USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1775-1780 > Part 62
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mostly in Augusta and Rockbridge counties, Virginia, a frontier region in the French-Indian war, they early settled on the Holston, and were accustomed from their childhood to border life and hardship. They were better educated than most of the frontier settlers, and had a more thorough understanding of the questions at issue between the colo- nies and their mother country. These men went forth to strike their country's foes, as did the patriarchs of old, feeling assured that the God of battle was with them, and that He would surely crown their efforts with success. Lacey's men, mostly from the present York and Chester counties in South Carolina, were of the same character, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and so were some of those under Shelby, Sevier, Cleveland, Williams, Winston, and McDow- ell; but many of these, especially those from Nolachucky, Watauga, and Lower Holston, who had not very long settled on the frontier, were more of a mixed race, some- what rough, but brave, fearless, and full of adventure.
When the Whig patriots came near the mountain they halted, dismounted, fastened their loose baggage to their saddles, tied their horses and left them under charge of a few men detailed for the purpose, and then prepared for an immediate attack. The force was divided into four columns. The first, or as Shelby designated it, the right centre,1 was composed of the Virginians under Campbell, 200 men. The second, or left centre, of Shelby's regiment, 120. The third, or right flank column, of Sevier's regi- ment, 120, McDowell's 90, and Winston's 60, -in all 270, under Colonel Sevier. The fourth, or left flank column, of Cleveland's regiment, 120, Williams's 60, Graham's and Hambright's 50, and Lacey's and Hill's South Carolinians 100, -in all 310, under Colonel Cleveland. The whole party was thus composed of 200 Virginians, 510 North
1 King's Mountain and its Heroes (Draper), Appendix, 543.
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Carolinians, and 100 South Carolinians. The small party of Georgians present served with Williams. The army was divided into two wings. The right centre and right flank columns, numbering together 470, were under the immediate command of Colonel Campbell. The left centre and left flank, numbering 440, were under the direc- tion of Colonel Cleveland. The two wings were thus very nearly equal in strength. . The plan of battle was that the two wings should approach upon opposite sides of the mountain and thus encompass the enemy. Cleveland's and Sevier's columns united at the northeast end of the ridge, Campbell's and Shelby's closing together at the southwest.
Before taking up the line of march, Campbell and the leading officers earnestly appealed to their soldiers, to the highest instincts of their natures, by all that was patriotic and noble among men, to fight like heroes, and give not an inch of ground save only from the sheerest necessity, and then only to retrace and recover their lost ground at the ear- liest possible moment. Campbell personally visited all the corps and said to Cleveland's men, as he did to all, that if any of them, men or officers, were afraid, he advised them to quit the ranks and go home; that he wished no man to engage in the action who could not fight ; that as for him- self, he was determined to fight the enemy a week, if need be, to gain the victory. Colonel Campbell also gave the necessary orders to all the principal officers, and repeated them so as to be heard by a large portion of the line, and then placed himself at the head of his own regiment, as the other officers did at the head of their respective com- mands. Many of the men threw aside their hats, tying handkerchiefs around their heads so as to be less likely to be retarded by limbs and bushes when dashing up the mountain.
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About three o'clock in the afternoon the columns ad- vanced. Both wings were somewhat longer in reaching their designated places than had been expected. In mov- ing to the attack, Winston's party was thrown into con- fusion. Some men riding up directed them to dismount from their horses and march up the hill. This was imme- diately done, but before they had advanced two hundred paces they were again hailed, disabused of their error, and directed to remount their horses and push on, as King's Mountain was yet some distance away. They ran down the declivity with great precipitation without a guide ; but fortunately they regained the line at the very point of their proper destination. As the two wings came to the foot of the mountain, that under Colonel Campbell turned to the right and made its way around the southeastern side, while Cleveland's turned to the left and occupied the northwestern side.
There has been some difference between the authorities as to the actual commencement of the action. The tradi- tion has always been, says Dr. Moore in his Life of Lacey, that inasmuch as Colonel Lacey rode the express, Colonel Campbell gave him the honor of commencing the battle ; 1 and Ramsay intimates that it was begun by Cleveland; but the official report made by Campbell, Shelby, and Cleveland themselves states distinctly that "Colonel Shelby's and Colonel Campbell's regiments began the attack, and kept up a fire on the enemy while the right and left wings were advancing to surround them, which was done in about five minutes, and the fire became general all around." 2 A picket of the enemy, whose position had been ascer- tained, was surprised and secured by a party of Shelby's
1 The Life of General Edward Lacey, 17, 18.
2 King's Mountain and its Heroes (Draper), Appendix, 523 ; Ramsay's Rev. of So. Ca., vol. II, 182.
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men without firing a gun or giving the least alarm. From the nature of the ground and thick intervening foliage of the trees, the Whigs were not discovered by Ferguson till within a quarter of a mile, when his drums beat to arms, and his shrill whistle, with which he was wont to summon his men to battle and inspire them with his own courage, was heard everywhere over the mountain.
The right and left wings had been cautioned that the action was not to be commenced until the centre columns were ready for the attack. These were to give the signal by raising a frontier war-whoop, after the manner of the Indians, and then to rush forward to the attack. Upon hearing the battle-shout and the reports of the rifles, the right and left wings were to join in the affray. The first firing was made by the enemy upon Shelby's column before they were in position to engage in the action. It was gall- ing in its effect, and not a little annoying to the moun- taineers, some of whom in their impatience complained that it would never do to be shot down without returning the fire ; but Shelby restrained them. "Press on to your places," he said, "and then your fire will not be lost."
But before Shelby's men could gain their position, Colonel Campbell had thrown off his coat; and, while leading his men to the attack, he exclaimed at the top of his voice, "Here they are, my brave boys; shout like H-l, and fight like devils!" The woods immediately resounded with the shouts of the line, in which they were heartily joined, first by Shelby's corps, and then the cry was caught up and ran along the two wings. Draper relates that when Captain de Peyster heard these almost deafen- ing yells, - the same he too well remembered hearing from Shelby at Musgrove's Mills, - he remarked to Ferguson, " These things are ominous; these are the d-d yelling boys !" Ferguson was himself dismayed when he heard them.
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Cleveland and his men, while passing around to the left of the mountain, were somewhat retarded by a low piece of ground there saturated with water from the recent rain ; but clearing this, and discovering an advance picket of the enemy, he made the address to his men which is always given when the story of King's Mountain is told, and which the schoolboys fifty years ago were taught to re- peat as a part of their exercises. Draper justly observes that this speech, we may conclude, was not delivered in a very formal manner, but most likely by piecemeal, as he rode along the lines.
"My brave fellows, we have beat the Tories, and we can beat them. They are all cowards. If they had the spirit of men, they would join with their fellow-citizens in supporting the independence of their country. When engaged you are not to wait for the word of command from me. I will show you by my example how to fight. I can undertake no more. Every man must consider himself as an officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can. When you can do no better, get behind the trees or retreat; but I beg you not to run quite off. If we are repulsed, let us make a point to return and renew the fight. Perhaps we may have better luck in the second attempt than in the first. If any of you are afraid, such have leave to retire, and they are requested immediately to take them- selves off." 1
The distance that Cleveland's men had to march, with the swampy nature of their route, delayed them some ten minutes in reaching the place assigned them. But they nobly made amends for their delay by their heroic con- duct in the action. The picket that they attacked soon gave way, and were rapidly pursued up the mountain.
The tradition that Lacey was allowed the honor of be- ginning the battle, judging from the official report, Draper
1 Ramsay's Revolution of So. Ca., vol. II, 182-183 ; King's Mountain and its Heroes (Draper), 248, 249.
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holds to be without substantial foundation. But it must be observed that the report was not signed by Lacey, though he represented a distinct corps from a different State, and was therefore entitled to have been consulted in regard to it, or to have made his own. It is remarkable, too, that this official report does not even mention Lacey at all, but erroneously respresents Williams as command- ing the four hundred men who joined the authors of it on the 6th of October, while it is beyond question that Will- iams was repudiated by the South Carolinians and com- manded only sixty men recruited in North Carolina. But whether Lacey actually commenced the action or not, it is clear that he was among the first engaged. He approached the enemy from the northwestern and most level side of the mountain, and thus drew upon him the attention of the foe, while Cleveland and the other leaders were marching to their respective places to complete the encir- cling of Ferguson's army.
The part of the mountain where Campbell's men as- cended to attack was rough and craggy, the most difficult of ascent of any part of the ridge; but these resolute moun- taineers permitted no obstacle to prevent their advance, creeping up the acclivity little by little, from tree to tree, till they were nearly at the top. The Virginians thus secur- ing the summit of the hill, the battle became general. None of the Whigs were longer under the restraint of military dis- cipline; some were on horseback, some were on foot, some behind trees, others exposed; but all were animated with enthusiasm. The Virginians were the first against whom Ferguson ordered a charge of the bayonets by his Rangers and a part of his Loyalists. Some of them obstinately stood their ground till a few were thrust through the body; but without bayonets themselves, with only their rifles to withstand such a charge, the Virginians broke
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and fled down the mountain. They were soon rallied, however, by their gallant commander and some of his more active officers, and by a constant and well-directed fire of their rifles they in turn drove back Ferguson's men, and again reached the summit of the mountain. The mountain was covered with flame and smoke, and seemed to thunder. The shouts of the mountaineers, the noise of hundreds of rifles and muskets, the loud commands and encouraging words of the officers, with every now and then the shrill screech of Ferguson's silver whistle high above the din and confusion of the battle, intermingled with the groans of the wounded in every part of the line, is de- scribed as combining to convey the idea of another pande- monium.
While Ferguson's Rangers were pushing back Camp- bell's men with the bayonet, Shelby was pressing Fergu- son's Loyalists on the opposite side and southwestern end of the mountain, so that the Rangers were now called upon to turn their attention to this body of the moun- taineers. Ferguson soon found that he had not so much the advantage of the position as he had anticipated. The summit of the mountain was bare of timber, exposing his men to the fire of the backwoods riflemen, who, as they pressed up the ridge, availed themselves of the trees on its sides, which afforded them protection while breaking his ranks and retarding his lines in the charge of the bayo- net. Sumter's South Carolinians under Lacey and Hill - the veterans of Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock, Camden and Fishing Creek - pressed forward to share in the con- test. At the very first fire Lacey's horse was shot from under him. Nor were the other columns idle. Major Chronicle and Major Hambright led their little bands up the northeast end of the mountain, where the ascent was more abrupt than elsewhere -save where Campbell's men
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made their attack. As they reached the base of the ridge and began the ascent, Chronicle was killed; but the small party under Hambright, with a disproportionate number of officers for its strength, fought on with determined hero- ism. Before they reached the crest of the mountain De Peyster charged them with the bayonet. Sevier's column at length gained the summit of the hill, driving the enemy's left flank upon his centre. But they were not subjected to any bayonet charge save a portion of the left, who hastened to the support of Campbell's regiment when hard pressed, and became intermingled with them.
Williams, offended at his treatment and the refusal of the other officers to recognize his right to command, at first refused to take part in the battle; but he could not after all restrain himself, or resist so glorious an opportunity to do his country service, for he was a patriot, notwithstand- ing that his ambition had led him to improper courses to attain distinction. Wheeling chivalrously into line on the left of Shelby, and exclaiming to his followers, "Come on, my boys - the old wagoner never yet backed out," he rushed into the thickest of the fight. Though his num- bers were few, he had several good and experienced partisan officers with him. Brandon, Hammond, Hayes, Roebuck, and Dillard - all, but Roebuck, like him, from Ninety- Six District - had been engaged in the campaigns in the Low Country. These officers, by their intrepid example, did excellent work with their small band recruited in North Carolina. Major Samuel Hammond, with a small squad of brave followers, broke through the British lines; and when the enemy attempted to intercept them, facing about, they cut their way back by dint of the most heroic efforts.
The last time Campbell and Shelby's men were driven down the declivity it was rumored that Tarleton with his horse had come, and they were somewhat confirmed in this
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belief by the deceptive shouting on the part of the enemy. This for the moment had a dispiriting effect upon the mountaineers. But Colonel Sevier and other officers rode along the line, calling upon the men to halt, and assuring them that Tarleton was not there, and encouraging them to resist even though he should come. The riflemen, thus reassured, turned and pressed upon the enemy with the utmost firmness and determination. And thus the battle waged with alternate advances and repulses, the columns of Campbell and Shelby having been two or three times driven down the mountain at the point of the bayonet, the last one almost a rout, in which some of them were trans- fixed with the bayonet while others fell headlong over the cliff. Three times, says Mills, did the Britons charge with bayonet down the hill; as often did the Americans retreat; and the moment the Britons turned their backs, the Americans shot from behind every tree, and every rock, and laid them prostrate.
But at length the two wings of the mountaineers so pressed the enemy on both sides that Ferguson's men had ample employment all around the eminence without being able to repair to each other's relief. The Provincial Rang- ers and the Loyalists, though led by the brave De Peyster, began to grow weary and discouraged, steadily decreas- ing in numbers and making no permanent impression upon their tireless opponents. From the southwestern portion of the ridge the Rangers and Tories began to give way, and were doggedly driven by Campbell's, Shelby's, and Sevier's men, and perhaps others intermingled with them.
Ferguson, by this time, had been wounded in the hand, but he was still in the heat of the battle, and with charac- teristic coolness and daring he ordered De Peyster to reën- force a position about one hundred yards distant; but before they reached it they were thinned too much by the
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Whig rifles to render any effectual support. He then ordered his cavalry to mount, with the intention of making a desperate onset at their head. But these only presented a better mark for the rifle, and fell as fast as they could mount their horses. He rode from end to end of his line, encouraging his men to prolong the conflict, and with his silver whistle in his wounded hand, with desperate courage he passed from one exposed point to another of equal danger. But the Whigs were gradually compressing his men, and the Tories began to show signs of yielding. They raised a flag in token of surrender. Ferguson rode up and cut it down. A second flag was raised at the other end of the line. He rode there, too, and cut it down with his sword. Captain de Peyster, his second in command, convinced from the first of the utter futility of resistance upon the position at King's Mountain selected by Ferguson, as soon as he became satisfied that Ferguson would not abandon it and attempt to make his way to the relief for which he had sent to Cornwallis, had the courage to advise a surrender ; but Ferguson's proud spirit could not deign to give up to raw and undisciplined militia. When the second flag was cut down De Peyster renewed his advice, but Ferguson declared that he would never sur- render to such a d-d set of banditti as the mountain men. At length, satisfied that all was lost and firmly resolving not to fall into the hands of the despised Back- water men, 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. With his sword in his left hand, he made a bold dash for freedom, cutting and slashing until he broke it. Colonel Vesey Husbands, a North Carolina Loyalist, and Major Plummer of South Carolina joined Ferguson and charged on a part of the line they thought was vulnerable. They all fell and perished in the effort.
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Captain de Peyster, who had succeeded Ferguson in command, perceiving that further struggle was in vain, raised the white flag and asked for quarter. A general cessation of the American fire followed ; but this cessation was not complete. Ramsey states that "some of the young men did not understand the meaning of the white flag, others who did knew that other flags had been raised before, and were quickly taken down ; and that Shelby called out to them to throw down their guns, as all would understand that as a surrender." 1 Mills states that " few of the Americans understood the signal, and the few that did chose not to know what it meant, so that even after submission the slaughter continued until the Americans were weary of killing." 2 And Draper adds " that this is a sad confession ; but impartial truth demands that the record be faithful, though in this case there is reason to believe that Mills's statement is somewhat exagger- ated." 3 It was, indeed, a most deplorable condition, into which the warfare in South Carolina had degenerated. From its very nature civil war is more terrible than that between foreign nations. The question of rightful sover- eignty, in the contending governments, necessarily involves the question of treason. The foreign invader, when taken prisoner, is asked no question as to his loyalty. He is an enemy - but an enemy with well-defined rights under the laws of nations. But the person taken in a civil war with arms in his hands, has at once to meet the question of his civil status, and to answer upon a charge for treason. True, modern humanity now comes in and demands that when armies are recognized as distinct from mobs, that the rules of civilized warfare shall be observed, and prisoners
1 Ramsey's Annals of Tennessee, 238, 239.
2 Mills's Statistics of So. Ca., 779.
3 King's Mountain and its Heroes (Draper), 282.
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who surrender be entitled to some protection. But this philanthropic sentiment had little sway during the Revo- lution. The conduct of Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis had greatly aggravated the inevitable condi- tion of the strife. Sir Henry's abrogation of the paroles given by the Whigs, and demand for personal service in the Royal cause of all the male inhabitants without regard to their political opinions or previous affiliation, followed up by Lord Cornwallis's order after the battle of Camden and the executions in pursuance of them there under his immediate eye, and the exile of the citizens from Charles- town against their understanding of the paroles accepted by them, all went to spread distrust and hatred, and to exasperate the Whigs. But beyond all this there was the burning desire, no doubt, on the part of the Virginians, whose fellow-countrymen had been slaughtered by Tarle- ton at the Waxhaws in May, and by the South Carolinians who had come from that scene of carnage, to revenge the cruel massacre. De Peyster might now call out to Colonel Campbell that "it was d-d unfair "; but he should have recollected that Ensign Cruit was cut down by Tarleton's men when advancing with a flag of surrender; the plea for quarter had been then absolutely refused, and prostrate men had been bayoneted on the ground ; that Tarleton had on that occasion continued his carnage for full fifteen min- utes after the white flag had been raised. And Tarleton was now expected every moment by both the British and the Americans. Would he recognize the surrender if he came ? Well might young Whigs now cry out as they did, "Give them Buford's play ! "1 No mercy had been shown to Sumter's men at Fishing Creek, and Major Candler and his Georgians were fresh from the scenes at Augusta.
But though justified, not only by the law of vengeance, 1 King's Mountain and its Heroes (Draper), 282.
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but by the demand for a proper retaliation of the atrocities which had been committed by the British and their Tory allies, and as a warning to them for the future, to the honor of the Whig leaders on this occasion the historian can record with satisfaction that the latter were active in their efforts to put a stop to the slaughter, and this though in fact the enemy had not actually laid down their arms. While the subdued Tories were everywhere crying "Quarter! quarter!" "D-n you," exclaimed Shelby, "if you want quarter, throw down your arms !" Saying this, he rushed his horse within fifteen paces of their line, commanding them to lay down their arms, and they should have quarter. The firing was at length stopped. The enemy at this time had been driven into a group of sixty yards in length and less than forty in width, around which the Whigs closed up, forming one continu- ous circle, which was then doubled and finally became four deep. Colonel Campbell now proposed to his troops three huzzas for Liberty, which were given in hearty acclaim, mak- ing the woods ring and the hills resound with their shouts of victory.
The action was begun, fought, and ended within an hour.1 But more blood was yet to be shed. The Whig leaders had just stopped the firing when a small party of the Loyal militia returning from foraging, unacquainted with the surrender, fired on the Whigs. At first it seemed that the prisoners were only threatened with death if the firing should be repeated ; but it happened that Colonel Williams, who was riding up at the time, was struck and mortally wounded, either by the foraging party of Loyalists or by some of the prisoners.
Upon this, Colonel Campbell, who was near at hand, fear- ing that the firing from an outside party might be the pre-
1 See authorities, King's Mountain and its Heroes (Draper), 296. VOL. III .- 3 F
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cursor of Tarleton's expected relief, and that by the sur- rendered Tories a bold attempt to escape might be made while the Whigs were measurably off their guard, to inflict summary punishment and at once quell the in- tended mutiny, ordered the men near him-the men of Williams's and Brandon's commands - to fire. The order was quickly obeyed, and it is said that one hundred more of the imprisoned enemy were killed or wounded. But the probabilities are, says Draper, that those who fired and those who suffered from it were not very numerous. It was, however, says the same author, a sad affair, and in the confusion of the moment its origin and its immediate effects were probably little understood by either party, and doubtless Colonel Campbell himself deeply regretted the order he had given.
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