Battle of Kings Mountain 1

Battle of Kings Mountain

Battle of Kings MountainPart of the American Revolutionary War

Engraving depicting the death of Patrick Ferguson, from a painting by Alonzo Chappel

Date October 7, 1780

Location Kings Mountain, South Carolinanear present-day Blacksburg, South Carolina

Result Decisive Patriot victory

Belligerents Patriot militia Loyalist militia

Commanders and leadersJames JohnstonWilliam CampbellJohn SevierFrederick HambrightJoseph McDowellBenjamin ClevelandJames Williams †Isaac ShelbyJoseph WinstonWilliam Chronicle †

Patrick Ferguson †Abraham DePeyster

Strength900 (+500 nearby) 1,100 (+200 nearby)

Casualties and losses29 killed58 wounded

290 killed163 wounded668 captured[]

The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southerncampaign of the American Revolutionary War. The battle took place on October 7, 1780, nine miles south of thepresent-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in rural York County, South Carolina, where the Patriot militiadefeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot.

Battle of Kings Mountain 2

Ferguson had arrived in North Carolina in early September 1780 with the purpose of recruiting for the Loyalistmilitia and protecting the flank of Lord Cornwallis' main force. Ferguson issued a challenge to the rebel militias tolay down their arms or suffer the consequences. In response, the Patriot militias led by James Johnston, WilliamCampbell, John Sevier, Joseph McDowell and Isaac Shelby rallied for an attack on Ferguson.Receiving intelligence on the oncoming attack, Ferguson decided to retreat to the safety of Lord Cornwallis' army.However, the Patriots caught up with the Loyalists at Kings Mountain on the border with South Carolina. Achievinga complete surprise, the Patriot militiamen attacked and surrounded the Loyalists, inflicting heavy casualties. Afteran hour of battle, Ferguson was fatally shot while trying to break the rebel line, after which his men surrendered.Eager to avenge Banastre Tarleton's alleged massacre of the militiamen at the Battle of Waxhaws, the Patriots gaveno quarter until the rebel officers re-established control over their men. Although victorious, the Patriots had toretreat quickly from the area for fear of Cornwallis' advance.The battle was a pivotal moment in the Southern campaign. The surprising victory over the American Loyalistmilitia came after a string of rebel defeats at the hands of Lord Cornwallis, and greatly raised the Patriots' morale.With Ferguson dead and his Loyalist militia destroyed, Cornwallis was forced to abandon his plan to invade NorthCarolina and retreated into South Carolina.

Prelude to battleMajor Ferguson was appointed Inspector of Militia on May 22, 1780. His task was to march to the old Tryon Countyarea, raise and organize Loyalist units from the Tory population of the Carolina Backcountry, and protect the leftflank of Lord Cornwallis' main body at Charlotte, North Carolina.[1][2] On September 2, Ferguson and the militia hehad already recruited marched west towards the Appalachian Mountain hill country on what is now theTennessee/North Carolina border.[3] By September 10, he had established a base camp at Gilbert Town, NorthCarolina and issued a challenge to the Patriot leaders to lay down their arms or he would "lay waste to their countrywith fire and sword."[4]

North Carolina Patriot militia leaders Isaac Shelby and John Sevier, from the Washington District (now present daynortheast Tennessee), met and agreed to lead their militiamen against him.Patriot leaders also sent word to a Virginia militia leader, William Campbell, asking him to join them.[] Campbellcalled on Benjamin Cleveland to bring his Wilkes County North Carolina militia to the rendezvous.[5] Thedetachments of Shelby, Sevier and Campbell were met by 160 North Carolina militiamen led by Charles McDowelland his brother Joseph. Campbell's cousin, Arthur Campbell, brought 200 more Virginians.[6] About 1,100volunteers from southwest Virginia and today's northeast Tennessee, known as the "Overmountain Men" becausethey had settled into the wilderness west of the Appalachian Mountains ridgeline, mustered at the rendezvous onSeptember 25, 1780, at Sycamore Shoals near the modern city of Elizabethton, Tennessee. Their movement had beenmade possible by easing tensions with the Cherokee, thanks to diplomacy by Benjamin Cleveland's brother-in-law,Indian agent Joseph Martin. The Overmountain Men crossed Roan Mountain the next day, and proceeded in asoutherly direction for about thirteen days in anticipation of fighting the British Loyalist forces. By September 30,they had reached Quaker Meadows, the Burke County, North Carolina home of the McDowell brothers, where theyunited with Benjamin Cleveland and 350 men.[7] Now 1400 strong, the Patriots marched to South Mountain, NorthCarolina,[8] The five colonels leading the Patriot force (Shelby, Sevier, William Campbell, Joseph McDowell andCleveland) chose William Campbell as the nominal commander, but they agreed that all five would act in council tocommand their combined army.[9]

Battle of Kings Mountain 3

Gathering of Overmountain Men at Sycamore Shoals, a black and whitereproduction of Lloyd Branson's 1915 depiction of the Patriot militias joining up.

Meanwhile, two deserters from the Patriotmilitia reached Patrick Ferguson andinformed him of the large body of militiaadvancing towards him. Waiting three daysfor reasons that are still unclear, Fergusonordered a retreat to Lord Cornwallis and theBritish main forces in Charlotte, sending amessage to Cornwallis requestingreinforcements. The request did not reachCornwallis until one day after the battle. OnOctober 1, Ferguson reached NorthCarolina's Broad River, where he issued

another pugnacious public letter, calling the local militia to join him lest they be "pissed upon by a set of mongrels"(the Overmountain Men).[10]

On October 4, the Patriot militia reached Ferguson's former camp at Gilbert Town,[11] where thirty Georgianmilitiamen joined them, anxious for action. On October 6, they reached Cowpens, South Carolina, (site of the futureBattle of Cowpens), where they received word that Ferguson was east of them, heading towards Charlotte andCornwallis. They hurried to catch him.[12] Rebel spies reported Ferguson was making camp on Kings Mountain withsome 1200 men.[13] Ferguson, rather than pushing on until he reached Charlotte and safety (just a day's march away),camped at Kings Mountain and sent Cornwallis another letter asking for reinforcements.[14] Kings Mountain is oneof many rocky forested hills in the upper Piedmont, near the border between North and South Carolina. It is shapedlike a footprint with the highest point at the heel, a narrow instep, and a broad rounded toe. The Loyalists camped ona ridge west of Kings Pinnacle, the highest point on Kings Mountain.

Needing to hurry, the Patriot militia put 900 men on horseback and rode for Kings Mountain. They left immediately,marching through the night of the 6th and morning of the 7th, even though the rain never stopped. By sunrise of the7th, they forded the Broad River, fifteen miles from Kings Mountain.[15] By early afternoon they arrived andimmediately surrounded the ridge and attacked.[16]

Don Troiani's depiction - "Colonel Cleveland'sWar Prize Oct. 7, 1780"

Battle

The battle opened about 3 p.m.,[17] when the 900 Patriots (includingJohn Crockett, father of Davy Crockett), approached the steep base ofthe western ridge. They formed eight detachments of 100 to 200 meneach. Ferguson was unaware that the rebels had caught up to him andhis 1,100 men. He was the only regular British soldier in hiscommand,[18] composed entirely of Loyalist Carolina militia (exceptfor the 100 or so red-uniformed Loyalist soldiers from New York). Hehad not thought it necessary to fortify his camp.[19]

The Patriots caught the Loyalists by surprise. Loyalist officerAlexander Chesney later wrote he didn't know the Patriots wereanywhere near them until the shooting started. As the screamingPatriots charged up the hill, Captain DePeyster turned to Ferguson andsaid, "These things are ominous — these are the damned yelling boys!"Two parties, led by Colonels John Sevier and William Campbell,

Battle of Kings Mountain 4

assaulted the mountains "heel"—the smallest in area, but its highest point. The other detachments, led by ColonelsShelby, Williams, Lacey, Cleveland, Hambright, Winston and McDowell attacked the main Loyalist position,surrounding the "ball" base beside the "heel" crest of the mountain.No one in the Patriot army held command once the fighting started. Each detachment fought independently under thepreviously agreed to plan to surround and destroy the Loyalists.[20] The Patriots crept up the hill and fired frombehind rocks and trees. Ferguson rallied his troops and launched a desperate bayonet-charge against Campbell andSevier. Lacking bayonets, the rebels ran down the hill and into the woods. Campbell soon rallied his troops, returnedto the hill, and resumed firing. Ferguson ordered two more bayonet charges during the battle. This became thepattern of the battle; the Patriots would charge up the hill, then the Tories would charge down the hill with fixedbayonets, driving the Patriots off the slopes and into the woods, and once the charge was spent and the Tories wouldreturn to their positions, the Patriots would reform in the woods, return to the base of the hill, and charge up the hillagain. During one of the charges, Colonel Williams was killed, and Colonel McDowell was wounded. Firing wasdifficult for the Loyalists, since the Patriots constantly moved using cover and concealment to their advantage.Furthermore, the downhill angle of the hill contributed to the Loyalists overshooting their mark.[21]

After an hour of combat, Loyalist casualties were heavy. Ferguson rode back and forth across the hill, blowing asilver whistle he used to signal charges. Shelby, Sevier and Campbell then reached the top of the hill behind theLoyalist position and attacked Ferguson's rear. The Loyalists were driven back into their camp at the toe of the hill,where they began to surrender. Ferguson drew his sword and hacked down any small white flags that he sawpopping up, but he apparently knew that the end was near. In an attempt to rally his faltering men, Ferguson shoutedout "Hurrah, brave boys, the day is ours!" [sic][22] He gathered a few officers together and attempted to cut throughthe Patriot ring, but Sevier's men fired a volley and Ferguson was shot dead from his horse.[23] When the rebelsfound his corpse they counted seven bullet wounds.[24]

Seeing their leader fall, the Loyalists began to surrender. Some rebels did not initially want to take prisoners, eagerto avenge the 'Waxhaw Massacre' (or the "Battle of Waxhaws") where Banastre Tarleton's men had killed a sizablenumber of Abraham Buford's Continental soldiers after the latter had surrendered. (At Waxhaws, Tarleton's horsewas shot, pinning him to the ground, leading his men to believe their commanding officer had been killed under awhite flag of surrender.)[25] Also, other rebels were seemingly unaware that the Loyalists were attempting tosurrender. Loyalist Captain Abraham DePeyster, in command after Ferguson was killed, sent out an emissary with awhite flag, asking for quarter. For several minutes, the Patriots rejected DePeyster's white flag and continued firing,many of them shouting, "Give 'em Tarleton's Quarter!" and "Give them Buford's play!" A significant number of thesurrendering Loyalists were killed.[26] When DePeyster sent out a second white flag, a few of the rebel officers,including Campbell and Sevier, ran forward and took control by ordering their men to cease fire,[27] and taking about700 Loyalist prisoners.

Battle of Kings Mountain 5

Aftermath

Map spot for Blacksburg, South Carolina.

The Battle of Kings Mountain lasted 65 minutes.[28] TheLoyalists suffered 290 killed, 163 wounded, and 668taken prisoner. The Patriot militia suffered 29 killed and58 wounded. The Patriots had to move out quickly forfear that Cornwallis would advance to meet them.[29]

Loyalist prisoners well enough to walk were herded tocamps several miles from the battlefield. The dead wereburied in shallow graves and wounded were left on thefield to die . Ferguson's corpse was later reported to havebeen mangled and wrapped in oxhide before burial.[30]

Both victors and vanquished came near to starvation onthe march due to a lack of supplies in the hastilyorganized Patriot army.

On October 14, the retreating Patriot force held drumheadcourtmartials of various Loyalists on various charges (treason, desertion from Patriot militias, incitement of Indianrebellion). Passing through the Sunshine community in what is now Rutherford County, N.C., the retreat halted,perhaps not coincidentally on the property of the Biggerstaff family. Aaron Biggerstaff, a Loyalist, had fought in thebattle and been mortally wounded. His brother Benjamin was a Patriot and was being held as a prisoner of war on aBritish ship docked at Charleston, S.C. Their cousin John Moore was the Loyalist commander at the earlier Battle ofRamsour's Mill (modern Lincolnton, N.C.), in which many of the same troops had participated on both sides. Whilestopped on the Biggerstaff land, 36 Loyalist prisoners were convicted. Some were testified against by Patriots whohad previously fought alongside them and later changed sides. Nine of the prisoners were hanged before IsaacShelby brought an end to the proceedings.[31] His decision to halt the executions came after an impassioned plea formercy from one of the Biggerstaff women, although accounts vary as to whether it was Martha Biggerstaff, Aaron'swife, or Mary Van Zant Biggerstaff, Benjamin's wife.[32] As the Patriot army dispersed, all but 130 Loyalistprisoners escaped over the next few days before the column finally reached camp at Salem, North Carolina; theywere able to escape having been moved through wooded areas in a single line.[33]

Kings Mountain was a pivotal moment in the history of the American Revolution. Coming after a series of disastersand humiliations in the Carolinas—the fall of Charleston and capture of the American army there, the destruction ofanother American army at the Battle of Camden, the Waxhaws Massacre—the surprising, decisive victory at KingsMountain was a great boost to Patriot morale. The Tories of the Carolina Back Country were broken as a militaryforce.[34] Additionally, the destruction of Ferguson's command and the looming threat of Patriot militia in themountains caused Lord Cornwallis to cancel his plans to invade North Carolina; he instead evacuated Charlotte andretreated to South Carolina. He would not return to North Carolina until early 1781, when he was chasing NathanaelGreene after the Americans had dealt British arms another defeat at the Battle of Cowpens.In The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Kings Mountain, "This brilliant victory marked the turningpoint of the American Revolution." Thomas Jefferson called it, "The turn of the tide of success." Herbert Hoover'saddress at Kings Mountain said, "This is a place of inspiring memories. Here less than a thousand men, inspired bythe urge of freedom, defeated a superior force intrenched in this strategic position. This small band of Patriots turnedback a dangerous invasion well designed to separate and dismember the united Colonies. It was a little army and alittle battle, but it was of mighty portent. History has done scant justice to its significance, which rightly should placeit beside Lexington, Bunker Hill, Trenton and Yorktown."[35] In 1931, the Congress of the United States created theKings Mountain National Military Park on the site of the battle. The park headquarters is in Blacksburg, SouthCarolina, and hosts hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Battle of Kings Mountain 6

William Patterson, who died on October 5, 1780, at the Battle of Kings Mountain, was the first person interred at theShiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Grover, in Cleveland County, North Carolina The cemetery was listed onthe National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Footnotes[1][1] Buchanan, 202[2][2] Dameron, 22[3][3] Buchanan, 204[4][4] Buchanan, 208[5][5] Buchanan, 212[6][6] Buchanan, 213[7][7] Buchanan, 215[8][8] Buchanan, 217[9][9] Buchanan, 218[10][10] Buchanan, 219[11][11] Buchanan, 220[12][12] Buchanan, 221[13][13] Buchanan, 223[14][14] Buchanan, 225[15][15] Buchanan, 225-6[16][16] Buchanan, 227[17][17] Dameron, 57[18][18] Allen, p.89[19][19] Buchanan, 229[20][20] Buchanan, 230[21][21] Buchanan, 231-2[22][22] Hibbert, 292[23][23] Buchanan, 232[24][24] Buchanan, 234[25] <Fredrickson p662[26][26] Wallace, 229[27][27] Buchanan, 233[28][28] Dameron, 75[29][29] Buchanan, 237[30][30] Hibbert, 293[31][31] Buchanan, 238-9[32] http:/ / www. overmountainvictory. org/ Gtown. htm[33][33] Buchanan, 240, 340[34][34] Buchanan, 241[35] Herbert Hoover address at Kings Mountain (http:/ / www. presidency. ucsb. edu/ ws/ index. php?pid=22379), Oct. 7, 1930, at The American

Presidency Project

References• Allen, Thomas B. (2010). Tories: Fighting for the King in America's First Civil War. New York: Harper Collins,

Inc.• Buchanan, John (1997). The Road To Guilford Court House: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. New

York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-32716-6.• Dameron, J. David (2003). Kings Mountain: The Defeat of the Loyalists, October 7, 1780. Cambridge,

Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81194-4.• Hibbert, Christopher (1990). Redcoats and Rebels: The war for America 1770–1781. New York: Norton/Grafton.

ISBN 0-393-02895-X.• Russell, C. P. (July 1940). "The American Rifle: At the Battle of Kings Mountain" (http:/ / www. nps. gov/

history/ history/ online_books/ popular/ 12/ ps12-2. htm). The Regional Review (Richmond, Va: National Park

Battle of Kings Mountain 7

Service, Region One) V (1): 15–21.• Wallace, Willard (1964). Appeal to Arms: A Military History of the American Revolution. Chicago: Quadrangle.

Further reading• Howard, Kate (July 4, 2006). "Kings Mountain Messenger' bravery remembered by few". The Tennessean.• Sweeney, Bob (January 18, 2004). "Overmountain Victory Organization the Patriot Army at King's Mountain"

(http:/ / www. overmountainvictory. org/ army. htm).• Ward, Christopher (1952). War of the Revolution (2 Volumes). New York: MacMillan. OCLC  425995 (http:/ /

www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 425995).• Every Insult and Indignity: The Life, Genius and Legacy of Major Patrick Ferguson (http:/ / www.

everyinsultandindignity. com/ )

External links• King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, Lyman Copeland Draper, Peter G.

Thompson, Publisher, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1881 (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=uXkFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover& dq="king's+ mountain+ and+ its+ heroes"+ lyman+ copeland+ draper& source=bl&ots=jbqJz_LoN_& sig=QeITbwGWcGlqdAUHLZM6upsMdWE& hl=en& ei=TA7JS9vKHoScsgOejaz1BA&sa=X& oi=book_result& ct=result& resnum=1& ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q& f=false)

• Roan Mountain (Tennessee) Citizens Club – Overmountain Men Celebration (http:/ / www. roanmountain. com/club. htm)

• Georgia Participants at Kings Mountain (offered by Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution) (http:/ /kingsmountain. gassar. org)

• Lord Cornwallis and Major Ferguson NC state signs (offered by the American Revolutionary War Living HistoryCenter) with annual events held by the Town of Grover where Major Ferguson is celebrated as having campedand a NC state historical marker exists for such (http:/ / www. thebattleofkingsmountain. com)

• Every Insult and Indignity: The Life, Genius and Legacy of Major Patrick Ferguson (http:/ / www.everyinsultandindignity. com/ )

Coordinates: 35.11935°N 81.39359°W (http:/ / tools. wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack.php?pagename=Battle_of_Kings_Mountain& params=35. 11935_N_81. 39359_W_type:event_source:placeopedia)

Article Sources and Contributors 8

Article Sources and ContributorsBattle of Kings Mountain  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=611643566  Contributors: Abghty, Abutorsam007, Acdixon, Alan Liefting, Alansohn, Andrwsc, Ansh666,Anthony Appleyard, Archie Dug, Arvand, Ascidian, Asian098, Astatine-210, AustralianRupert, Awiseman, Aydee, BOBthewrecker555, Backspace, Bee Cliff River Slob, Belovedfreak, BereanHunter, Bleakcomb, Bms4880, Bob8844, BocoROTH, Bostit, Bryan Derksen, Buistr, Cafeirlandais, Cap77, Carlson288, Carom, Caulde, Cbcbcbc, Cdtew, Chewy3326, Civil Engineer III,Cw6165, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, Dalronprett69, Damicatz, DancingPenguin, Daniel 123, Ddrane, DennisIsMe, Derek Ross, Dermo69, DevinCook, Discospinster, Djbuck1, Eastcote,Encyclopedia77, Entropy, Enviroboy, Epbr123, EricWesBrown, Evilmonkey0417, Fabartus, Favonian, Fingers-of-Pyrex, Fluffernutter, FreeKresge, Frietjes, Ftjrwrites, Gdr, GenQuest,GenghisTheHun, Gomm, Greatdane1995, Gwernol, HaeB, Hemlock Martinis, Hirudo, Hmains, Imersion, Inluminetuovidebimuslumen, Irule45, J.delanoy, Jive Dadson, Jmelro01, JodyB, Jolomo,Joseph Solis in Australia, Joyous!, Jschnur, Jtl6713, Juansidious, Katalaveno, Kenw105, Kevin Myers, Kingpin13, Kumioko (renamed), Leuko, Life, Liberty, Property, Lord Cornwallis, Lorelinx,LouI, M dorothy, MC10, Magicpiano, Mandarax, Marek69, Mark Arsten, MarmadukePercy, Maximus Rex, Mblumber, Melromero, Michael Devore, Military Nerd, Milner77, Mimcga, Mschel,Mumia-w-18, NJGW, Nbaallstar99, NekoDaemon, North Shoreman, Nyttend, Oldag07, Onebravemonkey, Orlady, PP Jewel, Pat1792A, Paul.h, Peter Karlsen, Pharaoh of the Wizards,Pigsonthewing, Pollinator, Prashanthns, PrivateWiddle, Pubdog, QuartierLatin1968, R'n'B, Randall O, RebelAt, Red4tribe, RenamedUser01302013, Rjensen, Rjwilmsi, RockDrummerQ,Rockfall, Rosiestep, Rror, Ryuhaku, S2grand, S@bre, Seaphoto, Securehope, Shanes, Shauni, Shoessss, Skunkboy74, Snow Blizzard, Snowolf, SoLando, Sochwa, Sophysduckling,Spoonkymonkey, Squirepants101, Steven Zhang, Sturmvogel 66, SunKing1789Z, Sunkawakan, SuperSmashBros.Brawl777, Superboy1000, Tabletop, Thatguyflint, Thebananamasta,Thekrazykerzman, Tide rolls, Tim!, Timjowers, Tom Morris, Tommy2010, Tony1, Trappist the monk, Trekphiler, Tresiden, Trip Johnson, Twobells, UT95, Urban, Van helsing, Vanished user90345uifj983j4toi234k, Varlaam, Vidor, Violetriga, Vrenator, WhyNotFreedom, Wikipedian1234, Wikipelli, Wikiuser100, William R Wade, Wittyname, Wizardman, Wladams, Woohookitty,Xiahou, 542 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:KingsMountain DeathOfFerguson Chappel.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:KingsMountain_DeathOfFerguson_Chappel.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Chappel, Alonzo, 1828-1887 (artist), Jeens, Charles Henry, 1827-1879 (engraver), Virtue & Yorston (publisher)File:US flag 13 stars – Betsy Ross.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:US_flag_13_stars_–_Betsy_Ross.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: DevinCookFile:Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Union_flag_1606_(Kings_Colors).svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: HoshieFile:Gathering-of-overmountain-men-branson-tn1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Gathering-of-overmountain-men-branson-tn1.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Lloyd Branson (painter)File:Colonel Cleveland's War Prize Oct. 7, 1780.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Colonel_Cleveland's_War_Prize_Oct._7,_1780.jpg  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:DonTroianiFile:SCMap-doton-Blacksburg.PNG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:SCMap-doton-Blacksburg.PNG  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors:Original uploader was Seth Ilys at en.wikipedia

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