The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-09-26
Diagram ofthe Battle ufKinq5Nountain

States Five thousand acres OF this lahu VIII
comprise the national military PARK. NE ~
mainder will be used us recreationai area -lor
the poor and underprvileged classes. especially
those In the mill towns of the northwestern part
of tha states Camps are to be organized where
thav will be provided with facilities for all KINGS
If outdoor sports at low cost mus IS the
patriotic impulse to honor the memory u 'he
past being put to m eminently pfae1leai anu
humanitarian use for present and future genera
tons of Americans.
The Battle Of Kings Mountain was one or the
most dramatic events Of the Reyolutloh both 40
TO its actors and the circumstances uhuer WHICH
1t was fought. So far as the numbers ehSaSed
were concerned. it was minor altar. but 10 ~
suits lifted it to position of major Importance
In campaign which eliminated III sieeoiious
end to the fight for liberty
.p,ack 17so.v the patriots called It, as the
sixth year Of their weary struggle opened. Down
In The south two states South Carolina anu
Georgia Law PROSTATE before the enemy. sir
Henry claton had captured Charleston with It's
garrison of 5000 men. True such noted partisan
leaders as Marion the swamp Fox. Sumter, the
.tnrolina Gamecock" and Plckens were sun
harassing the enemy with their guerilla warfare
but nothing conclusive could be expected OF them-
With only these scattered bands OF PATRIOTS 10
onuosa him Lord CORVALLIS proceeded to COM
plete his conquest Of the south by invading North
carolina AS d part of his plan Maj. Patrick
Ferguson Of the Seyentyirst regiment was sent
toward the back country Of the Carollnas 10
crnsh any patriot opposition which might de-
yeop but primarily to rally the Tories anu re-
cruit them to the British standard.
Meanwhile the scattered patriots began making
desperate efforts to resist his advance. Col.
Charles Mcdowell Of Burke county, n. e. was
On the Broad river just the South Carolina
line when he heard of Fergusons advance lie
sent call for help across the mountains 10
John Sewer and Isaac Shelby, leaders OF the
pioneers who had settled In what Is now eastern
Tennessee.
Sewer had his hands full fighting the Cherr
KEGS but he sent 300 men to McDowes aid ana
. Shelby crossed over with similar force from
Sullivan county. There was short period or
guerilla fighting In which Shelby won minor
success al Musgroves Mills Then came the
news of the crushing defeat OF Gates American
army OF Camden by Lord CORVALLIS and the
death Of Baron DE Kalb Two days later the
Americans suffered another disaster Tarleton.
one Of CORVALLIS most brilliant officers, had
surprised the willy Sumter at Fishing Creek and
cut his command to pieces.
North Carolina now lay wide open to Corn
Wallis invasion. He advanced to Charlotte with
little or no opposition and Ferguson marched
north through the back country.
In the meantime Shelby and Sewer had With
drawn across the mountains to make plans for
resisting Ferguson or any other British force
which should operate along the eastern slopes Of
the Blue Ridge They also sent word to the
leaders In Wilkes and Surrey counties to gather
their men and prepare for a counterstrokt
against the British.
Ferguson learned that the mountain men were
rallylng At Gilbert Town he paroled one OF hi
prisoners and sent him to Shelby with letter II
which he informed the Back Water Men, ms h
called the mountaneers that If they did no
"desist from their opposition to the British arms
he would march his army across the mountains
hang the leaders and lay the country waste wit
fire and sword
When Shelby received Fergusons letter ne rod
hastily to hold conference with Sewer In
two leaders resolved to muster their forces an
strike Ferguson before he could secure enous
reinforcements 10 carry ont his threat to inyad
their country or could fall hack to position
closer touch with CORVALLIS larger force.
Immediately they sent ont call to arms
every settlement west of the mountains. Syc
more Shoals on the Watauga river near the pre-
ent town Of Elizahethton. Tenn, was named
the rendezvous and there on September % gat
cred more than 600 frontiersmen most of the
mounted and armed with long rifles Shelby w
there with $40 North Carolinlans from Snlivi
county and Sewer brought equal numb
from Washington county. Col. Charles McDo
eli came with 100 men from Burke and Ruths