USA > Texas > Border fights & fighters; stories of the pioneers between the Alleghenies and the Mississippi and in the Texan republic > Part 7
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T HIS battle followed the battle of Enaree. From the latter it appears, that Col. Isaac Shelby carried off 200 prisoners beyond the pursuit of the british troops. Major Ferguson with a small party of regulars had been detached by Lord Corn- wallis, to the upper section of the Carolinas, to gather troops to the royal standard and support the interest of his Majesty there. In this service he proved himself a man of energy and skill; mus- tered a force of a thousand men, resented the affront of Shelby, and addrefsed to the latter a threatening mefsage, that if he would not cease from such depredations, he would march over the moun- tains and burn those villages which supplied him with men. Shelby, residing at his father's dwelling, in Sullivan county East Tenn. on receiving this message, repaired to the settlements on Watauga river, 40 miles distant. He there had ample opportunity of com- municating its import to Col. John Sevier, who joined him in a sentiment of congenial heroism, for meeting so deserving and re- spectable an army. The mefsage before them told them of the foe. It presented to them an enterprise of a new and daring kind. The object of this enterprize was single and distinct. This was Fer- guson the whole of Ferguson and nothing but Ferguson.
The force which these gentlemen were able to muster in the two settlements, was little over 400 men, The army they were to attack was double in number; and headed by the ablest partisan leader in the land. Shelby therefore addressed a letter to Col. William Campbell of Washington Cnty. Va. to come over and join in the enterprize. Campbell at first refused, from a desire
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to march in a different direction, and unite his troops with those, which were then struggling in the lower sections of his own state. A second mefsage from Shelby was successful. Campbells divi- sion amounted to 400 men. The place of meeting was the Syca- more Flats on Watauga river, at the foot of the Yellow Mountain.
They ascended this mountain on horseback about the first of Oct. 1780. They encamped the same night in a gap of the Moun- tain on the opposite side. The ascent of the Mountain was not very difficult.
It was a road travelled before; but was impafsable for wag- gons.
No provisions were taken but such as each man could carry in his wallet, or saddlebags. The sides and top of the Mountain were covered with snow " shoe mouth deep"-On the top of the Mountain and troops paraded. here were one hundred acres of beautiful table land. A Spring issuing throgh it ran over into the Watauga. On reaching the plain beyond the Mountain, they found themselves in a country covered with verdure and breathed an atmosphere of summer mildnefs. The 2nd night they rested
at Cathy's plantation. The third day they fell in with Gen. McDowel, and that night held a general consultation of the Officers. Gen. McDowel was without troops. Yet his rank and former services could not easily be overlooked; and at the same time these young and daring officers, impatient to inflict a decisive blow on Ferguson, were unwilling to brook the delay, that might ensue from entrusting the command to him. It was accordingly stated in council, that they needed an experienced officer to command them; they knew Gen. Morgan was the man they wanted; they were unacquainted with Gen. Greene, and feared that their re- quest to him for Morgans services would be little attended to, coming as it necefsarily must, from strangers. To obviate this difficulty so apparently perplexing, McDowel very generously offered to be their mefsenger, being personally acquainted with Greene & Morgan and his offer was gladly and promptly accepted.
It was now a matter of immediate consultation who should lead them to the intended attack. Col. Campbell having been nomi- nated by Col. Shelby, both from a principle of courtesy and the superior number of men in his regiment, was elected accordingly.
The fourth night they rested at a rich Tory's, where they ob- tained abundance of every nesefsary refreshment .- On pafsing near the Cowpens, they heard of a large body of tories about eight
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miles distant. And, although the main enterprize was not to be delayed a single moment, a party of 80 volunteers under ensign Robert Campbell was permitted to go in chase of them during the night. These had removed before our party came to the place, who accordingly after riding all night came up with the main body the next day.
On the next night a similar expedition was conducted by an- other Officer without succes, but without adding any delay to the march of the army. At Gilbertown, about two or three days march from the enemy, our troops fell in with Col. Williams, (who was able to select the best Pilots) together with Col Cleave- land, Tracy, and Brandon, each commanding a body of men, and the whole amounting to 300. These were retreating before Ferguson, and were glad to join their forces to ours.
On the night before the day of action, a misunderstanding arose in the attempt to crois a river. Two fords were taken, and the army had separated and was crofsing at both. When this was perceived by the officers, a halt was ordered, and the men rested on this side until morning. Two roads were here. And to pre- vent Spies from paísing and repafsing, they were both guarded by appointed watchman. The least public of these was guarded by Lieu. John Sawyers, (since Col. Sawyers,) and 25 men were here taken in this single night. Our officers and men were so bent upon their object, So anxious to take Ferguson by surprise, and so apprehensible of his pofsible escape, that they could not brook the delay of footmen. 400 of them were on foot. The other 700 were mounted riflemen. It was proposed now for the sake of despatch, that these should move in the speediest man- ner. And although the whole force was already too small, it was determined to risk the fate of the enterprize, in the bravery and addrefs of 700 men. While preparations were made by the officers for this division, many of the troops in the mean time thought it a fit opportunity for refreshment. Beef was spitted at the fire, and mixed dough was in the very procefs of baking; when the order was given for the troops to march .- The hot meat without roasting, and the hot dough without baking, was rudely thrust by every man into his saddlebags or wallet, and the men galloped off without a murmur. This was in the dead of night. They were 45 miles from the enemy, and nothing but the very best rid- ing, over such roads as the country afforded, would bring them the next day to his quarters, in season to terminate the action
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by daylight. They were accordingly there by two O'clock, in the afternoon. Here a few intervening circumstances may be men- tioned. Capt. Craig's and some other companies, on crofsing a river, (probably Broad river) were made to beleive by their com- manding officers, for the sake of trying the courage of their men, that the enemy was upon the opposite bank. The enemy, accord- ingly, which was nothing else than the advanced guards of our own troops, made his appearance for their reception, retiring a little as they approached the river. They crofsed the river, dis- mounted from their horses, and advanced to the proposed attack on the enemy. But finding no enemy there to meet them, they returned to their horses, and proceeded without further delay.
Not far onward, they were to pafs a house on the right. This house formed a corner in the road. They turned it and bent their course to the right hand. Here stood a man in the decrepitude of age, leaning on a staff, and watching our men with great earnest- ness of visage .- He called out: "God Blefs you," till his voice died in the distance of the way, and in the noise and hurry of the forward march. They now began to meet with scattered notices of the enemy's encampment in the burnt fences and trod- den ground.
As the afternoon advanced, some began to talk of an encamp- ment for our troops, and to give up the hope of meeting the enemy to day.
They had now travelled about 45 miles, and during much of this time had been wet with rain. It was about 2 Oclock when coming to a place within two or three miles of the enemy, they intercepted two of his picquets, and captured the same without firing a gun.
Ferguson may have had some notice of our troops, though not immediately before their arrival. A deserter from Col. Cleave- land's division, who will be mentioned again in the sequel of the narrative, had arrived at the British quarters a day or two Be- fore and told Ferguson of the approaching attack. His appear- ance was said to be so shabby and unpromising as to detract much from any high regard to his statement. Yet so wary and vigilant an officer, as Ferguson was not to be taken altogether by surprise. He had chosen his position, and afsumed an attitude of rigorous defence.
He was confident in his own measures, yet to secure every pre- caution he sent a mefsage to Cornwallis desiring aid, at the same
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time stating, he had named the place of his encampment, King's Mountain, in honour of the King, and was so strongly fortified here, that if all the rebels in hell were rained downed upon him, they could not drive him from it. The mefsage was intercepted by our men and Cornwallis knew nothing of the danger, till Fergu- son was no more.
King's Mountain is a ridge running east and west, in york dis- trict, S. C. about 10 miles north of the Cherokee ford of Broad river. A ledge of rock skirts the summit of this Mountain on the south side.
This formed a natural breastwork for the enemy, behind which they could lie with only their heads exposed, and take leisurely aim at our troops on that side. And it is a remarkable fact, which does credit to the rifles of our men, that an unusual number of the enemy, who fell, were shot through the head. Before the action, Col. Shelby remarked to the army, that he had been twice likely to be killed for an enemy by his own men. He therefore recommended, as an expedient of safety, that every man first strip off his coat and hat, and go to battle without them. This was done by himself, and his regiment, but not by others.
Col. Campbell also was induced to lay off his coat which being very peculiar in its color and form, would have rendered him sig- nally conspicuous from others. King's Mountain now emerged to the view of our men, and the British and Tory troops were seen through the forest rising from dinner.
The battle line was quickly formed. The main attack was to be made by Campbell's and Shelby's division up the east and steep- est side of the mountain. Sevier was to ascend the left side of the mountain from these and Cleaveland on his right. Of the main body Campbell's division was on the right and Shelby's on the left. Capt. Elliot, in Shelby's division, occupied the extreme left, Lieut. Sawyers next to him, Capt. Maxwell's company next, and Capt. Webb the extreme right.
The order of march, in the companies composing Col. Camp- bell's division was, as nearly as the hurry of the transaction would admit, the order of the battle line from right to left, the follow- ing: Capt. Dysart; Capt. Colvil: Capt. Edmonston; Capt. Beatie ; Lieut. Bowen; Captain Craig ;-
But the movement forward was with so much agility, and the retreat so hurried and abrupt, that these companies not only be- come intermixed with one another, but also with those of Col.
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Shelby's. The troops were ordered to shout the Indian war- whoop, ascend the mountain and attack the enemy. This was done with great vigour, when the enemy advanced in firm platoons, fired their muskets, charged with fixed bayonets, and obliged them to give way. In the mean time Cols. Williams, Tracy, Brandon, Cleaveland and Sevier, who were to march from the left of the main body and compafs the South and West side of the Moun- tain, in the space of 15 minutes arrived there, and afsailed the enemy from that direction. This gave our troops an opportunity to rally and return to the charge.
In the early part of this action, Col. Shelby was employed at some distance from his regiment to reconnoitre the enemy by a movement around the north side of the mountain, to the right of our troops. Here he discovered a spacious opening between the right of Campbell's and the left of Seviers. He viewed it to be an advantageous position for directing a constant and effectual fire upon the backs of a body of Ferguson's troops, which lay guarded in front by the ledge of rocks.
He detached Ensign Robert Campbell with about 40 men for this service, and returned to the support of his own division.
He found Col. Campbell's men in great disorder from the first shock of the British Platoons; and called Lieuts. Sawyers and some others, who afsisted to rally and bring them back. In a short time after the rallying began Col. Campbells horse became exhausted; The Col. dismounted and fought through the rest of the action on foot.
This was a bay horse of thin appearance and had been nearly overcome by the fatigue of the march. The horse which Col. Campbell ordinarily rode, was a bald face black horse. After the first retreat, Col. Shelby, it is said, saw this horse and some rider on him, whom he mistook for Col. Campbell at the distance of some 200 yds from the scene.
Ensign Campbell as above directed by Col. Shelby occupied a spur of the Mountain within 40 yds of the enemy. When leading his men to this place, one of them from a view of its exposed location, exclaimed to his commander; "what! Are you taking us there to be marks for the enemy?" "No," said the other, " to make marks of the enemy." And this proved actually to be the case. For after this detachment had plied their rifles in the succefsive discharge of several rounds to a man, Ferguson per- ceived their fire to be so fatal, that he gave orders to his ad-
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jutant, MCGinnis, to dislodge them. McGinnis marched his party to the charge. Campbell heard him order them to "make ready," and he commanded his own men to "stand fast," that is to stand behind the trees.
McGinnis then ordered them to fire on Campbell, who, from the narrownefs of the tree that shielded him, expected to be shot through by several bullets at once. And he escaped this fate, not by the protection of the tree, but by the horizontal aim of the british muskets, which converged their bullets to a place above him, cracking the bark and splinters from the tree and shattering them down upon his head.
Campbell had now a load in his gun, which he discharged with aim at the shoulders of McGinnis, and the latter instantly fell.
The party now emerged from behind their trees, discharged their pieces with similar exactnefs, and the survivors of the British party retired to the main body. Campbell inspected the body of McGin- nis, and saw a shot through the part of the shoulder he had aimed at.
And his party resumed their galling fire upon the backs of Fergusons men. On all sides now the fire was brisk. Our men had become cool from the first panic of the British charge; and were plying their rifles with steady effect. The matter was come to a desperate crisis.
Ferguson was still in the heat of battle with characteristic cool- nefs and daring. He ordered Capt. Dupoister with a body of regu- lars to reinforce a position about 100 yds distant. But before they arrived at this short distance, they were thined too much by the American rifles to render any effectual support. He then ordered his cavalry to mount, with a view of making a desperate onset at their hedd. But these only presented a better mark for the Ameri- can rifles, and fell as fast, as they would mount their horses. He, then perceiving the thinnest line, which surrounded him, to be that of Ensign Campbell's Riflemen, proceeded on horseback with two militia Cols. with the apparent design to force his pafsage through them and attempt an escape. But before reaching the line of bat- tle he was shot and expired. He had held out with inflexible reso- lution beyond even the hope of resistance. His men once raised the white flag for surrender, and he pulled it down. He had a shrill sounding silver whistle, whose signal was universally known through the ranks, was of immense service on many occasions, and gave a kind of ubiquity to his movements,
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Who shot Ferguson remains in uncertainty. Several have claimed it. But the honor seams distinctly accorded to none. Nor does it appear to universal satisfaction whether he was shot on horseback or sitting upon a stone.
The Americans were now in regular columns approaching the British.
A large section of Col. Campbell's troops advanced with too much rapidity, when a reserved fire from the British breastwork did more fatal execution there than in the whole action beside.
Because this forward movement brought them to a level with the British muskets, which in most instances overshot their heads.
Lieut. Sawyers to this moment kept his men at their station, from which they had been firing through most of the battle, at the dis- tance of about twenty five steps from the enemy. Seeing the re- served fire discharged, he ordered his men to advance in order to increase the enemy's confusion. The same was done by the other companies on this side of the mountain.
And Col. Sevier, who had gallantly borne his share in the conflict, was resolutely crowding up on the other side. The British regulars and American tories, were not only surrounded, but crowded close together, cooped up in a surprisingly narrow spaces, by the sur- rounding prefsure of the American troops, and fatally galled by an inceísant fire.
Dupoister, who succeeded in the place of Ferguson, perceived but too plainly, that any further struggle was in vain. He raised the white flag and exclaimed for quarters. Quarters were given by a general cefsation of the American fire. But this ceisation was not by any means complete. Some did not understand the meaning of a white flag. Others, who knew its meaning very well, knew that this flag had been raised before, but quickly pulled down again by the British Commander.
Andrew Evans was one of these. He was standing near to Col. Campbell, and in the very act of shooting, when Campbell jerked his gun upwards to prevent its effect, exclaiming; "Evans, for- God's sake, don't shoot, it is murder to kill them when they raise the white flag."
Col. Campbell seems not to have been distinguished as the Ameri- can commander. For, having fought as a foot soldier during most of the action, having climbed over the rocks of the enemy's breast- work with his men, who drove them away from it, he was standing in the front rank of his soldiery, his coat off and his shirt collar open like a sturdy farmer,
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Dupoister came riding on a gray horse not far from the place where the Col was standing and inquired, "where is your gen- eral?" . Mr. Beatie and another pointed to the place and Mr. Crow, who was not a guns lenth from Campbell, heard Dupoister ex- claim twice, " Col. Campbell, it was damned unfair; " alluding to the above mentioned continued fire, to which Campbell made no answer but the order to dismount .- He dismounted accordingly and held his sword for deliverance to his Captors, which was in the first place received by Evan Shelby and handed to Col. Camp- bell. The arms were now lying in front of the prisoners, without any orders how to dispose of them. Col. Shelby, from the part of the line which he commanded, rode out of the ranks with the apparent design of finding Col. Campbell. Returning without suc- cefs, he exclaims, "good God, what can we do in this confusion? " " We can order the Prisoners from their arms," said Sawyers .- " Yes," said Shelby, "that can be done." The Prisoners were accordingly marched to another place, and there surrounded by a double guard. This action was on the 7th of Oct. 1780. The lofs of the enemy was, 225 killed, 130 wounded, 700 prisoners, and 1500 stand of arms. The American lofs was 30 killed and 60 wounded. About 700 men achieved this victory.
Sevier Ied about 240, Shelby 200, Campbell 400, the Carolina Cols. 300, making in all about 1140, of which, it has been stated, that about 400 were left behind for want of horses. These were met the next day and reunited with the victors in their march from the scene. So signal an exploit could not long remain a secret to Lord Cornwallis, and numerous rumors soon reached our men that he was in pursuit to recover his prisoners. Our troops, there- fore, moved from the battle ground with as little delay as possible, to make sure of a victory so happily won.
And here let us pause for a moment, to answer the following question :- Why were so many killed in the American ranks, when the British platoons so generally overshot them?
Ist. Because the great body of Fergusons troops were tories, as good marksman as our own, who always sought an object for their rifles. Lieut. Edmonston was standing a moment seeking a view of an enemy to fire at among Fergusons men behind the breastworks, and was shot by a rifleman from the very place he was inspecting. This incident was an example of many. For the rocks which formed a part of this breastwork, shielded the enemy, and enabled them to fire leisurely at our. men.
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2ndly. The eagernefs of our men for action. This was so great that it led them to exposures both dangerous and uselefs. Their surest and most effectual mode of fighting was to stand at the dis- tance of a proper gun shot, and fire with deliberate aim at their enemy. But many of them were too impatient for this delay.
Moses Shelby, Fagan and some others, leaped upon the waggons of the enemy's breastwork in the uselefs attempt to storm his camp. But they were soon carried off wounded from the scene. Some were wounded by the charge of the British bayonets, before they would retire from the first afsault. The death of Col. Williams gave a signal instance of this intemperate eagernefs for action. He espied Ferguson towards the close of the action on horseback, and made for him with the full determination of a personal encounter. William Moore was close to him, and heard him exclaim "I will kill Ferguson or die in the attempt."
He spurred his horse to a speedy movement, when a rifle bullet stopped his career. He survived till the white flagg told the enemy's surrender, and said, " I die contented."
3dly. From the enemy's reserved fire at the close of the action. Lieutenant Sawyers saw the companies around him, after a general discharge from the British, go too hastily forward, and checked his own men from doing so. This movement forward near the place of the waggons brought many of our men on a level with the British .- And their reserved fire, which was then discharged in its usual horizontal direction, did fatal execution in our ranks at that place. The number killed in Col. Campbell's division dur- ing the action was 13. The action was on Saturday. On the next Saturday a Court martial was held by our Officers to try from the ranks of the tory prisoners some offenders of a notorious kind. Thirty two persons of this description were condemned to die, of which 23 were pardoned by the commanding officer. The remain- ing nine were executed the same night. This summary procedure was thought necefsary; first from the unsettled condition of affairs, which precluded all hope of trial by jury; 2ndly. from the flagi- tious nature of the offences, one of which was the following. A man went to his neighbor's house and inquired of a little boy, " Where is your father?" to which the lad answered, " he is not at home." And the man shot him without further ceremony; though fortunately the youth recovered of his wound. 3dly. to deter others from similar offences, and prevent these men from doing them again.
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The prisoners and their captors proceeded on their march. The prisoners were every night obliged to sit upon the ground on pain of being shot by the guard, which surrounded them.
One night about two weeks after the battle, a boy was acting for one of the sentries. One of the prisoners taking notice of this con- trived to move himself gradually and without rising near to the place where the boy kept guard. As soon as he was near enough to take the requisite advantage, he started with a quick jump, and was making off with speed, when the boy wheeled upon his heel, levelled his rifle and shot the fugitive through the kidneys. The man was now disabled from flight, and was drawn back again into the ranks of the prisoners.
In the morning it was ascertained by the testimony of Col. Cleave- land, that he was a deserter from the troops of the latter, and was the very man who had gone to tell Ferguson of our approach. This man, therefore, though in imminent hazard of his life through his wound, must be tried by the laws and usages of war. The court martial was equally divided, and Col. Shelby, who had been absent on a visit for the night, was called on his arrival to decide the life or death of the culprit by a single vote. The march was now de- layed nearly two hours; and Shelby, though apparently of a rough and careless exterior, was so deeply concerned with his own respon- sibility, that while some were teasing him for an immediate decision, he would not give it in lefs than half an hour. He finally gave it for the man's execution; and preparations were made for it ac- cordingly.
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