The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-08

ma 0SuI 20 So0 NoutiHeIVal NoHBEoeS
q set Of revolutions Of resistance
against tho oppression and misruls of
tho British government. Tho con-
GLIDING paragraph Of what might well
be termed q declaration Of indepen-
denoo was ~ follows: But II no
pacific measure shall be proposed or
adopted by Great Britain. and our
| enemies viii attempt to dragon Us
, out Of these tnsstimable privileges to
which We arc entitled az sub1ectA and
to reduce VI to . state of slavery, va
declare that We are deliberately and
resolutely determined never to sur
render them to any power upon earth,
but at the expense OF our lives These
arc our real, though unpublished SEN
tinsnts OF liberty and loyalty. ani
in them we are resolved to live AMI
KNOWN FAR AND WIDE
FOR THEIR DEVOTION.
These man were known far and wide
for their courage ana devotion to
liberty. and presented the fnal bar
rier in the path Of the conquercr.
It was to Colonel Shelby. represent
ing these men no less than their
ncighbors and kin across tho Carolina
line. that the message Of Tarleton was
borne. A consultation with Colonel
John Sewer and Colonel William
Campbell was promptly called by Col
onel Shelby. in which he sought the
aid of Campbell with his Virginia reg
iment Colonel Campbell. having 10
view the defense OF Virginia against
Cornwnilta, was reluctant to VI Id this
purpose, but was soon persuaded by
Shelby to unite in making suita BILE
answer to Tarleton and Ferguson.
The men Of Holston. WautaugA and
Nolachucky. as was their nat ire.
! - -.
| made ready to resent the insult They
could not quail, they were not made
to quail. and they did not hesitate.
Born OF the montains and bred with
In the shadows OF them. they were
cast In q mould stern and rugged ~
their own cliffs. They could endure
| every hardship nature or circumstane e
, might impose upon them. but thsy
were not bred to brook injustice or
oppression from man Their own man
| hood and patriotism. and no other
power, could drive them from the
hills they loved.
They arose ~ one man. mtssa& on
liberty or glorious death. The regi-
ments OF Shelby Sewer and Campbell
| met at Sycamore Shoals a tho foot
OF the Yellow MountAinA Here thu
little army assembled ana made ready
for their psriious march Here they
knsit on the banks OF the beautiful
WAutAuEA. and with bowed aud un-
covered heads. united IN the prayer
OF tho beloved Doak: 1he pioneer
preacher OF tho wautauga settlement.
who invoked Divine protection ana
guidance. closing with tho Bible quo
tation. Tho sword OF the LORD and
OF Gideon"
With this parting blessing these
mon OF the mountaina many OF them
mounted on ponies. some armed only
with fintlock rifles and h~a.l7g
knives. started on a march Of zoo
miles across q trackless wilderness.
to throw down the gage of battle TO
the trained sofdtery OF the then most
w'ariike nation on the earth. No
cheering multitudes waved them good
bye: no strains Of martial music; no
gtlded banners: no insignia Of rank:
no pageantry OF glorious war. only
noble little band Of 0od-rear!ng ana
liberty-lovtng men, who carried under
uncomfortable spirits which dsfled
danger and counted tt sweet to die
II need BE- for home and country.
We see them following dim traits
through tho autumn forests In the
drtsslins rain, ghostly shadows beck
oninS to them. weird noiscs Of the
woods chilling hearts that never QuaA-
Cd at danger. Some Of them they
knew would never return b. <hA& Or
any other road to Ampid waGsrs q
tho Holston or the Wautauga. and
perhaps che old psalm Of the CIV
enanter4 '1od - our rsesgs and
strength. q very present help IN srou-
ble," rose unbidden to their upA
with IT, promise Of the river which
shan make glad the city Of God"
Warned OF their approach, Tss.
suson had taken q position on . crest
Of Kings Mountain. In his fAnoded
security behind fortincations he made
the boast that his position was %
could not drive him from It,"
THREAT HELD NO TERRORS
FOR MOUNTAINEERA
But this held no terrors for the
mountain men. Dismounting. they
started up the mountain. rife In hand.
Each soldier was . general and q
hero, each was engaged in q war OF
hts own. When opportunity offered
the ring Of the mountain rifie was
heard. and tho brave men who dred
stepped behind tree to reload.
And thus this heroic band. with
nerves OF steel ana hearts Of lions.
went up and up tho heights until they
had drawn . deaA2y and pitiless cir
Gle around the enemy. killed, wounded
or captured every man. and struck for
the new born republic the blow that
really won for 1t victory and life.
This act OF daring electrified the
world. put new heart and courage into
the cause Of liberty, demoraliscd tho
Brttish, and wrung from = great Eng
lish statesman on tho floor OF Parlia-
ment the bitter and humiiiating CON-
fesston that the flower Of the British
army had been met and humbled BY
American hArmerA
The defeat and destruction OF Fer
guson's army and tho immediate ~
suits flowing from It prevented Taxle-
ton from reinforcing CORVALLIS and |
made possible tho victory Of WAshiaG-
ton at Yorktown and the final sur |
render there OF the British army |