USA > North Carolina > North Carolina, 1780-'81 : being a history of the invasion of the Carolinas by the British Army under Lord Cornwallis in 1780-'81 > Part 10
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With these sentiments and hopes to impel them and these discordant masses in front of them, we do not wonder that victory perched on the banner of the Whigs. No mercenary can stand before a man who is moved by the conviction of duty.
"Thrice armed is he who hath his quarrel just."
Ferguson viewed their approach with firmness and courage, but not with indifference or confidence. His last dispatch, by John Ponder to Cornwallis, indicated his apprehension of defeat. He was a Scotchman from the bonny hills and he knew that the gathering of the mountain clans foreboded evil to those who roused them to the battle. He knew that such men as had dogged him through the mountains and through the streams, through wet and cold, and were now deploying beneath his last bivouac, were men whom no danger could appall and no threat could intimidate.
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What a sight to contemplate in this lonely mountain wilderness ! No pyramids to look down upon them and challenge their claim to courage or incite them to glory; no forty centuries of battle scenes to provoke their emulation. It was untrained men, in the wilderness of a virgin region, who had come to contend for the land and the country on which they stood.
No maiden hand bore the wreath to crown the victor; no applauding thousands waited to honor the survivor of the carnage; no titles of nobility nor badges of knighthood were in the expectancy of the men who struggled for freedom. It was the conflict of men who came to contend for principle and who sought no reward but the " glorious privi- lege of being independent;" who courted no applause, and were content with the approval of a good conscience; who knew nothing of romance or fiction and lived only to love the women and the children they had left behind them.
It was fit that the God of battles should be the only spectator and that His omnipotent hand should crown whom He willed with the wreath of victory.
The spur of the mountain which Ferguson had chosen for the conflict runs from southwest ascend- ing to the northeast. Its summit is about five hun- dred yards long and from seventy to eighty yards in width. A branch of Clarke's Fork sweeps around the northern declivity ; at the northeastern extremity of the eminence the descent is precipitous; on either side were deep hollows parallel to the course of the mountain. The Whigs were drawn up near the
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southwestern extremity where the declivity is com- paratively gentle. The army was divided into two
corps. Campbell was to command the corps approaching from the south side of the mountain and Cleveland that from the north.
Winston had already made a detour in order to approach from near the northeastern extremity aud Campbell now led his men in the following order: McDowell in advance, whose right joined Winston's left; Sevier, whose right joined McDowell's left ; the right of the Virginians joined Sevier's left, so that the columin from southwest to northeast stood Campbell first, then Sevier. then McDowell, then Winston.
On the north side of the mountain Colonel Haill- bright marched around the northeastern declivity, and his left joined Winston's right, Cleveland's left rested on Hambright's right, then Lacey on Cleveland's right, then Williams on Lacey's right, and lastly, Colonel Shelby at the southwestern extremity.
Campbell was to swing to the north with the left of his column and Shelby to the south with his right wing, so that their united columns should stretch across the mountain at its southwestern base. When all were in column at their respective positions, it formed a complete cordon around the mountain, and the coil was to be drawn closer and closer to the centre. If Ferguson pushed back one side, the other was to press his rear. The plan was admirable, and if executed was a sure success.
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CREYLI AND
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IN 3
Y19STON
MICROWEIL
HABEN
5 H. Q. Ferguson's Headquarters
(=) Where Ferguson was killed
LIME
O. M. Old Monument M. New Monument
G. Ferguson's Grave
WOSR
IN
KING'S MOUNTAIN.
MARCH.
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The diagram which we present illustrates the post- tions as above described."
The Whigs marched in double column to their respective places, headed by the officers in command of each regiment.
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Shelby and Campbell's men began the attack. As soon as the approach of the Americans was dis- covered. the drum beat to arms in the British camp, and the shrill whistle of Ferguson was distinctly heard, notifying his men to take their respective places for the battle. "Orders had been giyen that when Shelby and Campbell were ready to begin the attack, they were to give the signal by raising a regular Indian war-whoop;" when this signal was given, the other columns were to press forward simultaneously. The enemy opened fire on Shelby first, and it was with difficulty that he restrained his men from returning it until the proper time. "Press on to your places," he cried. "and your fire will not be lost." Very soon Camp- bell's stentorian voice was heard, as they wheeled by the left into line, shouting. " Here they are, boys ; shout like hell and fight like devils!" The Indian war-whoop reverberated through the valleys and hills and the battle was begun. DePeyster hearing the vell, recognized it as the same he had first heard on the 18th of August, and remarked to
"The map was made by General Joseph Graham from an actual survey made by him.
tFerguson used a shrill whistle which he carried with him as car- alry use a bugle.
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Ferguson. "These are those same velling devils that were at Musgrove's Mill." Campbell pressing forward, was delayed in his march ten minutes by a swampy marsh in his front. Shelby going a short distance ahead received the first bayonet charge and was driven down the hill, but quickly reloading they gave the British a galling fire that drove them up the hill again. . The trees, which retarded the charge of the Rangers, afforded a rampart for the riflemen, and from this cover they poured in the balls, each going with the marksman aim to its deathly work. The crest of the mountain was almost bare, and the British, unprotected when in colamin. were a splendid target for the mountaineers. Harry Lee said of King's Mountain that "it was more assailable by the rifle than defensible with the bayonet."
The battle now raged with fury from every side of the mountain as the coil drew nearer, and Fer- guson, dashing from one side to another to rally his men or lead a charge, was typical of Satan when he cried. " Which way I fly is hell !"
The rattle of musketry, the keen crack of the rifle, the vells and whoops of the assailants, the commands of the officers, the groans of the dying, all mingled with one discordant noise around this little mountain, making a pandemonium in which devils might have disported themselves with joy. Many heroic deeds of daring were done, hand-to- hand conflicts were occurring on every side, splen- did shots were being made, soldiers were leaping
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from rock to rock for shelter. the trees were being peeled by the bullets intended for the man behind them, the wounded were scrambling away for safety and the dead lay prostrate at every step; but amidst the infernal din the coil drew nearer still. As the British bayonets drove the men down che side, the Whigs from the other side shouted. "They retreat ! they retreat!" and rushing to the British rear they ,poured in the bullets like hail on their backs.
At every repetition of this charge and counter- charge the ranks of the Rangers grew thinner and thinner .. The Provincials, with butcher knives fitted to their guns as a substitute for bavonets, came to their assistance, but soon they too began to reel and stagger in the storm. The retirement before the bayonet created no panic, it was under- stood to be the order of the day. and then followed the fresh crack of the rifle and the advance again.
The Whigs kept out of the way of the bayonet and were comparatively unharmed, but there was no British foot swift enough to outstrip the bullets of the old Deckard, and every renewal of the charge came with weakened force.
Major Chronicle had led the South Fork boys ap to the ascent on the northeast end, and turning to his men gave the command, "Face to the hill." It was his last speech. A ball struck him and he fell to rise no more.
The men, undaunted, pressed on under their brave old Colonel Hambright, with Joseph Dickson, Captains Mattocks, Johnson, White, Espey and
. ..
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Martin at the head of their squads of men, each. with a rifle in hand and doing the duty of a private in the fray. DePevster was commanded to charge them, and living a volley which killed Mattocks, the British pushed them back with the bavonet.
The old Colonel received a ball through his thigh which filled his boot leg with blood. His men begged him to retire: "No, pays. I will stay as long as I can sit up," was the brave response of Ham- bright.
The coil was getting tight around the crest of the hill and at times Whig and Tory were going for the same tree or rock. The countersign of the Whigs was " Buford," a reminder of the massacre at the Waxhaws. and when this " shibboleth" was not given on demand, up went the rifle to the shoulder and the quickest was the survivor. The cloud of smoke was too thick to discern the white paper in the hat of the Whig or the bunch of pine in that of the Tory.
Relatives and acquaintances often recognized each other as the quarters grew eleser. A Tory named Bronson being severely wounded, seeing his Whig brother-in-law, Captain James Withrow, of Hampton's command, near by, solicited his help. "Look to your friends for help," was the reply.
Captain William Lenoir's company of Cleveland's command was left behind at Green River, but the Captain refused to remain and went forward as a private. He received two wounds, one in the side, another in the arm.
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Colonel Sevier's North Carolinians were the first to reach the summit of the hill and hold their posi- tion : sheltered by the rocks around, they poured destruction into the British flank. Captain Robert Sevier, a brother of the Colonel, was mortally wounded as he was ascending the mountain.
Colonel Williams, who felt the mortification of neglect. fought with reckless desperation, pressing on into the thickest of the fight. He received a mortal wound and was borne unconscious to the rear. Water being sprinkled on his face he revived, and while gasping for breath he looked at the men around and said. " For God's sake, boys, don't give up the hill."
Shelby was now in conjunction with Campbell's column, getting nearer the summit. Heconstantly admonished his men "never to shoot till you see your enemy and never see him without bringing him down." Winston and McDowell were in close rifle shot and Cleveland had led his men up the steep acclivity in the rear of Ferguson's line. Colonel Lacey's horse had been shot but he was advancing on foot and driving the enemy before him.
The British were enveloped and the fire was so hot from every quarter and their ranks so thin, they were unable to compel the troops to renew the charge.
"The combat deepened."
The Provincials were now giving way on the southwestern side of the crest. pressed by Camp-
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bell, Sevier and Shelby, and taken in the Hank by MeDowell and Winston, and in the rear by Cleve- land. Two white flags were raised in token of surrender, which Ferguson cut down with his sword. An officer remonstrated and begged that the carnage might cease, but Ferguson swore he " would never surrender to such banditti." Captain DePeyster, his second in command, seeing his men huddled on the crest and being shot down on every side, urged him to surrender. At length, being satisfied that all was lost. "Ferguson, with a few chosen friends, made a desperate attempt to break through the Whig lines on the southeastern side of the mountain and escape." As he went he cut and slashed with his sword, using his left hand, until the sword was broken.
To pass a file of mountain riflemen and live was more than man could do. Gilleland, one of Sevier's men. recognized Ferguson and "drew a bead " upon him, but his rifle missed fire. Calling to Robert Young, one of his comrades, "There goes Ferguson-shoot him." Young, drawing his rifle affectionately to his shoulder, replied, "I'll see what Sweet-lips can do." There was a flash, a sharp lingering crack, and Ferguson tumbled from his saddle. "Sweet-lips" had been true to her reputation. Others, too, had marked the "pig shirt " and revenged Hambright's wound by put- ting six or eight more bullets through that same "pig shirt." Ferguson fell near Sevier's column ;
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he was unconscious when he fell, and lived but a few minutes. The prayer of Parson Doak had been answered. Two Tory officers, Colonel Vezey Hus- bands and Major Daniel Plummer, who were with Ferguson, turned to flee, but both were shot dead. Seeing their leader fall, the enemy began to break. and took refuge behind cheir wagons, where, for a short while, they renewed the combat, but being fired on from the rear by Cleveland, who had 'gotten close to them, they retreated into a sunken place or hollow. Few of the Rangers now survived and they were in terror. All order and organiza- tion was lost, and these wretched beings stood like a herd of deer in a corral, and were slaughtered in their tracks. "Buford!" "Buford!" "Tarleton's Quarters!" "Tarleton's Quarters!" rang with fear- ful tones in the ears of these perishing beings. The day of justice and judgment, awful in its reality, had come to them. Young Sevier, sou of the Colonel, had heard of his uncle's death, and would not be restrained. "Standing erect, with deliberate aim he would bring down a Tory," to avenge the blood of the Seviers.
In vain were white handkerchiefs raised. Those who raised them became targets for the infuriated Whigs, and their holders fell beneath the signal. One man on horseback rode out with a white flag, but fell as he came in view ; a second shared the same fate. The Wilkes men were lying in wait to shoot everything that made an attractive target. "Larkin Cleveland must be avenged before we cease
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firing !" " Chronicle and Hambright and Williams imust have blood for blood !" Such was the maddened senise of these enraged men who had come for vic- tory and vengeance. They determined that the work should be effectually done. The Rutherford men reminded each other of the cowardly assassi- nation of their leader's son on Pacolet ; they listened a moment and shot again. One more victim to the unbending law of retribution. Thus from lip to lip went tales of wrong, and from rifle to rifle came the voice of vengeance. The scene is too sad to contemplate-the curtain must fall. Major Evan Shelby shouted to the victims, "Throw down your arms!" It was instantly done, and rushing forward he implored his followers to shoot no more. The fring had almost ceased, but as stragglers, or those who were too weak to be in front, gained the crest, they emptied their rifles once more. Campbell, riding to the front, exclaimed : " For God's sake, quit! it is murder to shoot any more." DePeyster, a brave soldier, rode up to Campbell and said, " It is unfair." There was no time for argument. Campbell, addressing the enemy, ordered De Peyster to dismount, and called out : " Officers, go to your- selves; prisoners, take off your hats and sit down." The Whigs were then "drawn up and around them in a continuous circle, then double guards, and finally four deep." The game was bagged and the hunters stood around gazing at their victims. Now and then an old marauder or bushwhacker was recognized and his sin proclaimed. According
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to the enormity of their cruelties each wretch was endeavoring to hide behind his neighbor. A fear- ful reckoning was at hand. The arms were removed from the prisoners and strongly guarded that they might not be resumed in the confusion.
As Ferguson fell, his small silver whistle dropped from his pocket and was picked up by a Tory named Elias Powell, who lived.in Caldwell County. It was preserved until Powell died in 1832, when his children took it west where it was lost.
Ferguson's sword was given either to Cleveland or Sevier, most probably the latter.
Such was the curiosity to see the dead body of Ferguson that many wounded soldiers had their friends to convey them to the spot that they might gaze upon it.
Ferguson was buried near where he fell. "No martial cloak" was around him ; he was enclosed 'in a beef's hide and buried in a hole. It is dis- creditable, perhaps, to chronicle such a fact, but it seems to be well authenticated. .
The envenomed hatred of Ferguson by the Whigs, whom he had so cruelly wronged. became a mono- mania and its cravings for revenge were insatiable.
Ferguson had two mistresses with him : the one, a red-liaired woman, "Virginia Sal," was killed; the other, "Virginia Paul." survived and was indifferent to his fate. Tradition says that the former was buried in the same grave with Ferguson.
The engagement had lasted only fifty minutes when Ferguson fell, and that may be considered the end of the fight.
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Not one of the enemy who were on the hill when the fight began escaped; there was a party of two hundred foragers out who left that morning and did not return.
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From the many reports of the British loss I think that made by Colonel Shelby in a letter to his father, five days after the battle, is perhaps nearest to the actual facts. He says the loss of Ferguson's corps-the Rangers-was 30 killed, 28 wounded and 37 prisoners. That the loss of the Tories was 12- killed. 125 wounded and 619 prisoners ; or both classed together, 157 killed, 153 wounded and 706 prisoners -- total 1016. The official report of the Whig commanders, it was admitted, was exagger- ated somewhat for effect. Of the Tories. three hundred were North Carolinians under Colonel Ambrose Mills." The others were from South Carolina, mostly from the region of Ninety-Six, where Ferguson had his headquarters. The Ameri- can loss was 28 killed and 62 wounded. The great disparity in the respective losses was attribu- table to the fine marksmauship of the mountain men, and that the British were huddled together when the close firing occurred.
The command of Chronicle, from Tryon County. suffered very much more than any of the others. Chronicle was killed, Colonel Hambright severely wounded, Captain Mattocks, William Rabb, John Boyd and Arthur Patterson killed, Moses Henry mortally wounded; Captain Espey, Robert Henry,
"He was hung at Biggerstaff s.
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William Gilmer, John Chittim and William Brad- ley wounded. Four others of Captain Martin's company, names unknown, were wounded."
Ferguson's personal effects were distributed as follows: Captain Joseph MeDowell, of Pleasant Garden. first cousin of Major Joseph McDowell, who was in command of Colonel Charles MeDow- ell's regiment, secured six pieces of his china diuner plates and a small coffee cup and saucer. These are still retained among his descendants. Colonel Shelby obtained the larger silver whistle ; Colonel Sevier was allotted the silken sash and Ferguson's commission as lieutenant colonel, and DePeyster's sword; Colonel Campbell took his correspondence ; the white charger, from which Ferguson was shot, was, by common consent, awarded to Colonel Cleve- land, who had lost his horse in the battle and was too unwieldiv to travel on foot.+
So much space has been devoted to this impor- tant battle that I cannot pursue the subject any more in detail. The heroes who fought it returned to their homes. feeling that they had been saved from calamities which only such a band of free- booters as the Tories could inflict. A few of these
#Major Chronicle was a young man of good family and more than ordinary intelligence. He was engaged to be married to a Miss Alexander of Mecklenburg County, and when killed was wearing a gold ring which she had presented to him. The ring is now in the family of her descendants of Charlotte, N. C., as I am informed. Miss Alexander subsequently married Judge Lowrie of North Car- olina.
+Draper, pp. 307 .'S.
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Tories were hung for their crimes at Biggerstaff's. in Rutherford County, among them Colonel Mills. The other prisoners were sent to Virginia.+
" The victory at King's Mountain, which, in the spirit of the American soldiers, was like the rising at Concord. in its effect like the success at Bennington, changed the aspects of the war. The loyalists no longer dared to rise. It fired the patriots of the two Carolinas with fresh zeal. It encouraged the fragments of the defeated and scattered American army to seek each other and organ- ize themselves anew. It quickened the Legislature of North Carolina to earnest efforts. It encouraged Vir- ginia to devote her resources to the country south of her border. The appearance on the frontiers of a numer- ous enemy from settlements beyond the mountains, whose very names had been unknown to the British, took Cornwallis by surprise, and their success was fatal to his intended expedition. He had hoped to step with ease from one Carolina to the other, and from those to the conquest of Virginia, and he had now no other choice but to retre.t.
"That memorable victory, Jefferson declared, was the joyful annunciation of that turn of the tide of success which terminated the revolutionary war with the seal of independence."+
North Carolina may glory in this decisive and splendid victory, which relieved her from further invasion of her western borders. Her sons had originated the campaign, her money equipped its
"Those who desire to continue the story can derive pleasure and profit perusing it in Mr. Drapet's book.
+Bancroft, vol. 5. p. 4 x4.
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Hon JOSEPH M OFIQUAKER MEADOWS! BURKE COUNTY. N. C. Her - c2 Ramacur's DEM Tings Mountain and Cowpens arid IMember of Congress.
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soldiers, her sons constituted two-thirds of its army and most of its leaders were her citizens.
We yield to Virginia her full share of the glory. and accord to South Carolina praise for unexpected assistance which she so freely gave, but we must be pardoned for publishing the facts of history as they are, that North Carolina's name may not be obscured in the story of this great achievement.
NOTE. - A monument thirty feet high and constructed of granite bleeks now stands upon the suminit of King's Mountain to com- memorate the deeds of the patriotic men who won this memorable victory. The Legislature of North Carolina appropriated $1500 to the work, and yet among the list of names chiseled on this monument the name of MeDowell does not appear. The MeDowells of Burke. in conjunction with Sevier, conceived the scheme and organized the American force which captured Ferguson and led the attack in the battle. Such are the egregious blunders and injustice which char- acterize history ; such are the sins committed in its name.
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CHAPTER IN.
Cornwallis Retreats from Charlotte to Winnsboro-General Morgan joins Gates et Hillsboro-Gate- moves from Hillsboro > Char- lotte -- General Nathanael Greene supersede- Gates December 4th, 1786, at Charlotte-Personal Sketches of Greene and Corn- wallis-Greene Moves to "Camp Repose ' on the Pre Dee- Morgan sent to the Western Part of the State December 16th --- Sketch of General Morgan -- Lee's Legion joins Greene-Char- acter of J.ee -The North Carolina Riflemen join Morgan 310 Strong-The Fight at Hammonds' Store-Maneuvering of Tarleton and Morgau-Their respective Strength-Tarleton's Character-Battle of Cowpens January the 17th, 17St.
THEN we took up the story of King's Moun- tain, Cornwallis was at Charlotte, North Carolina, where his army was every day subjected to insult and annoyance from the rancorous Whigs, who listened to no overtures of conciliation, and continued to shoot down his sentinels and foragers. General Davidson was, with his brigade of militia, between Charlotte and Salisbury, watching events. General Gates, with the scattered remnants of his army and some accessions of militia, was at Hills- boro. The Governor, Abner Nash, was exerting himself with patriotic energy to supply the wants of the army and place it again in the field. Public spirit was manifested by the people, and the officials seemed determined "to pluck safety from this nettle of danger."
The messengers whom Ferguson had sent to Cornwallis from Tate's plantation (in Cleveland
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County now ) narrowly escaped capture in the Whig settlement of Crowder's Creek. where the Scotch- Trish Presbyterians resided, and consequently they did not reach Cornwallis until the 7th day of October, while the conflict was raging on King's Mountain. Cornwallis appreciating Ferguson's danger, and suddenly aroused to the consciousness that an unexpected army had sprung up, from some unknown region, in front of him, immediately ordered Colonel Tarleton to hasten to his rescue. Tarleton left next morning.
The messengers. Collins and Quinn, returned with him as guides, and Tarleton intended to cross the Catawba at Armour's Ford, near the mouth ot the South Fork. The ford was deep and the cross- ing proved dangerous, many of the advance guard being compelled to swim. It was resolved, there- fore. to remain on the east side until morning; but the next day, before the water subsided, two men who had been near the battle, or perhaps some of the foragers who escaped, informed Tarleton of the disaster which had befallen Ferguson at King's Mountain, and he beat a hasty retreat to Charlotte," arriving there the same evening.
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