF the Invading army. News
OF what was up had passed among
the true and tried Ike wildtiT2. and
the part;sans in Chester. York. Mex
Ienburg. Caswell and other surround
ing counties. were also gathering 20
have a hand liz the great enterprise
tha. they knew was on foot. AMI
when they were all together, they
numbered more than two thousand
Communication was established
between the two patriot :orces. AID
the South Carolinians having seat
word 10 the North CaTolinians and
virsin:apS a: Gilbert Town, ar-2ns.i
a conjunction OF forces at Cowpens.
In the meantime. il had been asccr-
,ained ,ha; instead OF going 70 Me-
cy-Six. Ferguson was on his way 20
Charlotte. and i was unanimously
agreed 10 overtake him and cut him
10 pieces.
Altogether the forces assembled 1t
Cowpens numbering more than fouS
thousand men. the numbers UnGe.
the South Carolina leaders on the
one hand and under the North Caro-
;ioiars and TirSinians on the other
aand being about equal. Eut mos;
OF ;he mon were poorly mountety.
armed and equipped. and II vas not ;;
practicable 20 move such
4 force with sufficient rapiGitT 10
catch the retreating foe. Il was re-
solved. therefore. 70 reduce the !
forces oy selection OF tae best. and |
when TIE elimination Of forces was
over. the pursuing army consisted OF
go men from the Not.h Carolina |