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The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grSce d la g6n6rositd de I'dtablissement prSteur suivant : La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clichd sont lilmdes d partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la m^thode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ml- it: S i!!!s!ii u I '.Ul'ljiiv:, liliili KING'S MOUNTAIN AM) ITS HEROES: HISTORY 01- THE Bahle of King's Mountain, OCTOBER 7TH, 1780, AND THE EVENTS WHICH LED TO IT, ll^iiiiiiiiiiis'' IIY LYMAN C. DRAPER, LL. D., !^ecretary 1'/ the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and member of various /fistorical and Antiquarian Societies of the Country, ;!!'.!il;v, l^liiii''!!^!; llijililiiii'r |ii||v liiililiiiil! WITH STEEL PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND PLANS. CINCINNATI: PETE7'. G. THOMSON, PUBLISHER. I 88 I. COPYRIGHT : 1881. BY PETER G. THOMSOX, AY/^t'"'^- INTRODUCTION. WITH llic siege and fall of Charleston, early in 1780, the nidc shocks of war were transferred from the Northern and Middle Slates to the Carolinas and Georgia. C.ates, the victor of Saratoga, was sent to command the SoutiiLMn army ; hut his lucky star failed him, and he was disastrously routed near Camden, and the gallant SunUer shortly alter surprised at Fishing Creek. Gloom and dismay overspread the whole Southern country. Detachments from the victorious British army were scattered throughout the settlements; and the rebellious Colonies of the Carolinas and Georgia were reported to the Home Government as completely humiliated and subdued. Ferguson, one of the ablest of the Royal commanders, was operating on the western borders of the Carolinas, enticing the younger men to his standard, and drilling them for the Royal service. At this gloomy period, when the cause of Liberty seemed [)rostrate and hopeless in the South, the Whig border leaders, Campbell, Shelby, Sevier, Cleveland, Lacey, Williams, McDowell, Winston, Hambright, Hawthorn, Biandon, Chronicle, Hammond, and their compeers, mar- shalled their clans, united their forces, overwhehning Ferguson and his motley followers, crushing out all Tory opposition and making the name of A7//^'s Mountain famous in our country's history. This remarkal)le and fortunate battle deserves a full and faithful record. The story of its heroes has in it much to remind us of an epic or a romance. They were a remarkable race of men, and played no incon- siderable a part in the long and sanguinary struggle for American Independence'. Reared on the outskirts of civilization, they were early inured to privations aid hardships, and when they went upon the " war- path," they often obtained their commissaries' supplies from the wild IV INTRODUCTION. woods and mountain streams of tho rcyion where they carried on tiicir successful operations. As early as 1839, the collection of materials was coniiiicnced for this work. Three of the lingering survivors of King's Mountain were visited by the writer of this volume, and their varied recollections noted down — James Sevier, of Tennessee, John Spelts and Silas McI3ec, of Mississippi ; and Benjamin Sharp, of Missouri, and William Snodgrass, of Tennessee, were reached by correspfindence. The gathering at King's Mountain in 1815, to collect and re-inter the scattered remains of those wlio fell in the conllict was limited in attendance. In 1855, the sevcnty-tlflh anniversary was appropriately celebrated, with Gen. John S. Preston, and lion. George Bancroft as tiie speakers. But it remained for October seventh, 1880, to eclipse the others, in a Centennial celebration, when thousands of people assembled, making a incmorable civic and military disjilay, with an address by Hon. John W. Daniel, and poems by Paul II. Haync and Mrs. Clara l;ari.;an McLean. Then followed the unvailing of a massive granite monument having abase of eighteen feet square, and altogether a height of twenty- eight feet. It slopes from the upper die to the top, which is about two antl half feet st|uare. capable of furtlicr addition, or to he crowned witii a suitable st.ilue. Inscriptions are cut on marble slabs, imbedded two inches in the granite masonry. This worthy King's Mountain Centennial very natmally excited much interest in the minds of the jniblic regarding the battle itself, and its heroic actors, and promjjted the writer to set about the preparation of his long-promised work. Beside the materials collected in former years — in ante lielliun days — more than a thousand letters were written, seeking documents, traditions, description of historic localities, and the elucidation of obscure statements. Old newspaper files of the Library of Congress, Philadelphia Library Company, and of the Maryland and the Wisconsin Historical Societies, have been carefully consulted, anil information sought from every possible source in this country, England and the British Colonies. Truth alone has been the writer's aim, and conclusions reached without prejudice, fear or favor. The following deceased persons, who were either related to, or had personal intercourse with, King's Mountain men, kindly contributed in years agone, valuable materials for this work : ^Sf'""'i^ TIIK NEW MONUMENT, KINg's MOUNTAIN. mr/wDucTiox. v F.x-Gov, David Camphell, of Virijinij; Mnn. IIiicli L. White, Col, Wm. Martin, Ex. Gov. Wni. H. Campbell, Col licorge Wilson, Col. Hcorge Clirisiiiin, Maj. John Sevier, Jr., Cul (Jeo. W. Scvitr, and Mrs. Kli<:.i W. W.irlicid, of '1 ciingssct ; lion. Jos. J. Mc- Unwell, of Oliio ; .Miij. llios. H. Shelby, of Kcntiuky ; Hon. Klij.ih Callaway, Ur. James Callaway, Huk'" M. Stokes, Sliadra< k Franklin, Silas McDowell, Adam and James J. H.impinn, nf North Carolin.i; Hon. Wni. C. rreston, Ocn. John S. I'luston, Dr. M. A. Moore. I). (). Slinson, Jeremiah Clevcl.md, Mrs. Sallic Rector. Dr. A. I-. Ilammi>nd. .nnd Abraham Hardin, of South Ciruhna ; Gen. Uen, Cleveland, oi' Ucuryia ; and Dr. Alex- ander y. Ilradley, of Alabama. Special acknowlcdgementa arc due to tlic followirifj pcrsfins. Ti-n»essef ;—Dr. J. G. M. Kamsuy. Rlv. Dr. D C. Kcllcy. Hon. J. M. l.rn. Anson Nelson. Hon. W. B. Carter, Col. H. L. Claiborne. Mrs. Mary A. 'I'rigg, John I'. Watkins Thos. A. Rogers, and Col, H. A. liruwn. l'!rgi'nfn:—V.. A. Drock, Hon. A. S. Fulton, W. G. G. I.owry, John I,. Cochran, .ind Col, T. L. )'rcston. North Carn//na:—V>T. C. L, Hunter, Col. J. R. Logan, W. L. Twitty, Dr. R. F Hnckctt, Col. W-n. Johnston. Hon. W. P. Hynnm, Dr. W. J. T. Miller, Mrs. Mary A, Chambers, Hon. S. McDowell Tate, Col. W. W. Lenoir, .Mrs R. M. Pearson. W. M. Kcinhardt. Hon. J. C. Hari)er, Hon. C. A. Cilly, .MiiS A. L. Henderson, Ur. G. W, Michal. Wm. A. McCall, Rev. W. S. Fonfaino, W. S Prarson. T. A. Honchrlle, John Ikinner, J. L. Worth. Dr. T. R. Twitty. M. <). Dickcrson. A. D. K. W.allace, John Gilkey, A. n. Long, Dr. J. H. Gilkey, Hon. J. M. Cloud, Rev, W, S, P,ynu;.i, J, C. Whitson. Geo. F. D.-ividson. Mrs. R. C. Whi.son. Miss N. M. McDowell, Miss A. M. Woodfin. James E, RevnnMs. Lewis Johnson. G. W. Crawford. W. H. Allis, Thos. P. Vance. Dr. J. C. New- land, W. M. McDowell, Rev. E. F. Rockwell. D. Pnrgin. A. Rnrgin, Wylie Franklin, James Gwyn. Jesse Yates, Dr. L. Harrill. John H. Roberts. Mrs. M. V. Adams, .Mrs. P. E. Callaway, Dr. I!. F. Di,\on, and Mrs. M. M, Thruslon. Souf/i Cirrliam—Mev. James H. Save Fx-Gov. R. F. Perry. Hon. Simpson Robo. N. F. Walker. A. H. Twichcll. Mrs. Edward Ro.ach, Gen. A. C. Garlington. D. K. Craw- ford. Hon. John 1!. Cleveland, Elij.ih Keese, James Seaoorn, ami J. T. Pool. Cj'eors-i'n: -Dr. J. H. Logan. Gen. W. S. WofTord, W'. T Hackett. and A. N. Simpson. Aliibnmn .-—Rev. Z. H. Gordon, Col. J. H. Witherspoon, and Mrs. Lewis E. Parsons. Mhsissi/'/ii :—}. R. Hill. Ayka>i.<:as:—V.cn. D. H. Hill. Missouri : — Dr. A. N. Kincannon. AV«/rtr*>'.--Ls.iac Shelby, Jr., and Col. H. H. McDowell. Illinois : — Spraguc White. Ohio: — Mrs. Jennie McDowell Stockton. Wisconsin : — Hon. John A. Rontley. PeHiisyb'aiiia : — G. R. Hildebiirn. A'fw W'rk .-Gen. J. Watts DePcyster, and Geo, H. Moore, LL. D. jTfa>yltttiil : — Miss Josephine Seaton. IJ'ashinjrto/! .-—Col. J. H. Wheeler, and Hon. D. R. Goodloe. Kitgland : — Viscount Holmesdale, Col. (}eo. .'\. Ferguson, and Alfred Kingston, Nem Brunswick : — J. Dc L.mcey Robinson. Xo"ja Scotia: — George Taylor. Ontario :—Kq.v. Dr. E. Rycrson. VI INTRODUCTION. While in the lonj;' years past tlie materials for this work ha\e been collected, ample facts aiurdociimuiits have also been -gathered for .'', continuation of similar volumes, of which this is the commencement — to be called, perhaps, the Border Series, embracing, in their sweep, the whole frontier from New York and Canada to the gulf of Mexico — Siinitcr and liis Men — Pklcens and the Battle of Cow/icns — IJf,- and Campaigns of Gen. Ucorgc Holers Clark — Boone and the Pioneers of Kentue/cy — Kenton and his Adventures — Brady and his Seouts — Mecklenburg and its .Ictors — Teeuniseh, the Shaivanoe Leader — Brant, the Molunvk Chief— ■^\■\C^ a volume on Border Forays and .Id'oentures. If there is a demand for these works, they will be forthcoming. Should Kings Mountain and its Heroes be recei\'cd with favor, and regarded as shedding new light on an interesting portion of our revolu- tionary history, not a little of the credit is deservedly due to the enterprising publisher, Peter (i. Thomson, who warmly encouraged the undertaking, and has s])ared no pains in bringing it before the public in a style at once t.isteful and attractive. Madison, Wis., September i, iSSi, tablp: of contents. CHAPTER I. 1763 to May, 1780, CHAPTER II. -s of the '/ Charleston. May, 1780. Further Iiicidrnts Connected -inth /A, c- ^ -Subjugation of South Carolina. CHAPTER III. itish 1741 to May, 1780. CHAPTER IV. 1780-May-July. Colonel Ferguson sent to the District of V;„ / c- Local Militia.-Jn,for H.uZ'i > S'-^--Orgamzing the /^v.//..-/,, ^,,,, /L'^;;^;-^/^^^^^^^ ^se,uctn.epronusesto the Mission-Mrs. jane Than aTu^'~f "''^ ''''"' '"^"/''"^''^" to his J Ihonias Advcnture.-Colond Thomas rebels vii VI 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS. a Tory assault at Cedar Spring.— Ferguson advances to Fair For- est. — Character of the Tories — Stories of their plundering^. — Col- onels Clarke and Jones of Georgia — the latter surprises a Tory Camp —Dunlap and Mills attack McDoioell's Camp on North Pacolct. — Captain Ilatnptons pursuit and defeat of the Tories. CHAPTER V. 1780— July— August. McDo7uell sends for the Over-Mountain Men. — Clarke joins him, and pushes on to Sumter's Camp. — Capture and Escape of Captain Patrick Moore. — Moore's Plunderers. — Story of fane Mcjunkin and Bill Ilaynesworth. — Shelby and the Mountaineers arrive at Me Doweir s Camp. — Capture of 'Thicketty Fort. — Expedition to Brown s Creek and Fair Forest. — Fight at the Peach Orchard, near Cedar Spring, and IVofford's Iron Works, and its Incidents. — .'iaye's Account of the Action. — British Report. — Contradictory Statements concerning the Conflict. CHAPTER VI. 1780— August 18. Musgrovc's MiU Expedition and Battle. — Rencontre of the Patrol Par- ties. — British Alarm. — Information of the Enemy's Reinforcement. ■—Whigs thro^v up Breast-ieorks. — Captain In man's .Stratagem. — Enemy drawn into the Net prepared for them. — Desperate Fight- ing. — Junes and other British Leaders Wounded. — Tory Colonel Clary's Escape. — Captain Inman Killed. — The Retreat and the Rout. — Incidents at the Ford. — Sam Moore's Adventure. — The Brit- ish and Tory Reserve. — A British Patrol Returns too late to share in the Battle. — Burial of the Slain.—-Length and Severity of the Action. — Respective Losses. — A{-7l's of Gates' Defeat— its Influence. — Whigs' Retreat. — Anecdote of Paul IJinson. — The Prisoners. — Williams' Reward. — Cornwallis' Confession. — Comparison of Au- thorities. CHAPTER VII. 1780— Summer and Autumn. Incidents of the Up-country — Major Fdunird Musgro'-.'c. — Paddy Can- and Beaks Musgrove. — The Story of Mary Musgrove.- -Samuel TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER VIII. August, 1780-Mareh, 1781. Moves. -n^o Try on Gun J^^J,^ :^': ^';^' /--''— /vv,.. J. CHAPTER IX. July-October, 1780. maud of Sumter's men~his ,l:']''~^^ '"'"'"■' Mlurc to ^ct com- son sends a tkrcat /"/./ ^,^1/1 T ''"f '^ ^"""^^^Fergu. forts to turn tk. scales l ^:^Zl^''"^^^^ ton and Campbell unite m /, ''Z ' ^'^' ^^^'^^^^. ^^^wip. -Parson Doak connLj tl 7 T^^^^^^^^ '^"-- ^'^^'^^h. ^tl.r.--T,,,.,,^^. ;^f; '^ '] ^^"■P'-oterttonoftAeGood and mnston.--CanMnJt "'^'^'"^'-''^--yoined by Cleveland CHAPTER X. September-October, 1780. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Moinitainccrs at tJicir South Mountain Camp. — Patriotic Ippcals of the Officers t) i heir Men. — Resume of Fcrti^uson s Opoutions in the Upper Catawba Valley. — Alarmin^t; Intelh[i(ence of the Ap- proach jf the Back IVater Men. — Why Fcrs^uson 7'arricif so long on the Frontiers. — British Scheme of Suppressing the Rebellion by the Galloivi. — Ferguson Flees from Gilbert To-wn. — Seniis Messen- gers for aid to Cornwallis and Cruger. — Frcncicd Appeal to the Tories. — Ferguson's Breakfast .Stolen by Saucy .I'higs. — //is Flight to '''''ite's Ferry. — Dispatch to Lord Corvwallis. — Takes Tost on King's Mountain, and Description of it. -Motives for Ling- ering there. CHAPTER XI. f October, 1780. Uncertainty of Ferguson' s Route of Retreat. — A small party of Georgians join the Mountain Afal at the Cowpens. — The Tory, Saunders — his ignorance of Ferguson, his Beeves and his Com. — Story of Kerr, the cripple Spy — Gilmer, the cunfiing Scout, duping the Tories. — The Co7vpens Council, further selection of Pursuers, and their Number. — Night March to Cherokee Ford. — Straying of Camp- bell's Men. — Groundless Fears of an Ambuscade. — Crossing of Broad river. — Stormy Times. — faded Condition of Men and Horses. — Tory Information. — Gilmer's Adventures.— Plan of attacking Ferguson. — Colonel Graham Retires. — Chronical assigned Command of the Lincoln Men. — Young Ponder Taken. — /u-rguson's Dress. — Pressing toiuards the enemy's Camp. CHAPTER XII. King's Mountain Battle, October 7th, 1780. Ferguson and his Men Resoh'c to Fight. — The Bayonet their Main Re- liance. — British Strength. — Character of the Provincial Rangers. — Different Classes of Loyalists Described. — Traits of the Mountain- eers. — The I/olston Mot, and Frontier Ad7'etitures. — Assignment of the Whig Corps to the Attack. — Campbell's Appeal to his Men. Mi TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI — U'iiis/on's mis- Ailvcnliircs. — Ch-wland no/ tJu- First /o Commence the Action. — Siir/irisin<^ the Enemy's Picket. — .Shelby s Co/iiiiui . In- noycd by the Enemy. — CamphelPs Men Rush into the Eit^ht — At- tach on the British Main Guard. — The Viri^inians Ad^'ance u/) the ^lountain. — March of Cleveland's Men — Patriotic Speech of their Commander. — Drive in a Picket. — Movements of Laccfs Men. — Campbell's Corps Driven before the Bayonet — Rally, and Renex^> the Contest. — .Shelby, too. Retired before the Charging Columns. — The Right and Left Wings take part in the Action. — Culbertson's Heroism. — Captain Moses Shelby Wounded. — Ensign Camp/'cll Ih's- lodging Tories from their Rocky Ramparts. — Terrific Character of the Conjlict. — .Imiising Incident of one of Lacey's Men. — Heroic Efforts of Campbell and his Corps. — Ensign Campbell's U'ood Con- duct.— Captain hdmiindson's Exploit and Death. — Lieutenant Reece Bouen's Disdain of Danger, and his Lamented Fall. — Camp- bell's Active Efforts and Heroic Appeals. — Death of Major Chron- icle. — The South Fork Boys Charged, and Several Wounded. — Robert Henry Transfi.xcd, and yet Survived all his Associates. — William Tiuitty and Abram Forney. — Cleveland, and his Men. — Lieutenant Samuel fohnson dnd other Wounded Of/icers. — Intre- piditv of Charles Gordon and Da7>id Witherspoon. — Singular Adventure of Charles Boiuen and Colonel Cleveland. CHAPTER XIII. The Battle— October 7th, 1780. J-ltrther Progress and Incidents of the Contest. — Heroic Act of William Robertson. — Thomas Robertson Shoots a Tricky Tory. — Treatment of the Tory Branson, by Captain Withrow. — Captain Lenoir's Part in the Battle. — Captain Robert Sevier Wounded. — Alarm concerning Tarleton. — Mistake caused by Campbell's Bald Faced Horse. — Campbell's Daring Reconnoiter. — Anecdote of Clc-t'cland. — Colonel IVilliams Patriotic Conduct. — William Giles "Creased" — RcT'ives, and Re/it'ii's the Fight.— -Thomas ]oung's Relation of Colonel William.^:' Fall. — Major Hammond's Desperate Charge, and singular Premonition of one of his Men. — Campbell and .Shelby Renewing the Attack. — Lieutenant- Colonel Hambridge Wounded. — Ferguson's Pride and Recklessness — Attempting to Escape, is Mortally Wounded. — Various .Statements of Colonel Williams' Fall. — Furious Charge of Campbell's and .Shelby's Men. — Several Corps driven down the Mountain. — British Over-Shoot the Whigs. — North Carolina Tories first to Weaken. — Colonel Graham's I'nex- i xii TAIU.E OF CONTENTS. pcctcii Ritiirii. — Ft-rgitson s Fall — DcPeystcr Vindicated. — Whigs sloTii to Rctognizi' the IV/u'tc Flag.— ) 'oiiitg Sri'iers Shooting Paroxysm. — Efforts of .Shi'H>y and Cam/flxil to Quell the Firing of the ll'higs. — Three Koitsing Cheers for the iireat I'ietory. — Colonel IVilliains' Shot — an Exciting Scene. — Conjlicting Stories of his Fatal Charge. — British Officers Surrender their Siuords. — Ferguson's I/eroic Conduct in the Jiattle — Jiis Mistakes. — He was Afortally ] Founded, not Killed Out- Fight. — Curiosity of the IVhigs to l'ie7i> his Body. — His Mistresses. — Frii'ations and Sufferings of the Mountaineers. — Strength of the Tones. — Absence of their Leaders. — Their Fighting Qualities. — Dismay of the Southern British Coiuinanders. — Their Tgnora>:ce of the Oiur- Mountain Whig Settlements. — Boone not on the Campaign. — Duration of the Battle. — Strength and flosses of the British and Tories.— Colonels John and Patrick Moore. — Numln-r of Prisoners Taken. — Errors in Report of I^osses.— Names of Whigs Killed and Wounded.— Death of Captain Sevier.— William Moore Wounded.— Remarkable Losses in Campbell's Regiment.— Captains Weir and Shannon Arrive.— Counting the Dead.— Caring for the Wounded.— Guard- ing the Prisoners.— .'scarcity of j'rovisions. — King's Mountain Souvcnirs.—/Feart-Rcn(fing Scenes of the Battle Field.— The A'ight after the miction. CHAPTER XIV. October, 1780. Battle Tncidcnts.—Long Sam Abney Coerced into Ferguson's Army. — Death of Arthur Patterson.— Drury Mathis' Rough Experience.— A Tory Woman Finding her Slain Son.— Fatality of the Riff lemen. — Preston Goforth and three Brothers Killed. — ./ Brother kills a Brother.— The Whig and Toy Logans.— William Logan Noticed. Preparing to Retire.— Burning Captured II "agons.— Horse-Litters for the Wounded.— Gray's Kindness to a Wounded Tory.— A Termasiant Prisoner Released.— Messengers sent to the Foot-Men.— Arms Captured.— Tories made to Cany Them.— Trophies of I'ic- fo,-y_—A Whig ]Voman Refusing to Share in the Plunder.— Rumor of Farlcton's Approach.— Burial of the Whig and Tory Dead.— Treatment of Ferguson Cvisidercd.— Re-Interment of Remains.— March of the Armv.— Death of Col. Williams.— Camp at Broad River.— Williams' Burial.— Discovery of his Long- Forgot ten Grave. —Six Tory Brothers Escape.— Notice of Colonel Walker.— Bran- TABLE OF CONTENTS. xni don's Barbarity. — Campbell rrotcctiiii^ tlu- Pri.uvurs. — Gray's Rt-t<>>i ton Tory Vixen. — Gray's Smncfs. — Sitlfiriiii^^ for Food. — Fcediii^^ Prisoners on Corn and Pumpkins. — Billeting the Wounded, — March to Bickerstajjf's Old Field. CHAPTER XV. October— November, 1780. Colonel Catnpbell J)iiioitnres Plundering. — Complaints Agaijist Tory Leaders. — T/ieir Outrages on the Whigs. — A Court Called to Con- sider the Matter. — Retaliation for British Txeeutions Demanded. — A Law Found to Meet the Case. — Charges against A/ills, Gilhey, and A/eFall. — Colonel Davenport Noticed. — Number of Tories Tried and Condemned .— Case of fames Craikford. — One of the Prisoners Released. — Cleveland Favoring Severe Measures. — Motives of the Patriots I 'indicated. — Shelby's Explanation. — Tories Executed — their names and Residence. — Paddy Carr's Remarks, and Notice of Him. — Bahkvin's Singular Fscape. — Further Executions Stopped. — Tories Subsequently Hung. — Rumor of Tarletons Approach. — Whigs Hasten to the Catawba. — A Hard Day's March — Sufferings of Patriots and Prisoners. — Major Mc- Dowell' s Kindness. — Mrs. Ale DowcW s Treatment of British Offi- cers. — Some of the Whig Troops Retire. — Disposition of the ]]'ouiidcil. — Prisoners Escape -One Re-taken and Hung. — March to the Alorai'ian Settlements. — Bob Po^oell's Challenge. — Official Account of the Battle Prepared. — Campbell and Shelby Visit General Gates. — Cleveland Left in Command. — His Trial of Tories. — Escape of Green and Langum. — Clevela/td .Issaults Doctor Johnson. — Colonel Armstrong Succeeds to the Command. — Escape of British Officers. CHAPTER XVI October— December, 1780. Disposition of King's A fountain Prisoners. — Proposition to Enlist Them — Needed for Exchange. — Congress refers the Alatter to the States where the Prisoners Belong. — ILnu They Dwindled Away. — Colonel Armstrong Blamed. — Remnant Confined at Salisbury. — DePeyster and Ryerson Paroled. — ./ Plucky Band of Wliigs Scare a Large Tory Party. — Tarleton Frustrates Cornwallis' Design of Relieving Ferguson.— Intercepting Ferguson's AFcssengers. — Tarleton at XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS. Li-ni^th in Motion. — //is Inslnictions. — /■^Jfctt of A7>/j,''.v .\/oii/iiiu'n Victory. — Ewiii and /Utny Alarm the Xcittrals aiut tiny Alarm Cornwallis. — Crowning of David I\nox. — Cornwallisjlcts to .Soiit/i Carolina, with the Imaginary A/ountainiwrs in Pursuit. — ^/ Triclcy Cuidc MisUading the lu tiring /roops. — A Panic. — //Iness of Corn- wallis. — Sic'lcness and Patality among the Troops. — Privations and Siifft-rings of the /^etrograders.- .\id luiidrred t>y the Tories. — Ninety Six Safe. — Cornwallis Threatens /ietatiation for /Execution of Kings Mountain Prisoners. — Gates and Jiandall on the Situa- tion. — The Question Met />y General Greene. — Cornwallis I)ro/>s the Matter. — Case of Adam Cusae/c. — 'The Widows and Orphans of Ninety Six District. — Good Words for King's A/ountain Victory. — Gates Thanks the Victors. — Washington Takes Courage. — /■resolves ofCongi'ess. — Greene and /.ee Commend the Mountaineers. — Tossing, Bancroft, and Irving on the Result. — The Ihitish Leaders Recognize the Disastrous Effects of Ferguson s A/iscarriage. — Gates and fef- ferson's /encomiums. — lung's Mountain Paves the IVay for York- town and Inde/iendence. CHAPTER XVII. Gen. William Campbell. //is Scotch-Irish Ancestry. — //is I'athcr an /•larly //olston Explorer. — William Campbell's Birth and Education. — Settles on //olston. — A Captain on Dunmore's Campaign. — Raised a Company for the first Virginia Regiment in 1773. — /Return for the Defense of the /fron- tiers. — I lis Military Appointu nts. — Rencounter with and Hanging of the Bandit Hopkins. — .S' 'pressing Tories up lYcw Jii^'C)-. — King's Mountain Expedition — his Brai'cry Vindicated. — Public Thanks for his Services. — .Marches to Long Island of Holston. — At Whitzell's Mills and Guilford. — Resigns from Ill-treatment. — Made Brigadier-General. — Serves under TAiIuiyette. — Deatli and Character. — Notices of his King's Mountain Officers , CHAPTER XVIII. Cols. Shelby and Sevier, and their Officers. Notice of Evan Shelby. — Isaac Shelby's Life and .Services. — Officers under him at King's Mountain — E'lnin Shelby, fr. — Gilbert Chris- tian — Moses .Shelby — fames Elliott— John Sawyers — George Max- well, and George Rutledge. — fohn .S,-7'ier's Life and Services. — His lung's Mountain OJficers — Jonathan Tipton— Valentine and Robert Sevier — Christopher Taylor — Jacob Brown — Samuel Weir. t't' h/ TABLE OF COXTRNTS. CHAPTER XIX. XV Col. Ben. Cleveland, Maj. Joseph Winston and their Officers. Cievc/aiti/' s /Utrcstry. — //is Early Life and I/unlin;^ Adventures. — Trip to Kenttte/^y. — /Hl/c Hunt and Narrow /Cscapes. — /ievolution- ary War. — Suppressiui^ Scotc/i Tories. — /■^ut/terford's C/iero/cee Campaign. — A/are/ies to IVittauga. — .[^pointed Colonel. — Serves in Georgia. — New River Seoul. — Kings A/ountain. — /Langs Coyle and liro-iin. — Captured by Tories and Ins Reseue. — /Middle and Wells Hung. — Other Tory Brigands Taken — Nie/iols, Tate, and LLarrison. — Tliunthing t/ie Notelt. — Reforming Tories. — Removes to Tugalo. — /Langs Dinkins. — Appointed fudge. — Anecdote, — Great Size, Death, and Character. Major Joseph Winston Noticed. — Ben. Herndon. — Micajah and foel Lewis. — Robert and Ji'hn Cleveland. — fesse Franklin. — William Lwnoir — John /hirton — William Meredith, and A/inor Smith. — fohn Broicn and Samuel fohnson. — David and fohn Wither- spoon. — fo. LLerndon, Richard Allen, and Elisha Reynolds. CHAPTER XX. Lacey and Other Whigs. — British and Tory Leaders. L^acey, l/aivthorne, Tate, and A/offett. — Williams, LLauimond, L/ayes, Dillard, Thompson, and Candler. — Brandon, Stccn, and Roebuck. — Maj. McDoiocll, Capt. A/cDoiuell, /-Kennedy, Vance, and Wood. — I/ampton, Singleton, Porter, Withrow, A/iller, and Watson. — L/ambright, Graham, Chronicle, Dick'^on, fohnston. White, Espey, Martin, and A/attocks. — British and Tory Leaders. APPENDIX. Allaire's Diary, and Other British Accounts. — Letters of Williams, Davidson, and Gates. — Gates Thanks to the Victors. — Official /Re- port of King's JS/ountain. — Shelby's and Campbell's L.etters. — Wash- ington's General Order. — .Arthur Campbell and Unknown Writer's Statements. — Col. CampbelFs General Orders. — Thanks of Virginia Legislature. — Lee and Greene's L^ctters. — L^aFayette on CampbelFs Death. — Monroe's Letter. — Robert Campbell, Shelby, Graham, Lenoir, and Sharp's Naratives. — "jVarrator's" Charge. — Shelby ami Sevier's Correspondence. — Shelby's J\imphlet. — .'synopsis of Re- joinders. — / arious Certificates I 'indicating Col, Campbell. — Old Ballads. — Lndex. CHAPTER I. 1706 to May, 1780. Caitsts of Iht- Ri'volution — Altcyiuxte Successes and Disasters of I he Early Campaigns of the War — Siet^c and Reduction of Charleston. For Ion years befdiv the outbreak of the American Revo- hilion. the great (juestion oi taxation -u'il/iuid rcpi cscntatioii agitated the miiuls of the American people. They rejected the stanfps, because they implied a tax : they dcstro3cd the tea, because it imposed a forced levy upon them without their consent, to gratify the insatiate demands of their trans- Atlanlic soveriM^n, and his tyrannical ^linislry and Parlia- ment. Should thev basely yield one of their clearest ri'dits, they well judged ihey might be required, little by little, to \ield all. They, therefore, manfully resisted these inyasions as unbecoming a free people. • When, in 1775, Great Britain determined to cntbrce her obnoxious laws, the people, under their chosen leaders, seized their arms, forsook their homes and families, and boldly asserted their God-giyen rights. A long and embit- tered contest was commenced, inyohing. might}' interests. Freedom was threatened — an empire was at stake. Sturdy blows were giyen and receiyed, with various results. The lirsl year of the war, the Americans beat back the I jrilish from Lexington and Concord, and captured Crown Point, but were worsted at Bunker Ilill ; they captured Chambly and St. Johns, and repulsed the enemy near Longueil, but the intrepid Montgomery failed to take Qiiebec, losing his life in the eflort. The sect)nd year of the contest, which brought forth the immortal Declaration of Independence, proved varying in (17) 18 KING'S MOUNTAIN its fortunes. The Scotch Tories in North Carolina were signally defoatecl at Moore's Creek, and the British, long cooped up in Boston, were compelled to evacuate the place : and were suhsequently repulsed at .Sullivan's Island, near Charleston ; while the Americans, on the other hand, were defeated at the Cedars, and were driven from Montreal, Chambl}- and St. Johns, worsted at Long Island and White Plains, and lost Fort Washington, on the Hudson. Mean- while the frontier men of Virginia, the Carolinas, East Ten- nessee, and Georgia, carried on successful expeditions against the troublesome Cherokees, whom British emissaries had in- veigled into hostilities against their white neiiihbors. Yet the year closed with gloom}- prospects — despair sat on many a brow, and saddened many a heart — the main army was greatly reduced, and the British occupied New York, and the neighboring Province of New Jersey. Wash- ington made a desperate venture, cros.^ing the Delaware amid lloating ice in December, attacking and defeating the unsuspecting enemy at Trenton ; and. pushing his good fortune, commenced the third yi-ar of the war, 1777, by securing a \ietory at Princeton. While the enenw were, for a while, held at bay at the Red Bank, yet the results of the contests at Brandywine and Germantown were not encouraging to the American arms, aiul the British gained a firm foot-hold in Philadelphia. .\nd subsequently they captured Forts Clinton and Montgomery, on tlie Hudson. Farther north, better success attended the American arms. St. Leger, with a strong British and Indian force, laid siege to Fort Stanwix. on the Mohawk ; but after repel- ling a relieving party under (Jen. 1 lerkimer, he was at length compelled to relinquish his investiture, on learning of the approach of a second arm\- of rclii'f, retiring precipitate!}- from the country ; while the more formidable invading force under Burgoyne met with successive reverses at Benning- ton, Stillwater, and Saratoga, eventuating in its total sur- render to the victorious Americans. m AND ITS HEROES. Vi liir- In June, 1778, the fourth year of the war, the British e\'acuated Phihidelphia, when Washinj^ton pursued their retreating forces, overtaking- and vigorously attacking them at Monmouth. A large Tory and Indian party defeated the settlers, and laid waste the Wyoming settlements. As the result of Burgoyne's signal discomliture. a treaty of alli- ance between the new Republic and France brought troops and fleets to the aid of the struggling Americans, and pro- duced some indi'cisive ligliting on Rhode Island. The adventurous expedition under (xeorge Rogers Clark, from the vallevs of Virginia and West Pennsylvania, down the Monongahela and Ohio, and into the country of the Illinois, a distance of wi'll nigli liiteen hundred miles, with limited means, di'stitute of military stores. [Kick- horses and supplies — with only their bra\-e hearts and trust}' rides, was a remarkable^ enterprise. Vi't with all these obstacles, and K-ss than two hundred men, Clark fear- lessly penetrated the western wilderness, killing his game by the way. and cor.quered those distant settlements. Though regTirded at the time as a hercvilean inulertaking, and a most successful adventure, yet nont' foresaw the mightv in flu* lice it was destined to exert on tlie subsequent progress and extension of the Republic. \'aried fortunes attended the military operations of 1779, the fifth year of the strife. The gallant Clark and his intre- pid followers, marched in winter season, from Kaskaskia acrossthe submer'^ed lands of the Wabash, sometimes wad- ing up to their arm-pits in water, and breaking tlu- ice before th em, surprised the garrison at V mcennes. and siiccee ded in its capture. The Britisli f'orce in Georgia, having defeated General Ashe at Brier creek, projected an expedition against Charleston, and progressed as far as Stono, whence they were driven back to Savannah, where the combined French and Americans were subsequently repulsed, losing, among others, the chivalrous Count Pulaski. At the North. Stony Point was cajitured at the point of the bayonet, and Paulus I 20 KING'S MOUNTAIN Hook surprised ; while General Sullivan's well-appointed army over-ran the beautiful country of the Six Nations, destroying their villages, and devastating their lields, as a retributive chastisement for their repeated invasions of the Mohawk and Minisin settlements, and laying waste the lovely vale of Wyoming. The war had now dragged its slow length along for live :;uccessive campaigns, and the Britisli had gained but few permanent foot-holds in the revolted Colonies. Instead of the prompt and easy conquest they had promised themselves, they had encountered determined opposition wherever tliey had shown the red cross of St. George, or disphned their red-coated soldiery. Repeated defeats on the part ot the Americansihad tiiy;ved to inure them to tb.o hardships of war, and KKftrwst them how to profit by their experiences and disasters. New efforts were demanded on the part of the British Government to subdue their rebellious subjects ; and South Carolina was chosen as the next field of extensive opera- tions. Sir Henry Clinton, who had met so signal a repulse at Charleston in 1776, and in whose breast still rankled the mortifying recollections of that memorable failure, resolved to head in person the new expedition against the Palmetto Colony, and retrieve, if possible, the honor so conspicu- ously tarnished there on his previous unlortunate enterprise. Having enjo3'ed the Christmas holiday of 1779 in New York harbor, Sir Henry, accompanied by Lord Cornwallis, sailed tVom Sandy Hook the next day with the fleet under Admiral Arbuthnot, transporting an army of o\er se\en thousand five hundred men. Some of the vessels, however, were lost by the way, having encountered stormy weather in the gulf-stream — one bark, carrying Hessian trorps, was dismasted and driven across the ocean, an ordnance vessel was foundered, while several transports were cajitured by bold and adventurous American privateers, and most of the horses for the expedition perished. The place of rendez- AND ITS HEROES. 21 vous was at T3'bee Bay, near the entrance to Savannah river, whence Clinton, on his way towards Charleston, was Joined hv the troops in Georj^na, making his force nine thou5*find strong, besides the sailors in the fleet ; but to ren- der his numbers invincible beyond all peradventure, he at once ordered from New York Lord Rawdon's brigade, amountini: to about two thousand live hundred more. Charleston, against which this formidable British force was destined, was an opulent city of some fifteen thousand people, wliite and black, and was garrisoned by less than four thousand men — not near enough to properly man the extended works of defence, of nearly three miles in circum- ference, as they demanded. Governor Rutledge, a man of unquestioned patriotism, had conferred upon him by the Legislature, in anticipation of this threatened attack, dicta- torial powers, with the admonition, 'to do every thing necessary for the public good ; " but he was, nevertheless, practicalh' powerless. He had few or none of the sinews of war ; and so depreciated had become the currency of South Carolina, that it required seven hundred dollars to jiurchase a pair of shoes for one of her needy soldiers. The defeat of the combined French and American force at Savan- nah the preceding autumn, in which the South Carolinians largely particip;iled, had greatly dispirited the people ; and the Governor's appeal to the militia produced very little effect. The six old South Carolina regiments had been so depleted by sickness and the casualties of war as to scarceb- number eight Inmdred, all told ; and the defence of the city was committed to these brave men, the local militia, and a few regiments of Continental troops — the latter reluctantly spared by Washington from the main army, and whicli. In thought, was " putting much to nazard" in an attempt to defend the city, and the result proved his military foresight. It would have been wiser for General Lincoln and his troops to have retired from the place, and engaged in a Fabian warfare, harassing the enemy's marches by ambus- 22 .KING'S MOUNTAIN Ciides, and cuttint^ oil" his foragini^ parties ; but the leading citizens ot* Charleston, relvinij on their former success, urged every argument in their power that the city sliould be defended to the last extremity. Yet no experienced En- gineer regarded the phice as tenable. On the eleventli of February, 1780, the Britisli forces landed on St. John's Island, within thirty miles of Charles- ton, subsequently forming a depot, and building fortifications, at Wappoo, on James" Isi lud ; and, on the twenty-sixth ot" that month, tliey gained a distant view of the place and har- bor. The dreaded da}' of danger approached nearer and nearer; and on the twenty-seventh, the ollicers of the Con- tinental squadron, which carried one hundred and tifty guns, reported their inability to guard the harbor at the bar, where the best defence could be made : and " then," as Wasliington expressed it, "the attempt to defend the town ought to have been relinquished." But no such thought was entertained. Ever}' thing was done, that coidd be done, to strengtlien and extend the lines of defence, dig ditches, erect redoubts and plant abatis, with a strong citadel in the center.* Preparations, too, were steadily progressing on the part of the enemy. On the twenty-fourth of March, Lord Corn- wallis and a Hessian ollicer were seen with their spy- glasses making observations; and on the twenty-ninth, the British passed Ashley river, breaking ground, on the tirst of April, at a distance of eleven himdred yards Irom the American lines. At successive periods they erected five batteries on Charleston Neck. Late in the evening of March thirtieth, General Charles * There was published, first in a Williamshurgli, \'a., paper of April 8th, 1780, copied i ito Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet o( April iStli, and into the New York Koyal Gazette 01 ~ ime date, an account of a Colonel Hamilton Ilallendine havinp made drawings of Cliarlesion and its fortifications, was directing his course to the enemy, when an American pi( kct guard sent out to Stono. captured him; he. thereupon, exhihited his dr:ifts, supposing that the party belonced to the Uritish army. They soon clisahuscd him of his error, carried him to General Lincoln, who ordered him for execution, and he was accordingly hanged on the 5th of March. As none of the South Carolina historians, nor any of the Charleston diarists or letter writers during the siege, make the slightest refer.Micc to any such person or circiimstance, there could have been no foundation for the story. i m AND ITS HEROES. 23 Scott, commandiiio- one of the Mrginia Continental bri- gade, arrived, accompanied by his stall", and some other otlicers. "The next morning," says Major Croghan, "I accompanied Generals Linc(jln and Scott to view the batteries and works around town ; Ibund those on the Cooper river side in prettv good order, and chielly manned by sailors ; but the greater part of the remainder not complete, and stood in need of a great deal of work. General Scott was very par- ticular in in(|uiring of General Lincoln as to the quantity of provisions in tlie garrison, when the General informed him there were se\eral months' supplv, b\' a return he had re- ceived from the Commissary. General Scott urged the necessit}' of having officers to examine it, and, as he ex- pressed \\.^for them to hw tJtcir hands on it.''* A sortie was planned on the fourth of April, to be com- manded by General Scott — one battalion led by Colonel Clarke ,. d Major Hogg, of North Carolina; another by Colonel Parker and Major Croghan, of Virginia, and the light infantry by Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens ; but the wind proved unfavorable, which prevented the shipping from going up Town creek, to lire on the enemy, and give the sallying parly such assistance as they might be able to ren- der, and thus it failed of execution. General Woodford's Virginia brigade of Continentals arrived on the sixth, and some North Carolina militia under the command of Colonel Harrington. They were greeted by the firing of a /cti de j'oic, and the ringing of the bells all night. f Admiral Arbuthnot's near approach to the bar, on the seventh of April, induced Commodore Whipple, who com- manded the American na\-al force, to retire without firing a gun, lirst to Fort Moultrie, and afterward to Charleston ; and the British fleet passed the fort without stopping to engage it — the passage having been made, savs the New Jersey * MS. Journal of Major William Croghan, of the Virginia Line. Siejje of Charles- ton, ijj. ■fCroshan's MS. Journal. J-S) 24 KING'S MOUNTAIN \ Gazcltv* while a severe thuiuler slorni was raging, which caused the ships to be "•invisible near hall" the time of their passing.'' Colonel Charles C. Pinckney, who commanded there, with three hundred men, kept up a heavy cannon- ade on the British ships dining their passage, which was returned by each of the vessels as they passed — the enemy losing fourteen men killed, and lifteen wounded, while not a man was hurt in the garrison. f One ship had its fore- topmast shot away, and others sustained damage. The Acteus transport ran aground near Iladdrell's Point, when Captain Thomas Gadsden, a brother of Colonel Gadsden, who was detached with two field pieces for the purpose, lired into her with such effect, that the crew set her on lire, and retreated in boats to the other vessels. The Royal fleet, in about two hours, came to anchor within long shot of the American batteries. By the tenth of April, the enemy had completed their first parallel, when Clinton and Arbuthnot summoned the town to surrender. Lincoln answered : ''From duty and inclination I shall support the town to the last extremity." A severe skirmish had previously taken place between Lieutenant-Colonel John Laurens and the advance guard of the enemy, in which the Americans lost Captain Bowman killed, and Major Ilyrne and seven privates wounded. On the twelfth, the batteries on both sides were opened, keeping up an almost incessant lire. The British had the decided ad- vantage in the number and strength of their mortars and royals, having twentN'-one, while the Americans possessed only two \\ and the lines of the latter soon began to crumble under tlie powerful and constant cannonade maintained against them. On the thirteenth. Governor Rutledge was * May i2th, 1700. t Croyh.in's MS. Journal. JSiu,h is tile staicinent of Dr. R.nms.iy, who was present, during the siege. The British olTicial returns show nine mortars, ranging from four to ten-inch caliber, and one eight-incli howitzer, surrondcreil at Charlesion. and a ten-inch mortar taken at Fort Moul- trie; but probably the most of these were either unfit for use, or more likely, the limited quantity of shells enabled the defenders to make use of only two of this class of ordnance. AND ITS HEROES. 25 persiiacled to withdraw from the garrison, whilo exit was yet attainable, leaving Lieutenant-Governor (ladsilen with five members of the Council. On the same day. General Lincoln, in a council of war, revealed to its members his w ant ot ri'sources, and suggested an evacuation. '• In such circumstances," said General Mc- intosh, '• we should lose not an hour in attempting to get the Continental troops, at least, over Cooper ri\er ; for on their safet\-, depends the salvation of the State." Hut Lin- coln only wished them to give the matter mature consider- ation, and he would consult them further about it. lietbre he met them again, the American cavalry at Monk's Corner, which had been relied on to keep open the communication between the city and the country, were surprised and dis- persed on the Iburteenth ; and li\e days later, the expected British reinforcements of two thousand li\e hundred men arrived from New York, when Clinton was enabled more completel}- to environ the devoted city, and cut otT all chance of escape. A stormy council was held on the nineteenth, when the heads of the several military dej^artments reported their respective conditions — of course, anvthini{ but llatlerinir in their character. Several of the members still inclined to an evacuation, notwithstanding the increased dilliculties of eflecling it since it was iirst suggested. In the midst of the conference, Lieutenant-Governor Gadsden happened to come in — whether by accident, or design, was not known — and General Lincoln "curteously proposed that he be allowed to take part in the council. He appeared surprised and dis- pkajedthat a thought had been entertained of either evacu- ation or capitulation, and acknowledged himself entirelv ignorant of the state of the provisions, etc., but would con- sult his Council in regard to the proposals suggested. In the evening, an adjourned meeting was held, when Colonel Laumoy, of the engineer department, reported the insulhciency of the fortilications, the improbability of holdin<'- 26 A'/A'US MOUNTAIN out iiianv clays lonjjjer, and llu- impracticability nf making a retreat : and closed by siigi^estin^' that terms of" iionorable capitulation be souijht from tlie eiu'iuy. Lu'utenant-(]tov- ernor ( iailsden, with tour ofhis Councilors, coming in shorti\- atli-r. treated the military gentlemen very rudely, the Lieut- i'nant-(ro\ ernor declaring that he would protest against their proci'edings ; that tlie militia were willing to li\e upon rice alone, rather than give up the town on any terms ; and that even the old women had become so accustomed to the ene- my's shot, that they traveled the streets without tear or dread : but it" the council were determined to capitulate, he had his terms ready in his pocket. Mr. Thomas Ferguson, one of the Councilors, declared that the inhabitants ot'the city had observed the boats col- lected to carry olV the Continental troops ; and that they would keep a good watch upon the army, and should any attempt at exacuation ever be made, he would be among the tirst to open the gates for the admission of the enemy, and assist them in attacking the retiring troops Colonel C. C. Pinckney soon after came in abruptly — probably having been apprised by the Lieulenanl-Goxernor of the subject under discussion — and, forgetting his usual politeness, ad- dressed General Lincoln with great warmth, and in much the same strain as General Gadsden. addin<>- that those who were lor business needed no cc)uncil, and that he came over on purpose from Fort Moultrie, to prevent any terms being oftered to the enemy, or any evacuation of the garrison at- tempted : and particularly charged Colonel Laumoy and his department with being the sole authors and promoters of such proposals.* It is very certain, that these suggestions of evacuation or capitulation, occasioned at the time great discontent among both the regulars and militia, who wished to defend the city *The details of tins military council arc taken from Major Crnclian's MS. Trmnial ; and from General Mc'ntosli's Journal, piibli-hed entire hi the Muf^iiii/M Mncazine, Dec. 1842, and cited in Simms' South Carolina in tin Jievolution, 127-129, both of which are, in this case, identical in language. I AND ITS HEROES. Ti to the hist extnniil\- , ami who it>()I\i'i1. in view ofcontiiiu in<>- tlu' lU'k'iK-e, llial llu-v woulil In- *.(>iUciU. if lU'i'i'ssarv, will) oiilv hair raliDUS daily.* All iIk-sl- ^ooil prople had llu'ir wishes gralitifd — Uk' sioor was prucrastinatod, and many an addiuonal death, siitlrrin^. sorrow, and anguish, wort.' the consriincncL'. General Linioln must liave l\ll hurl, il not sorely nelUed. hv these repealed insults — as General Melnlosii aeknow I- edges that he did. When matters of ^real pulilic eoneern result disastrously, scape-goi-.ts are always souj^ht, and all participants are apt to feel more or less unamiable and faull-frndiuLj on such occasions. Or, as Washington ex- pressed il. referring to another alFair. "mutual reproaches too often follow the failure of enterprises depending upon the cooperation of troops of dilleront grades." Looking at these bickerings in the light of history, a ciMUury after their oc- currence, one is struck with General Lincoln's magnanimous forbearance, when he coulessedly made great sacrilices in defending the place st) long against his belter jiulgment, in deference to the wishes ot" the peojile, who, we may well conclude, were ver\- unfit judges of military allairs. At another council of ollkHM-s. held on tlie twentieth and twenl\-lirst, the important subject of an evacuation was again under ileliberation : and the conclusion n'ached was, '•that it was imad\-isable. because of the ()]iposiliun made l(j it by the ci\il authority and the inhabitants, and because, even if the\- should succeed in defeating a large bod\- of the enem\' posted in their way. they hatl not a sutFiciencN' of boats to cross the Santee before they might be o\ertaken by the whole British army. '"I Tt was then proi^osed to give Sir ••'Ms. letter advance llankini;" party (A the enemy, bayoneting- tifleen of them in their trenches, ami capturini;" a do/.en prisoners, of whom seven were wounded, losiujLj; in tlu- brilliant allair, the brave Captain Thomas Gads- den and one or two privates. A considi'rabU' body of tlie enemy, under Major Hall, of the se\ I'lUy-fourth n-i^inu'nl, attempted to support tlie part}- in the trenches; but were oblij^ed to retire on receiving a shower of grape from the Anu-rican batteries.'* A successful enterprise of this kind proved onl\ a momentary advantage, having no perceptibk' inlluence on the linal result. It is said Colonel C. C. Pinckney, and Lieutenant-Cok)nel Laurens, assured General Lincoln they could supply the gar- rison with plenty of beef from Lempriere's Point, if they were permitted to remain on that side of Coo|-)er river with the ibrce then under their commaml : upon which the Commissary was ordered to issue a full allowance again. But unfortunately the fn-sl and onl\- cattle butchered at Lempriere's for the use of the garrison were altogether spoiled through neglect or mismanagement before they came over. These gentlemen, are said, also, to have promised that the communication on the Cooper side could, and W(mld, be kept open. Being in- habitants of Charleston, and knowing the country well, per- haps the General, with some reason, might be inclined to the *Croghau's MS. Journal. -:^* AND ITS iri'.ROFS. 29 snme opinion ; and besidrs rinnishini,^ thr irarrison with beef, tlu'v were to send a sulliiii'nl numlnT of lU'irroes over to town for the niililary works, who wimv much wanted. I>iit Colonel Pinckney witli the nrralcr pari, or ahnosl tlu' whole of his lirst Soiilii Carolina reginienl. and Lieuttiiant-Coloiu-I Laurens with the linht infantry were recalled iVotn Fort Moul- trit- and Leiii]irii're"s * — aiul thusended this spasmodic hope. I'rohablv this t'ailure caused a strict search to he made, ahoul this tinu', in the houses ol" the citizens tor provisions; '• some was found," says Major Cro^ifhan, •• but a much less mtit\- than was supposed."" The Americans were not slow in perccivini^ the utter qu ess of their situalion. Onllie twent\'-si.\th, Cieneral nopelessn Dul'ortail, an able J^'rench ollicer and En^ineer-in-Cliief of the American army, arrived from i'hiladelpliia, having been sent by Washington to supervise the engineer depart- ment. He frankly inlormed General Lincoln that there was no prospect of getting any reinforcements very soon from the grand army — that Congress had proposed to General Wash- ington to send the Maryland Line to their relief.+ As soon as General Dul'ortail came into the garrison, examined the military works, and obser\ed the enemy, he declared the defences were not tenable — that the\- were only field lines; and that the British might have taken the place ten da\ s ago. " I found the town," wrote DuPortail to Washington, " in a desperate state. '"| He wished to leave the garrison imme- diately, while it was possible; butGeneral Lincoln would not allow him to do so. as it would dispirit the troops. On learning General 1 )uPortairs opinion, a council was called the same day, and a proposition made lor the Continental troops to make anight retreat : and when the citizens were inf(M-med of the subject under delibi-ration. some of them came into the council, warmly declaring to General Lincoln, thatif he attempted to withdraw the troops and abandon the citizens, *CrnBhan's MS. Journal ; ami Mcintosh's Diary. t Croj;lian's MS. Journal. { Letters to Washington, ii, 450. ■ til 80 KING'S AWUNTAIN they would cut up his boats, aud open the f^'atcs to the enemy, This put au L'ud to all l'iiitlu>r thouj^hts of an evacuation.* As lati> as tin- Iwi'uty-i'ii^litli, a supernumerary ollicer left town to join the forces in the country ; but the next da\- the small party reiuainini;- at Lmipricre's I'oiiU was recallrd, the I'neuiy at once occupyiuLf it with alarj^e force ; and thus the last avenue betwi'i>n the city and country was closed. General Lincoln infortned the j^eneral oflicers. privately, this day, that Ik- intended thf horn work as a ]ilace of retreat for the whole army in case tlu'y w ere dri\ (.-n from the lines. General Mcintosh observinjr to him the imjiossibilit}- of those then stationed at South Bay and .\shley river, in such a contingi'ucy, beini;- able to retreat there, he replied that thev might secure themselves as best they could. And on the thirtieth, in some way, (iovernor Rutledj^e managed to con- vey a letter to General Lincoln, upon which the General con- gratulated the army, in general orders, on /icar/iii>uix\ large reinforcement, which iiKtv again open the comnumication with the coiuury.f It was the old story of drowning men catching at straws. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the daily di-lails of the protracted siege. Some of" the more unusual occurri'uces only need be briefly noticed, so that we may hasten on to the melancholv catastrophe. I'^cniui vessels were sunk in the channel U) ]")re\rnt the Royal lleet h^om passing up Cooper ri\er, and eulilading the American lines on that si(U> of the place ; while a iVigate and two galleys were j^laced above the sunken obstructions, to cix'iperate with the shore batter- ies in thwarting any attempt on the part ot" tlu> enemy for their removal. But the work of destruction went steadily on. Cannon balls by day and by night went streaking through the air. and crashing through the bouses. One morning, a shell burst ver}'^ near Colonel Parker, a large piece of which fell * Moultrie's Memoirs, i. 80. tCrogliau's MS. Juiir[ial. AND ITS HEROES. 31 harmless at his feet, when he said, willi much composure, "a miss is as ^ood as a mile:"* aiul, that very evenin;^, while the gallant Colonel was lookin;^^ oNir llie parapet, he was shot (lead. Shells, liri'-balls, and carcasses, ingen- iously packed with condnistihlcs, loaded pistol barrels, and other (U'struclive missiles, were thrown into tlu- city, setting many buildings on lire, and maiming and destroying not a few of the citizens and soldiery. Gn one occasioji, when ii pastor and a tew worshipers, mostly women and in\alids, were gathered in a ciunch, supplicating llie mercies of heaven on themselves and sullering people, a bomb-shell fell in the chuch-yard. when all (.|uickly dispersed, retiring to their several places of abode. Some of the cases of fatality were ([uite uncommon. Meyer Moses' young child was killed while in the arms of its nurse, and die house burned down. A man and his wife were killed at the same time, and in the same bed. A sol- dier who had been relieved from serving at his post in the defence of the city, entered his humbU' domicil. and while in the act of embracing his anxious wife, witli tears of gladness, a cannon ball passed thrt)ugh the house, killing them both instantly. Many sought safety in their cellars; but e\ en when protected for ihe moment from the constantly falling missiles of death and destruction, they began to suiTer for want of food, since all the avenues to the city for country sujiplies. had been cut olT. General Moultrie has left us a vivid picture of this period of the siege : " Mr. Lord and Mr. Basquin, two volunteers, were sleeping upon the mattress together, in the advanced redoubt, when Mr. Lord was killed by a shell falling upon liini. and Mr Basquin at the same time had the hair of his head Inu-nl, and did not awake until he was aroused from his slumbers by his fellow soldiers. The fatigue in that advanced redoul)t was so great for want of slecj. . that many faces were so swelled they could scarcely see out of their eyes. I was obliged to re- * Virginia Gazette, May i6, 17S0. « \\ 82 KING'S MOUNTAIN lieve Major INIitchell, the commanding officer. Thej'- were constantly on thi' lookout for the t-hclls that were continually falling among them. It was b}' far the most dangerous post (jn the lines. On my visit to the battery, not having been there for a day or two, I Look, the usual way of gtiing in, which was a bridge that crossed our ditch, quite exposed to the enem}-, who, in the meantime, had advanced their works within seventy or eighty yards of the bridge, which I did r.ot know. As soon as 1 had stepped upon the bridge, an uncommon number of bullets whistled about me ; and on looking to my right, I could just see the heads of about twelve or fifteen men firing upon me from behind a breast- work — I moved on, 1 got in. When Major Mitchell saw me, he asked me which wa}- 1 came in? I told him over the bridge. He was astonished, and said, ' Sir, it isathou- sand to one that you were not killed,' and told me that he had a covered way through which to pass, by which he con- ducted me on niv return. I staid in this battery about a quarter of an hour, giving the necessar}' orders, during which we were constantly skipping about to get out of the wav of the shells tlr.\<\\ n from their howitzers. They were not more than one hunilred vards from our works, and wert; throwincr their shells in bushels on our front and left flank.''* Under date of die second of May, Major Croghan records in his Journal, which is corroborated by General Mcintosh's Diary, that the enemy threw shells charged with rice and sucfar. Simms tell, us. that tradition has it, that it was not rice and sugar with which the shells of the British v.'ere thus ironically charged, but wheat flour and molasses — with an inscription addressed: *•^^) the Yankee officers in Charleston," courteously informing them that it contained a .^ippl}' of the commodities of which the}' were supposed to stand most in need. But the garrison could still jest amid sufTering. volcanoes and death. Having ascertained that the shell was sent them from a battery manned exclusively ^Moultrie's Memoirs, i, 83. AND ITS HEROES. 83 by :i Scottisli force, they cmptii'd the shell of its contents ; and rilling it with lard and sulphur, to cure them of the itch, and sent it back to their courteous assailants, with the same inscription which originally accompanied it. " It was understood," says Garden, " after the sie^j^e, that the note was received, but not with that good humor that might have been expecled, had it been considered as '<\- jcn iVcsfrit^ re- sulting from I'ustiiiable retaliation." '* Provisions," as we learn from Johnson's Traditions^ "now failed among the besieged. A sufliciencv had been provided for llie occasion: but the beef and pork had be- come tainted and unlit for food." But tlie Iiritish "were misinformed,"" says Moultrie, '* if they supposed us in want of rice and sugar." Of the latter ardcle, at least during the earlier stages of the siege, such was its plentifulness that it was a favorite amusement to piu'sue the spent hot shot of die enemy, in order, by ilinging sugar upon the balls, to con\ert it into candy. But towards the close of the siege, the supply of sugar must have become limited. "On the fourth of May," sa}s Major Croghan, '• we received from the Commissary, with our usual allowance of rice, six ounces of extremely bad meat, and a little colTee and sugar. It has been very disagreeable to the northern oOicers and soldiers to be undei the necessitj' of living without wheat or Indian bread, which has been the case during the whole siegi\" So that the Scotch jokers who sent their shot, laden wiUi either rice and sugar, or Hour and molasses, iron- ically iiinting at the deficiencies of the beleaguered garri- ^;on, did not, after all, hit very wide of the mark. Clinton, on the sixth of May, renewed his former terms for the sm'render of the garrison. With the limited store of provisions on hand, with no prospects of receiving fur- ther supplies or reinforcements, and with the admission on the part of the Engineers that the lines could not be main- ^^ ined ten days longer, and were liable to be carried by as- sault at any time, General Lincoln was disposed to accept the \M 84 KING'S MOUNTAIN terms tendered ; but he was opposed by the citizens, as the}^ were required by CHnton to be prisoners on parole, when they wished to be regarded as non-combatants, and not subject to the rigorous huvs of war It was only putting ofl'the evil day tor a brief period; and again the twenty- four and thirty-two pound carronades, the mortars and howitzers, belched forth their shot, shell and carcasses upon die devoted town and garrison, setting many buildings on fire, and keeping up the most intense excitement. So near were now the opposing parties, that they coi Id speak words of bravado to each other; and the rifles of the Hessian Ya- gers were so unerring, tliat a defender could no longer show himself above the lines with safety ; and even a hat raised upon a ramrod, was instantlv riddled with bullets. Captain Hudson, of the British Navy, on the fifth of May, summoned Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's Island to surrender ; the larger portion of its garrison ha\ing pre\i()usly retired to Charleston. Lieutenant-Colonel William Scott,* who com- manded, sent for answer a rollicking reply : " Tol, lol, de rol, lol — Fort Moultrie will be defended to the last extremity." The next day, Hudson repeated his demand, threatening that if he did not receive an answer in fifteen minutes, he would storm the fort, and put everv man to the sword. Scott, it would seem, was at first disjiosed to resort to bravado of the "last extremity" character; but recalled the oflicer bearing it, saying on further reflection the garrison thought better of it — the disparity of force was far too great — and begging for a cessation of hostilities, proposed terms of sur- render, which were granted by Captain Hudson. The sur- render formally took place on the seventh. f Thus the historic * Scott was a lirave. experienced olTicer. He serveil as a Captain during tlic attack on Charleston, in 177O. and died in that city in June, 1807. f Gordon's History of the ReTolutioii. iii. 354; Moultrie's Mctuoirs, ii, 84; Ramsay's Revolution in South Carolina, ii, 56. Dancroft. x, 305. and others, give May 6th as the date of surrender, but that the 7th was the true date of this occurrence mr.y he seen by com- paring Tarleton's Campaign, 53-55; Botta's Rn'ohifioii. New Haven edition, i?43. ii. ;?4g ; Johnson's Trniiifions. 259; Sinims' South Carolina in the Revolution, 146; and Sie^e oj Charleston. Munsell, 1867, p. 167. ! \ AND ITS HE ROES. 85 s |te Fort jMoultrie, whicli four years before had si;:^nally repulsed a powerful JJritish lleet under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, now surrendered to the enemy without firing a gun. Tiie seventh of May was further noted by an unfortunate disaster — the partial destrucdon of the principal magazine of the garrison, by the bursting of a shell. General MoiUtrie had most of the powder — ten thousand pounds — removed tr) the nortli-east corner of the exchange, where it was carefullv bricked up, and remained undiscovered b}- the British during the two years and seven months they occupied the city. Another summons was sent in by Clinton on the eighth — a truce was granted till the next day ; when Lincoln endeav- ored to secure the militia from being considered as prisoners of war, and the protection of the citizens of Souih Carolina in their lives and property, w ith twelve months allowance of time in which to determine whether to remain under British rule, or dispose of their effects and remove else- where. These articles were promptl}^ rejected, with the announcement on the part of Clinton that hostilities would be re-commenced at eight o'clock that e\ening. "After receiving his letter.*' says Moultrie, "we re- mained near an hour silent, all calm and ready, each \vait- ing for the other to begin. At length, wo fired the first gun, and immediately followed a tremendous cannonade — about one hundred and eighty, or two hundred pieces of heavy cannon were discharged at the same moment. The mortars from both sides threw out an immense number of shells. It was a glorious sight to see them, like meteors, crossing each other, and bursting in the air. It appeared as if tlie stars were tumbling down. The Hre was incessant almost the whole night, cannon balls whizzing, and shells hissing, continually among us, ammunition chests and temporary magazines blowing up, great guns bursting, and wounded men groaning along die lines. It was a dreadful night ! It was our last great effort, but it availed us nothing. After it, our military ardor was much abated, and we began to cool.'' w \\ I 36 KING'S MOUNTAIN III (J When, on the eleventh of May, the British had crossed the wet ditch hy sap, and were within twcnty-iivo yards of the American linos, all fartlior defense was hopeless. The militia refused to do duty.* It was no longer a question of expedi- ency ; but stern necessity demanded a speedy surrender, and the stoppage of farther carnage and sullering. General Lin- coln had proved himself brave, judicious and unwearied in his exertions for three anxious months in ballling the t'reatlv superior force of Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuth- not. Hitherto the civil aulliorities, and citizens of Charles- ton, had stoutly contended that the city should be defended to the last extremity ; but now, when all hope was lost, a large majority of the inliabitants, and of the militia, peti- tioned General Lincoln to accede to the terms ofi'ered by the enemy. The next da}- articles of capitulation were signed. The loss of the Americans during the siege was ninetv- eight oll'cers and soldiers killed, and one hundred and forty- six wounded; and about twenty of the citizens were killed by the random shots of the eneni}-. Upward of thirty houses were burned, and many others greatly damaged. Besides the Continental troops, less than two thousand, of whom five hundred were in hospitals, and a considerable number of sailors. Sir Henry Clinton managed to enumer- ate among the prisoners surrendered, all the free male adults of Charleston, including the aged, the iniirm, and even the Loyalists, so as to swell the number of his formid- able conquest. In this way, his report was made to boast of over live thousand six hundred prisoners, wiien the Lo3'al- ist pordon but a few days afterwards otlered tlieir congratu- lations on the reducdon of South Carolina. The regular troops and sailors became prisoners of war until exchanged ; the militia from the country were permitted to return home on parole, and to be secured in their property so long as their parole should be obser\-ed. * Du Portail to Washington, Miy 17th, 1780. AND ITS HEROES. 87 CHAPTER II. May, 1780. Further Incidents Connected with ///e Sici^e. — Tyranny of the British Leaders. — Subjugation of South Carolina. A sad accident occurred shortly after the surrendci'. Tlie arms taken iVom the troops and inhabitants, amounting to some live thousand, were lodged in a laboratory, near a large quantity of cartridges and loose powder. A number of the British ollicers desiring some of the handsome mounted swords and pistols, went to the place of deposit to select such as pleased their fancy, when through carelessness in snapping the guns and pistols, the loose powder was ig- nited, which communicated to the cartridges, blew up the building, and, in an instant, guards, officers, arms, colors, drums and fifes were sent hio-h into the air — the mangled bodies of the victims were dashed by the violent explosion against the neighboring hcnises, and, in one instance, against the steeple of a contiguous church edifice. The work-house, jail, and old barracks were destroA'ed. Captain Collins, Lieutenants Gordon and T^IcLeod, together with some fifty uf the British guard, and upward of fifty of the citizens, lost their lives bv this unhappy occurrence.* It is a singular fact, that at least during a portion of the siege, Major John Andrd. Deputy iVdjutant-General of the British army, managed in some way to get into the city, and made his home with Edward Shrewsberry, on the east side of East Bay street. William Johnson, a prominent Whig, and others, saw the }'oung man at Shrewsberry 's home? ph spur w4 !'i:. ■ \\ \- " Uams:iys Ri-voliition. ii 62-63 ; MoiiItiiL-'s A/,'iii,'i>-s ii. 109-112 ; Pennsyivania Journal. July 5tl), 1780; Simms' South Carolina in the Revolution. 156-157; Mackeniie's Stritturis, 24. 38 KIA'G'S MOUNTAIN iii back countryman, connected with ilu- \'iri,nnia troops, and had brought down cattle for tlie <^arrison. \\\ this cattle- drover ruse, lie probably gained access to the city. lie was, ol" coursi\ there for a ]')urpose — to make observaiions, and gain intelligence, and in some secret way, communicate the result to Sir Henry Clinton The historian, Ramsay, who was present during the siege, admits that there were secret friends of the Royal Government in the city, foment- ing disaflection, and working on the fears of the timid : and Moultrie, another e^e-witness, tells us that when the British marched in. to take possession of the citv. Captain Roch- fort said to him, '• Sir, you have made a gallant defence; but you had a great many rascals among you, (and men- tioned names,) who came out t'\ ery night and gave us in- formation of what was passing in your garrison."* Stephen Shrewsberry becoming sick, stopped with his brother Edward awhile, and repeatedly saw Andrd there — of course, bearing some assumed name ; and after his re- covery, and the surrender of the city, he was introduced to the same person at his brother's as Major Andrd. Stephen Shrewsberr}' mentioned this singular circumstance to his brother Edward, who frankly acknowledged that he was the same person ; but asserted his own ignorance of it at the time of his brother's illness. Marion's men subsequently sought the life of Edward Shrewsberry, charging him with treacber}' to the American cause : but lie survived the war, leaving a daughter, a very amiable lady, who lived till 18^4, dying childless. Certain it is, that Andrt^ was the devoted friend and pro- tcgd of Sir Ilenrv Clinton, who made him his Aid, and pro- moted him to the position of Deputy Adjutant-General of the British army in America ; and it is equally certain, as shown by Beatson's Memoirs, that "Adjutant-General, Ma- jor John Andrd " was with the "force that embarked at New York under Clinton anil Arbuthnot." Tarleton shows * Kamsay s Revolution, ii, 5S ; Moullric's /Ihiiioirs. ii. loS. AND ITS HEROES. 39 that Andre was porrormiiifr service in front of Charleston prior to Arhuthnol's passaj^e of Fort Moultrie c.rly in April ; a letter of Andr«i's is in print, dated at " Headquarters, be- fore Charleston," on the thirteenth of April, 1780, while the schedule of Charleston prisoners, in May, was reported by him in his official capacity — all .i(oini'>ranccr. x, 76-77; Dawson's Btitlhs of ikf United St.it^s. i, 578; C irrinijtois liittlfs of the Revoluiinn. 457; Tirlcton's Ciim/'aigiis. 12.64; Heathens KnVtil itml Milllary .Miinoirs. vi. 2o!-2ot; Moore's /Jya>> 0/ ti^i Rc-.'olution. ii, 4S4 ; and Lossin;;'!. Fichi JJooli v/tlii: Revolution, ii, 104. m t ! 5a 40 KING'S MOUNTAIN all)' cxcitc^d the anxiety ofall. Sho exclaimed, " Good mnrn- in^; piM.plc ; have you heard the news? Charleston has fallen, and the devilish lirilish soldiers have cnt to pieces all the men. all the cats, all the do^s, and now they are coming to kill all the women and children." Terrilied by her excited and incoherent statement, the ladit's looki-d ready to faint; and Dr. Percy cried out, "For shame, Mrs. Gibson : do you not know that Mrs. Legare's husband and son are in CharK'siou, and you will frighten her to death by your wild talk." " Bless you, good woman," replied Mrs. Gibson, turning to Mrs. Legard, " I have a husband and four sons there, too. and God only knows if any ot' them li\'e." In the course of a few days. Mrs. Gilxson recei\-ed the sad in- telligence that her husband and lour sons had all becm killed during the siege.* Such are some of die vicissitudes of war. It may well be asked, why did such militarv men as Lincoln, Moultrie. Mcintosh, Scott, Woodford and others, suffer themseh'es, with a body of brave troops, to be cooped up in a city which they were not capable of successfully de- fending ? At lirst they relied on the promises of Congress and tlie Executive authorities of North and South Carolina of sending near ten thousand men. one-half of whom should be ri>gulars, foi- tlu" defence of the placet In the latter part of February it was reported that General Ilogan was advancing with troops from North Carolina : that General Moultrie was forming a camp at Bacon's Bridge, which was subsequently transferred to die command of General I luger ; that a thousand men were expected from General William- son's brigade in the region of Ninety Six : and that the veteran General Richardson, and Colonel Kershaw, were embod}'ing the militia of the Camden region.'!; General Richardson sickened and died ; General Moultrie from ill- * Howe's Hist. Presh. Ch. of South Carolina, 471. t Ramsay's Revolution, ii, 5^; Gordon's American War, iii, 348; MarshaM's Washing- ton, iv, 141-42; J Colonel Laurens, in Alinon, x, 53 : Moore's Materials Jor History,, 17^. ti AND ITS HEROES. 41 ncss had to rolurn to the city. Coloiu-l Sumter at that lime liad no cominancl, ami Marion was liidiniLf away for the recovery of a broken Hmb. To enthuse the uiiHtia. and expedite their movements, Governor Rutled^c. the Patrick Ilenrv of South Carolina, and a part ot' his Councilors, left the beleaijuered city in April ; but they met with little suc- cess. The people relied too much upon succors from the North : besides, they were almost destitute of' amnnuiition. Iloiran's nartv finallv reacheil the cit\- : and about that time another North Carolina contin nrilisli against llic city iu 1776, and again in 1779. liad uispircd nearly all classes with a latal confidence that then- capital city would again escape the snares of the enemy — to be accomplished in some Providen- tial way, of which they had no very dear conception. Hut m matters of war, as of peace, (Jod helps those who help themselves. Had the people of South Carolina repaired in large numbers to their cajiital, with proper supplies ibr a lono-sieire ; or had the\ , while their fellows were cooped up within the devoted city, embodied imder such men as vSum- ter, Williamson, Pickens, Kershaw, Williams and other popular leadi'rs. harassed the besieging army, cut oil" its foraging jiarlies, kepi the comnnmicalion open, and encour- aged the beleaguered garrison to make sordes, and perhaps capture supplies from their enemies, the approaches of the British might have been retarded, and the siege proloivged till, perhaps, the arri\al of DeKalb ami other Ibrces trom the North. Could the enemy ha\e thus been retarded. lhe\' would soon have encountered a yet more dangerous Ibe in the rapidly approaching hot season, when cani]i life and expos- ure in lliat malarial climate, would have rajiidK' decimated their Ibrces. And there was, perhaps, still another end to be gained by prolonging the«siege On the second of May, a large French llei^t. under the Chevalier de Ternay, trans- porting an army of nearly six thousand of the choicest troops of France, commanded by the Count do Rochambeau, had sailed from Brest, destined to aid the young Republic in its struggle Ibr independence. On the twentieth of Juni'. they encountered a British fleet, in latitude 30°. a little south of the Bermuda Islands, when some distant exchanging of shots occurred between them. Several davs before this event, the French fleet had captured a British cutter con- veying several British officers from Charleston to tlie Ber- mudas, by whom they learned of the siege and capture of \ m 44 K J NO'S MOUNTAIN \ 1, Charleston ^ ^ soon aCti-r taking another vessel, one of A(hniral Ai .not's licet, on its return to New York, the\' learned by us papi-rs and passengers a full conlirnialion of the fall of the devott'd eily.* According to Moultrie, it was tlic |)lan of Ternay and Rochaniheau to have attempted the reliit" <>t" Charleston, had they not have learned of its capture. 'i'heir intention was, to have iMiti-ri'd Hall's Hay, huuU-d the troops at Sevi-e's IiaN', then niarchi'd down to lladdri'll's I'oinl, crossing thence o\rr to Charleston : " whieh," says -Moultrie, "they could very easily havt' dmie, and would iiiixe ellectuallv raised the siege, and taken the Hrilish lleet in Charleston harl)or and in Stono Inlet, and. in ;ill probahilitv, tlu-ir whok' army I lad tlie news of tiiis aiiproaching lleet been knowi 'me bv General Lincoln, and the people of the surrounan.y, country, the defence of the city might have been proU)nged. and. perhaps, tlie niorlification of surren- der averted— and the salvation of Charleston been celebrated in history as one of the grandest achievements of the Revo- lution. -f Hut all this misadventure was not without its compensa- tions ; for Rochambeau's fine arm\ landed safely at New- port, and. in lime, joiutnl Washington, giving new life anil hope to the American cause, and sharing in llie capture of Cornwallis the following year. It was a knowledge ol' the fitting out of Ternay's Heel, ami its probable American des- tination, that prompted Sir Henry Clinton to hasten the capture of Charleston.' and then to exjx'dite the larger part of his forces to the northward, lest New York should be attacked and taken bv the combined French and American * Rocli.imboau's Memoirs, Paris, 1824, i. 241-343; Almon's Retiifiiilramer. x, 273 t Moultrie's Memoirs, ii, 202-203; Jolinson's Traditions 2C2. t The liritlsh ('lovernmeiit liad kept a close watch on this larye French fleet cliirinR the long period of its tltliiit; o\u at ISrcst; and, no doubt apprised Sir Henry Clinton of the approaLhiiiR d:in^'er. The Virginia Cazette of May 31st. 1780 has a Philadelphia item under d.\te of May 9th. saying a (jcntlcman from New VorU stated, that it was reported in that city that a French and Spanish fleet was expected upon tlie American coast, and that the enterprise against Charleston was tu be abandoned. AND ITS HEROES. 46 troops and navy ; and tlnis woiv the Southern Colonies left with Cornwallis' crippled arniv, renderin pioti-ction. Conspicuousiv observable was the ;^n-eediness ot" the con- (|iKM-ors for plunder. The value of the spoil, which was (lislributed b\ ICnylish and Hessian Comniissaries of cap- tures, amounted to about three hundred thousand pounds sterling; the dividend of a Major-CieiU'ral excei'ded over four thousand ^^uineas — or tw enty ihousauil dollars. There was no restraint upon private rapine; the silver plate of the planters was carrii'd olT: all ne" news of the siuTender of Charleston, they had little heart t -make any further show of opposirion to the power of the British Government. Many of the country leaders, when detach- ments of the conquering troops were sent among them, un- resistingly gave up their arms, and took Royal protection — among whom were General Andrew Williamson. Gen- eral Isaac linger. Colonel Andrew Pickens, Colonel Peter Horry, Colonel James Mayson, Colonel LeRoy Hammond, Colonel John Tliomas. Sr., Colonel Isaac Ilaync, Major John Postell, Major John Purvis, and nian\' others. Sumter braved the popular tide for submission, retired alone before the advancing foe, leaving his home to the torch of die enemy, and his helpless family widiout a roof to cover their defenceless heads, or a morsel o(Viidiii/s Little E^y Harl>or Ex- pedition .—Nearly Killed by an .Iccidental .Ittack by his own Friends. — I^^.?^^"^ l^ridge and Monk's Corner Affair. — Resents Insults to Eidies. — Siege of Cliarleston. No man. perhaps, of his rank and years, ever attained more niihtary distinction in his day than Patrick Fergnson. As liis name will hereafter tignre so prominently in this narrative, it is bnt simple justice to his miniory, and alike due to the natural curiosity of the reader, that his career should be as fully and imparlially portrayed as the materials will permit. lie was the second son of James Ferguson, afterward Lord Pitfour, of Pitfour. an eminent adxocate, and for iwelve years one of the Scotch Judges, and was born in Aberdeenshire, ScoUand, in 1744. His mother was Anne Murrav. daughter of Alexander, Lord Elibank. His father, and his uncle, James Murray, Lord Elibank. wt>re regarded as men of large culture, equal, in erudition and genius, to the authors of the Scottish Augustan age. Having acquired an early education, "young Ferguson,"' says a British writer, "•sought fame by a dinerer*^ direction, httt icas of cqnallv vigoyous and hrilliant foiucrs."' When only in his fifteenth vear, a commission was purchased for him, and he entered the army July twelfth. 1759, as a Cornet, in die second or Roval Xortli British Dragoons, serving in the wars of Flanders and Germany, wherein he distinguished himself bv :i courage as cool as it was determined. He soon AND ITS HEROES. 49 evinced tlu' j^reat purpose of liis life — lo brcome conspic- uously beneficial by professional skill and etlbrt. Young Ferguson joined the army in Germany soon after the engagement on the plains of Minden. Some skir- mishing took place in the subsequent part of that year. On the tliirtieth of June, 1760, the Dragoons, to which he was attached, with other corps, drove the French cavalry from the iield, and chased their infantry in disorder througli Warbourg, and across the Rymel river, gaining from the Commander-in-Chief the compliment of having performed " prodigies of valor." On the twenty-second of August, die Dragoons defeated a French party near Zierenberg. making a brilliant charge, and deciding the contest. In the follow- ing month they captured Zit^renberg, with two cannon and three hundred prisoners. During the }ear 1761, the Dragoons were similarly emploved ; but sutfered much from the bad quality of the water. Ferguson becoming dis- abled by sickness, was sent home, and remained the most of the time in England and Scotland from 1762 until 1768. On the first of September, in the latter vear, a commis- sion of Captain was purchased for him in the sevendeth regiment of foot, then stationed in the Caribbee Islands, in the West Indies, whither he repaired, and performed im- portant service in cjuelling an insurrection of the Caribs on the Island of St. ^'incent. These Caribs were a mixture of the African with the native Indian tribes : thev were brave, expert in the use of tire-arms, and their native fastnesses had greatly aided them in their resistance to the Govern- ment. The troops suftered much in this service. The regiment remained in the Caribbee Islands till 1773. About this periotl. Captain Ferguson was stationed a while in the peaceful garrison of Halifax, in Xova Scotia : and disdaining inglorious ease, he embarked for England, w here he assiduouslv employed his time in acquiring military knowledge and science. When the disputes between the Mother countrv and her Coloni';s were verging toward i' M il:! 50 KING'S MOUNTAIN hostilities, the boasted skill of the Americans in the use of the rifle, was regarded as an object of terror to the British troops. These rumors operated on the genius of Ferguson, and he invented a new species of rifle, which could be loaded with greater celerity, and fu'ed with more precision than any then in use. He could load his newly constructed gun at the breech, without using the ramrod, and with such quickness and repetition as to Are seven times in a minute, lie was regarded as the best rifle shot in the British army, if not the best marksman li\ing — excepting, possi- bly, his old associate, George Hanger;*' and in adroitness and celerity in loading and liring, whether prostrate or *Tlns possible exccplion should be somewhat qualified. The British writers, including several who knew whereof they wrote, unite in ascribing this high character to Fergnson's skill in the use of his improved rifle. Major Hanger, in his Li/(' and Opinions, written after Ferguson had been twenty years in his grave, claims not simply equal, hut superior skill. The redoubtable .Major relates, with no little naivete, this ludicrous anecdote, as occurring in New Yi.rk City, in 178^, when Sir Guy Carleton had become Commander in- Chief of the Urilish forces. Sitting opposite the Major at dinner one day. Sir Guy said : " Major Uanger, I have been told that you are a most skilful marksman with a rifle-gun — I have heard of astonishing feats that you have performed in shooting." Tlianking him for the compliment, I told his li.xcellency. that "I was vain enough to say, with truth, that many officers in the army had witnessed my adroitness. I then began to inform Sir Guy how my old deceased friend. Colonel Ferguson, and myself, had practiced together, who, for skill and knowledge of that weapon, had been so celebrated, and that Ferguson had ever acknowledged the superiority of my skill to his. after one particular day's practice, wlien I had shot three halls into one hole." Sir Guy replied to this : " I know you are very e.xpert in this art." Now. had I been quiet, and satisfied with the compliment the Com- mander-in-Chief paid me. and not pushed the matter further it had been well for me; but I replied: "Yes, Sir Guy. I really have reduced the art of shooting with a rifle to such a nicety, that, at a moderate distance, I c.in kill a flea with a single ball." At this. Sir Guy began to stare not a little, and seemed to indicate from the smile on his countenance, that he thought I had rather out-stepped my usual oiitdoings in the art. Observing this, I respect- fully replied: "I see by your Excellency's countenance that you seem doublful of the singularity and perfection of my art ; hut if 1 may presume so much, as to dare offer a wager to my Commaiiderin Chief, I will bet your Excellency five truineas that I kill a flea with a single ball once in eisht shots, at eight yards." Sir Guy replieil : " My dear Major. I am not given to lav wafers, but for once 1 will bet vou five guineas. prr>vided you will let the flea hof>." A loud laugh ensued at the table; and. after laughing heartily myself. 1 placed my knuckle under the table, and striking it from beneath, said : "Sir f>uy, I knock under, and will never speak fif my skill in shnotin.g with a rifle-gun ag.iin before you," Neither Ferguson nor Hanger were aware of a remarkable youth at that time in the Wheeling region. Lewis Wetzel, who had learned to load but a cinimon rifle as he sped swiftly through the woods with a pack of Indians at his heels. Killing one of a party, four others singled out. determined to catch alive the bold young warrior First, one fell a vic- tim to his unerring rifle, then another, and finally a third, in the race for life; when the only survivor stopped short, gave a yell of despair and disappointment, saying: ''No catch dat man— gun always loaded." AND ITS Hl'JWES. 61 erect, he is said to have excelled the best American fron- tiersman, or even the expert Indian of the tbre^t. He often practiced, and exhibited his dexterity in the use of the rifle, both at Black lli-ath and Woolwich. Such was his exe- cution in lirinL,f, that it almost exceeded the bounds of credibilitN . ha\ino- very nearly- brought his aim at an ob- jective point almost to a mathematical certainty. On the lirst of June. 1776, Captain Ferguson made some riile experiments at Woolwich, in the presence of Lord Townshend, master of ordnance. Generals Amherst and lia\vle\-. and otlu-r otlicers of high rank and large militarx' experience. Notwithstanding a heavy rain, and a high wind, lie lired during the space of four or live minutes, at the rate of four shots ]ier minute, at a target two hundred yards distance. 1 le next lired six shots in a minute. lie also lired, while advancing at the rate of four miles per hour, four times in a iiiinule. lie then poured a bottle of water into the pan and barrel of the rille when loaded, so as to wet every grain of powder; and, in less than half a minute, he fired it olT, as well as ever, without extracting the ball. Lastlv. he hit the l)uirs eye target, lying'on his back on the ground. Incredi- ble as it might seem, considering the variations of the wind, and the wetness of the weather, he missed the target only three times during the wliole scries of experiments. These military dignitaries were not only satisfied but astonished at the perfection of both his rifle and his practice. On one of these occasions. George the Third honored him with his presence: and. towards the chjse of the year, a patent was grank'd tor all his improvements. According to the testimony of eye-witnesses, he would check his horse, let tlie reins fall upon the animal's neck, draw a pistol from his holster, toss it aloft, catch it as it fell, aim. and shoot the head oil' a bird on an adjacent fence.* "It is not certain," says the British Aiiiuml Ixcuktcr for 1 ■.y\ m * General J. \V. D. DePcystcr's King's Mountain, in Historical Magazine March i86g, p. lew, 52 KING 'S MO UNTAIN 1 781, " tliat thevSe improvements produced all the eftect in real service, which had been expected from those astonishing specimens of tliem tiuit were displayed in England.*' Anxious to take an active part in the American war, a hundred select men were chosen for his command, whom he took unwearied pains to instruct in tlie dextrous use of his newly invented rifle. In the spring of 1777, he was sent to America — to him, a much coveted service. Joining the main army under Sir Henry Clinton, he was placed at the head of a corps of riflemen, picked iVom the diflerent regiments, and soon after participated, under Sir William Howe, in the battle of Brandywine, on the eleventh of September. ■' General Knyphausen," says a British writer, " with another division, marched to Chad's Ford, against the Provincials who were placed there. In this service the German General experienced ver}- important assistance from a corps of riflemen commanded by Captain Patrick Fer- guson- whose meritorious conduct was acknowledged by the whole British army.'' In a private letter from Captain Ferguson, to his kins- man. Dr. Adam Ferguson, he details a ver}' curious incident, which occurred while he lay, with his riflemen, in the skirt of a wood, in front of Kn\'phausen's division. '' We had not lain long," says Captain Ferguson, " when a Rebel of- ficer, remarkable by a hussar dress, passed towards our army, within a hundred yards of my right flank, not per- ceiving us. He was followed by another, dressed in dark green andMue. mounted on a bay horse, with a remarkably high cocked hat. I ordered three good sliots to steal near to and fire at them ; but the idea disgusting me, I recalled the order. The hussar, in returning, made a circuit, but the other passed within a hundred yards of us, upon which I advanced from the wood towards him. Upon my calling, he stopped; but after looking at me, he proceeded. I again drew his attention, and made signs to him to stop, levelling my piece at him ; but he slowly cantered awa}-. As I was AND ITS HEROES. 63 within that distance, at which, in the quickest tirin<^f, I could have iudrandywine, to have taken the lield three weeks afterwards — j-jesides, the autliorities show, tliat it was at Brandy wine whert." \\v so narrowly escaped the temptation to try the acciu'acy of his rille on the American Commander- in-Chief, or some other prominent ollicer, making observa- tions, and where he was so griex'ously wounded. When the British evacuated Philadelphia, in June, 1778, Captain Ferguson acccjmpanied the retiring forces to New York, and, of course, participated in the battle of Mon- mouth on the way. It was fought on one of the hottest days of the summer, when many of the British soldiers died from the etlects of the heat. For some time at'ter reaching New York, Captain Ferguson and his rille corps were not called on to engage in an}- active service. Little Fgg Harbor, on the eastern coast of New Jersey, had long been noted as a place of rendezvous for American privateers, which preyed largely upon British commerce. A vast amount of property had been brought into this port, captured iVom the enemy. " To destroy this nest of rebel pirates," as a British writer termed it, an expedition was litted out from New York, the close of September, 1778, composed of three hiuulred regulars, and a body of one hundred Royalist volunteers, all under the command of Cap- * Beatson's Navtil anti Mili'/ary Afemot'rs, vi, 83; Mackenzie's Slruiures on Tarle- ton. 23, III 6G KING ' S MO UNTA IN tain Fcrj^usnn. Captain Ili-nry Colins, of the Navy, trans- porli'd tlu' troops in ritrht or ten armed vessels, and shared in the enterprise. From initoward weather, they were lonjL^ at sea. General Washington, hearinjLj of the expetlition, dispatched Count Pulaski and his Le<,non cavalry, and at tlu' same time sent an express to Tuckerton, as did also Governor LiviniLfston, givini^r information, so that four pri\a- teers put to sea and escapi'd. while others took refuLje \\\t \\\v Little I'v^g Harbor river. Fer ])ritish in this alVair had none killed, and but a single soldier wounded. Had he arrived sooner, Ferguson in- tended to have pushed forward with celerity twenty miles fardier, to "The Forks," which was accounted only thirty- live miles from Philadelphia. IJut the alarm had been spread through the country, and the local militia had been reinforced bv Pulaski's cavalry, and live Held pieces of Colonel Proctor's artillerv : so die idea of reachino- and destro\inu the stores and small craft there, had to be aban- doned. Returning the next day, October the seventh, down the river, they reached two of dieir armed sloops, which had got aground on their upward passage, and were still fast. Thev were lightened, and got oil' the next mornin-5''): I'niaski's repuri. Pennsyl- vania f'lii/ict. October 2», 1778; Uivinylon's Koynl Cit:ft/i\ Oct'iber 24. 1778; Political M recei\e them. "Charge I" was the word on both sides : md, for a little season, the conflict raged. Ferguson, wielding his sword in his left hand, di'fendfd himself", as well as he could, against three assailants, who opposed him with fixed bayonets, one of which was unfortunately thrust through his left arm. When on the point of falling, amid AND ITS HEROES. (i3 the confusion and clashin::^ of arms, Major Cochrane and Colonel Ferguson, almost at tlie same moment, recognized each other's voices, and exerted themselves to jiut a stop to the mistaken contlict. Two ol" Ferguson's men, and one of tlie Legion, were killed in this unliappy alVair. and several wounded on both sides. Lieutenant McIMu-rson, ot' the Legion, received ha\-onet wounds in the hand and shoulder. Hut tor the timely recognition, on the part of the com- manders, of the nnitual mistake, Colonel Ferguson would most likely have lost his life — "a life," says iNLijor Hanger, '•equally valuable to the wlujle arm\-, and to his friends." *' It was melancholy enough," wrote a participant in tlie allair, near three weeks afterwards, " to see Colonel Fergu- son disabled in both arms : but, thank God, lie is perfectly recovered again." Tarleton comiricnds " the intrepiditv and presence of mind of the leaders," in this casual engage- ment, as having saved their respective parties from a more fatal termination. "The whole army felt for the gallant Ferguson," says Hanger; and the peculiar circumstances attending this unlucky conflict, long furnished the camp and bivouac with a melancholy topic of conversation.* The fleet having crossed the bar, and gained the water command thence to Charleston, enabled Sir Henr\- Clinton to bestow more attention than he had hitherto done, to cut- ting otT the connnunications of the Americans between the city and country. A body of militia, together with the remains of three Continental regiments of liglit drauoons, k-d by Colonel Washington and otIu>rs. and all under tlie command of General Huger. were stationed at Iliggin J3ridge, near Monk's Corner, about thirty miles from Charleston. To destroy or disperse this partv. and thus inevent supplies of food and rc-inforcenients of men to the beleaguered city, was a capital object with .Sir Henr\ Clin- lon ; and its immediate execution was assigned to Colonel *Trirleton's Cf the victors. U it was not a " shameful surjirise," as General Moultrie pro- nounced it, it was, at least, a very distressing atVair for the Americans. Poor General linger, and his aid, John Izard, remained in the swamp from Friday morning, the time of tlie surprise, till die succeeding Monday : it was a long fast, and the exposure produced severe sickness on the part of the General, causing him to retire awhile from the service.* Among the American wounded was Major Vernier, a b'reiich. ollicer, who commanded the remains of the Legion of Count Casimir Pulaski, wlu) had lost his life at Savan- nah tlu- preceding autumn. " The Major," says Steadman, a British historian and eve-witness, '* was mangled in the most shocking manner ; lie had several wounds, a severe * Ramsny's Ixet'oliitwii, ii. 64; Moiillrie's Afeiiioirs, ii, 7a: Tarleton's Campaigns, 15-17; Steadniaii's Aimticah II ur. ii. 182-81: J.imes' f.i/e 0/ Marion, 16-J7; Siege 0/ Charleston, i.'4, 1O4 ; Simm's South Carolina in the Kerolution. 125. 138; Irving's Washington, iv, 51-52. w ■ I 66 KING'S MOUNTAIN ilii 11 'i J one behind his oar. This iinforlunatp ofllcor lived several hours, reprolialiii!^ ihi' Americans for their conduct on this occasion, and even in his last moments cursing tlie British for their barbarity, in having ret'used quarter after he had surrendered. The writer of this, who was ordered on this expedition, allbrded ever}- assistance in his power, and liad the Major put upon a table, in a public house in the village, and a blanket thrown over him. In his last moments, the Major was frecjuently insulted b\- tiie prnati's of the Legion." Such mercik'ss treatment of a d\ing foe, was eniinentU bellttiui'" the sa\aiie character of "^Farleton and his men. liritish historians repel, with indignant language, the charge of permitting the violation or abusc> of females to go unpunished ; yet Connnissary Steadman ri'lates a case hiiiiilv deroi^atorv of the ct)nduct of some of Tarleton's Legion. In the course of this maraud, several of the dra- goons broke into the iiouse of Sir John Colleton, in the neighborliood of Monk's Corner, and maltreatt'd and attempted \iolence ujion three ladies residing there — one, tlu' wife of a Charleston pliysician, a most delicate and b(,>auti- ful woman, was most barbarously treated; another lath' rt'ceived one or two sword wountls ; while an luunarried lady, a sister of a prominent American Major, was also shamefulh" misused. They all succeedt'd in making tiieir escape to Monks Corner, where they were protected ; and a carriage being provided, they were escorted to a house in that region. The guilty dragoons were apprehended, and brought to camp. whert\ by this time. Colonel Webster had arri\H'd and taken tlu' command. "Colonel Ferguson," savs Sti'adman. "was for putting the dragoons to instant death : but Coloni'l Webster did not conceiv(> that liis jiow- ers exltMided lo that of holding a geni>ral court-ma.tial.* Il nnisi lint l)c inferred lliat Ciiloiiel Wulister, who w.is the next year killerini^': — /-eixiisoit oitv,inees to I'oir l-'orest. — Charaeter oj the lories — Stories of their pliimh-rini^s. — Colonels Clarke ami Jones of Ceort^ia — ///,• latter surprises a 'Tory eamp. — Dunlap an, I .Mills attoek .]/e Don'elTs eamp on \orth Pacolet.— Captain Hampton' s puisiiit and defeat of the Tories. On IIk' reduction of Charleston, Sir nenr\- Clinton was, for the ensuinj4" lew weeks, busily employed in issuing; proclamations and lbrmin;jf plans lor the conijiUMA- subjui^a- tion of the Carolinas and Georjuia. He had on the eitjjh- teenth of May, dispatched Lord Connvallis with a strouif force on the nordi-east side of the Santi-e to Camden ; while Coloui'l Fi\rguson, at the same time, with a hundred and fifty to two hundred men of the Pro\incial corps, marched from Nelson's Ferry via Colonel Thomson's, Beaver creek, and the Con^aree Store, crossin.^" the Saluda above the mouth of Jiroad river ; thence on to Little river and Ninety Six, where they arrived on the twenty-second of June. '^I'hey performed their marches in the cool of tlu- morniny;, and now and lluMi apiirehended prominent Whiles on the route. His orders were to tia\e a watch-care over the extended district of country from the Wateree to the Saluda, well niirh a hundred miles. Resuniin<^ his march he passed on to Ninety Six, whence, after a fortnight's rest, he advanced some sixteen miles, and selected a good location on LitUc M AND ITS rrP.ROFS. 60 river where he erected soiiu" lii'ld works, while most of his r"*rovincials pushetl on to the h'air I"^)rest iH'iL,non.* This ciuiip was at the phmtation of Colonel James Williams, in what is now Laurens County, near the Newberry line, where the Hritish i.ncl Tories loni;- maintained a post, a jiart of the time under Cieneral Cunningham, till the enemy evacuated Ninety Six the following year.f Sir Henry Clinton hail directed Major Hanger to repair with Colonel Ferguson to the interior settU-ments, and, jointly or separately, to organize, muster, and regulate all volunteer corps, and inspect the (piantity of grain and num- ber of cattle, etc., belonging to the inhabitants, and report to Lord Cornwallis, who would be left in command of the Southern Provinces.^ The powers of this warrant were very extensive to meet the exigencies of the case. It was ni'cdful that commissioners should lii' sent out prop- I'rh' authorized to receive the submission of the people, administer oaths of fealty, and exact pledges of faithtul Royal service. I': was needful, also, that the \oung men of the country should be thoroughly drilled and fitted for recmits for Cornwallis' diminished forces ; and it was equally neces- sary for that commander to know where the necessary sup- plies of grain and meat could be found. It will thus be seen how comprehensive was this mission and its purposes. Nor were these the only powers vested in these oHlcers. All Royal authority had, for several vears, been superseded by enactments and appointments of tiie newh created Stati", and these^ o: i.ecessity, mus, be ignored. So Colonel *T;irleton's Memoirs, 36, Ro, 87. 100: ONeall's llht. 0/ Xcwherry, 107. i Williams' place was ahuiit a mile wesi Mi Ninety Six. in 17'ji. Ferguson's camp was near ilic intersection f a rn.id le.idmt; to I.anrens C H.. about si.\t( jn miles distant. MS. letters of General A C. C.arliiigton. July igih and 2Rth. 1880, on antbority ..f Colonel James W. Watts, a descendant of Colon. I Williamsand Major 'r. K. Vance and oibcrs. D. R Crawford of Martin's Depot, S. f:., states that thr e miles above the old Williams' |ilare, nn ibe W'';r side of T.itlle river, opposite the old Milton store, must have been ai\ em anipnient, as old ynn barrels and yuii )o. ks have been found there. J llaniLjer's I.ife iimi (^/i/tiioiis, ii. .(01-2. i! m n 70 KING'S .VOUNTA/N Ferguson and Major flangrr had superadded to Uieir mili- tary jiowers, authority to perform the marriage service. Whether they had occasions to otliciate, we are not informed. However this may have been, tlie Major evidcntl\- formeil no liigh estimate of the beautii-s of the up-country region. '• In the back parts of CaroHua," says Major Hanger, "you may search after an angel with as much chance of linding oni> as a parson : there is no such thing — 1 mean, when I was there. What thev are now. I know not. It is not impossi])le, but they may have become more religious, moral, and virtuous, since the great allec- tion thev liave imbibed for the French. In mv time, you might travel sixty or seventy' miles, and not see a church, or even a schism shop — meeting-house. I have often called at a dog-house in the Avoods, inhabited !'>v eight or ten persons, merely from curiositv. I have asked the master of tlie house: ' Pra\', u\y frit-nd. of what religion are you?' 'Of what religion, sir?' 'Yes, my friend, of what religion are 3'ou — or, to what sect do you belong?' 'Oh! now I understand you; why, for tlu- nuitter of that, religion docs not trouble its much in these parts' "This distinguished race of men," continues Hanger, "are more savage than the Indians, and possess evcrx one of their \ices, but not one of tlu'ir virtues. I have known one of these fellows travel two hundred miles through the woods, never keeping anv road or path, guided by the sun by day, and the stars by night, to kill a particular person belonging to the opposite party. He would shoot him before his own door, and ride away to boast of what he had done on his return. I speak only of back-woodsmen, not of the inliabitants in general of South Carolina ; lor, in all America, there are not better educated or better bred men than the planters. Indeed, Charleston is celebrated for the splendor, luxury, and education of its inhabitants : I speak only of that heathen race known by the name of Crachers."" * Such were Major Hanger's representations of the back- ♦ HaiijL'er's I. iff iinii O/'i'm'iois, ii, 403-5. 'I |1 ' 1'^ f LY/) /7'S III: ROES. 71 woods pi'opli" ol' Carolina in liis n-iordi-d ri-niinisiciu'cs ol' twi-nlv-ont- \car.s lluTcaricr. I lis slurs and insinuations on n a part of the second-cl; service, the home duly being mort' that of a Justice of Pi'ace lan of a soldier."" * tl Major Hanger did not remam many weeks with Colonel Ferguson in the Little river region; for, early in August, * Li/e aiiii Cur, of J^prd ConiwalWs, i, 4S6. Ir.i 72 KING'S MOUNTAIN ho ontcrorl Tarloton's Lofjion as Major, tn which ho had ri'ioiilly been ap|)(>iiUi'(l. and iiailiiipalrd in llic I'Jallli- ol" Caindfii, and in thi- all'air al C'iiailoiic. In iiis lockli'ss niannor of oxprossion. tlic Major roniarks. tiial had lio remaiju'd witii l'\'r;4iis()n. lu- ini^lit lia\r sliarcd iho .sanic fall- as hi' did al Kind's .Nh)untain ; and. "it', indoi'd, as Maiioini't is said to iia\o done, I could have laki-n my lli,i;ht to Paradise on a jackass, thai woidd ha\e heen a pUasant ride; hut Fate ik-stined me lor oilier ihinns." "We come not," (k'chired Ferguson, "to make war on women and chikh'en, but to reht'\ e their chstresscs." This sounded "grateful and pleasant to the ears of the people — a ku-ife majority of whom, under the leatU'rship of the Cun- ninghams, Fletchall, Roliinson, and IVaris, wi-re at heart Loyalists, and honored tlu' Kinif anil Parlianu-nt. 'i'o Colonel Ferjfuson's standard, whik' encamped at I>ittle river, the Tories of the country llocki'd in large nundx-rs. Companies and regiments were organized, and many olli- cers commissioned for the Royal service. David Fanning, who had long resided in Orange ami Chatham Counties, in the North Province, subsequi'ntly so notorious as a "^Fory leader for his dare-devil adventures and bloody work gener- ally, was among those who repaired to Ferguson's encamp- ment ; and evidenlh, on his personal reconnnendation and induence, secured, in Julv, from Colonel I'erguson, com- missions, from ICnsign to Captain, for no less than sixty-two persons in the live Counties of Anson. Chatham. Cumber- land, Orange, and Randolph, in North Carolina, whosi' names and residence lu' ri'cords in his published A'arnf/irc. Fanning and Captain. Richard Pearis had receivi-d General Williamson's submission, and granted proti-ction to him and his followers, and three days thereafter to Coloni'i Pickens. Colonel Robert Cunningham had taken the com- mand in the Ninet\- Six region, and formed a camp ot Loyalists ; * and British authoritv was fully recognized in all the up-country of South Carolina. *V:inTn\.%'s Nnrrath'c. 12, 11, 19-21, AND ITS HEROES. 78 The younger men wiTi' tlioroiirrlily flrillcd by Colonel Formison aiul his siihordinati's in inililar\ lactiis. and littt-d lor ailivf si'i\ ill". Xo one (.ould luive Ivcn bfttcr (jualilk'd tor tliis husiiu'ss ihan llii" distiniLjuislu'd partisan whom Sir Ili'ni'v Clinton luul scivili'd Ibr tlu' purposi*. lie sei-nu'd ahnost a born i-onunancUr. His hir^c expt'rience in war, and partiality lor n)ilitary thscipline, superadded to his personal maL,nu'tisin o\t'r othi-rs. eminently fitted liim for nnlimiti'd inllnenci' o\er his men. and the comnKjn people wiliiin his n'^ion. lie was not favored, however, with a lommandiiiL; personal prt'sence. lie was of middle stature, slender make, j^ossessin^r a serious countenance ; yet it was his peculiar characteristic to i^ain the allections of the men under his command. lie would sit down foi" hours, and converse with the country people on the state of public aOairs, and point out to them, from his view, the ruinous effects of the disloyalty of the rint^-leaders of the rebellion — erroneously supposing that it was the leaders only who jifave impulse to the popular up-risint( throu<^hout the Colo- nies. Ik- was as indefati^'ible in training them to his way of thinking, as lie was in instructing them in military exer- cises. This condescension on his part was regarded as wonderful in a King's ollicer, and \ery naturally went far to secure the respect and obedience of all who came within the sphere of his almost magic inllucnce.* Parties were sent out to .scour the north-western portion of South Carolina, and apprehend all the Rebel leaders who could be found. AnK>ng those who had taken protec- tion, and were yet hurried ofl' as prisoners to Ninety Six, was Colonel John Thomas. Sr.. of die Fair Forest setUe- nient, then cpiite advanced in life. ITis devoted wife rode nearly sixty miles to visit him, and convey to him such com- forts as she had it in lu-r power to bestow. While thiM-e, Mrs. Thomas overheard a conversation between some T()ry women, of which her quick ear caught these ominous * Political Ma i^,i : i II I- , M;irili. 17S1, 125, :i| 74 K/Axrs A/orxy.i/.Y words : "''l^lu- Tvoyalists iiitcMul. to-morrow iiiijlit. to siirprisi' '.lu- Rrln-ls ill Cedar S|>riii<^."" 'I'liis iiilclli^i'iKr was cnoiii^h to llirill a mollu'i-'s heart, lor Cedar Spriiii;' was hut a lew miles hevond her I'^iir h'oiesl home, and willi tlie W liijn" force wi're man\- ol lier Irieiids and nei^hhors, and sonu' i'\ en of lu-r own tliihhi'ii. No time was to he lost — sht' iiitiiitiveh' resoKcd to do her hesi lo apprise ihem ol tiie (.•nt'iny's intention helore tlie mechlatetl hlow eouhl hi' struck. Slie started early tlie next morning;-, and readied Cedar .Spring' liiat i'\'eninn' in lime to ,i;"i\e them winning; of tlie impi'udini^ danger, w len she quietly repaired to her home, conscious ol' having ilone her duty lo her i'oimtr\', as Well as perlormed an act ol the nohlest humanitw* This was on the Uvf^Ifth day of July, f Colonel John Thomas, Jr., the sun (jf our heroine, had succei'di'd his fathi-r in command of the Fair Forest ri'i^iment, and headi'd the small band, some sixty in lunniH'r, now eiicamptd at the Cellar .Spring-. [; Joseph Alcjunkin was one of llu> party. It sei-ms to havi- been u camp ibrmed lor collecting;- the regiment, and drilling" them, |')reparalor\- 'o joining' Sumter. (3n receivinj^ the timely intelligence of tlu' inti^nded IJritish attack. Colonel Thomas and h.is nuii. alli'r a brief consultation, redred a small distance in tiu' lear ol" their camp liri's, and awaited tlu- imiieiidini; onset. The eneniN', one hundred and lifty stronif, rushed u]ion the camp, where they expected to liiul the luckless l^ebels |iio- *Iii rrccliliriH Mrs. j:ciio TliDiniis with this Ucrnir. iicl, wc arc aw.irc that Mills, in liis St,)t:.ti-s o/ South C.iyoliiiii. lias acroidcd it to Mrs. M.nry Oill.inl ; but llie iinifMirii u-Mi niony Ol ilip 'rii"iiias faiiiily, iniluiliim Major M( Itiiikin, wlin marricil a iliiiinlilrr of Col- (inc'l TlKitnas. (jiv. s tlic narrativi: as w<; have suhstantially r latcd it. 'riie oi i asioii of her vivil lo Niiirly Six, anil rcsidiiii; in ilie nci^hhnrhooil r)f Cedar SpriiiK. Ko far lo sustain this virw of the matter. Mrs. Dillard, on the other hand, lived fnlly thirty miles southeast ■!( Cellar Sjirini;, and sontli of tin- F.norec river, in Lauren's Distrii t - and on tlo- route 'I'arU ton pursued when on his way to attark Sumter at niarkstork's on I'yKcr ; and I'.irleton relates, th.it "a woman on horschai k had viewrd the line of inarch from a wood, .nid, l>y a ni.-.irer road, had civen inlelliuenc c ' lo Sunitir. Th.it woman was Mrs. I>illard. •|-('ompare McCall's (ieorgin. ii. iio ; Moore's l^i'itty, ii, j^ji : and .Allaire's Piitry, July 14th and i.sll>. } Odar Sprin,i; deii\i il its n,iiiic from a l.-ir^e eed.ir tree, tl .11 lorinirl) orn.inieiiii il the hanks of this tim- spring, whic h is ahout fifty feet in tin iinifereiiee It has three prinripal fountains or snnries of supplv. wlii' li forrc the water from tlo- howels of il.r earth forming II Ijeaulifnl hasin three feel tlcep. 'I'll'; \\ater is imjirej^n.itt-d with a s.iiall portion of lime. AND ITS IFEROES. 76 founclly riiw r;i|")|X'(l in ,sluinl)cr ; but, oi^ the lontrarw llu-y \V(.Ti> \vi(U' a\vak(.\ and astonislunl the assailaiils with a v()lk'\' of rilK' balls. .Si'wral wtTt- slain, ami the survixors i-ii'anipcri'il oil' badly deinoralizcd. It was a shorl, (|iiii.k, and dcfisixc allair. Amoni;' llu' slain was a 'i'oiy named |()hn While, well known Id Major Mejunkii and who, in tlu' early pari ot ihe war, had deelimd bearing arms aj^ainsl ihe Indians, on ihe irumped-up plea ol" lu'lni;' a non- coinbatanl.* Il was IbrlunaU- tor Thomas" |iari\, thai this was a nii;ht attack, as the eni-my had no ()p|)orlunilv of discovering' iheii decided sn|-)eriority ; and donbtless ri'tired with llu- beiit't" that the Americans nnist Iuin ■ num- bered sevi'ral lumdri'd. "I'his eml)od\ in^ ot' the tViiMicb' of liberlN' in the l^'air h'orest settlement. jirobabK- hastened the movenu'nt ol" I^'er^uson to that quarti-r. When Colonel [''erifuson K'tt his (.amii on I^itde rixcr, he crossed the ,'Onoree at Kelly's Ford, and encampetl in ihc Fork, at the plantation of Colonel Jami-s I^yles, who was lIuMi in service farther east, with Sumler. John Robison and others ot this re^'ion were |ihiiulered b\ l'\'ri;"uson\s men. The des|ierate, the idle, the \ indicti\t.', who souLjht ])lunder or re\eni;'e, as well as the \(>utht'ul Loxalists, whost- zeal or amliition prompted them to takt- up ai"ms, all tound a warm rece]ition at tlu' Hritish camj) ; and their pro^.x-ss ihroui^h the countr\- was "• marki'd with blood, and K^l W^ wy with contlan'ration." Ir\ini;' graphically describes the character ot' these Toin- reciuits : *• Feri^uson," says Irving', " had a loyal hatred ot" W'hij^s, and to his staiulard flocked many i^ancorous Tories, beside outlaws and desperadoes, so that with all liis conciliating" inliMitions. his proi^ress throuifh the I'ounlry was attended b\- man\- cvxasperatini; exci'sses." To (.otMce the \\'hiL;s to submission, a»ul embod\- the Tories, and ti-ain them t'or war, Ihm'^'usou kejit moxii.g about the country, and sending- out his detachments in ex-ery '■Major Mrjiinkin's MS. Slalcinrnt. .unoiiK lliu S.iye piipcrs; Mr. Sayc\ Mrinnir i\\ Mcjiinkiii, alvo JihIkl- O'Ncall's. ill tlic Mitgnoliii Magazine lor J.m,, iS,(j; ///.>/. I'res'yte- tiiin III. of So. Caritiiiia, 5J4. '« 76 KING 'S MO I WTAfN direction. In the prosecution ofthesi' desiirns, ho miirched into Union District, ciinpin<4 on tlie south side of 'r\^er ri\er, about iiaU" a n'ile below Hhickstock's Ford, where the cripple spy, Joseph Kerr, made such observations as he could, anil ri'turned with tlie inteUiL'-'Uce to Colonel Mc- Dowell, that about lil'lecn hunch-cd of the enein\- were pent'tratiui;' the country ;* and thence Feriruson passed into the settlement then called "The (^j^iaker iM'.muIow.'" but since known as the Meadow Woods. On Su^'ar creek, a southern tributar\- of" I"'air l^'orest creek. + resided a number ol" (klermined Whigs named Blasin<^anu', oiu' of whom was arrested. 'I'hence Feri^uson moved up into the Fair r"ort"-L settlement, on the main cri-ek ot' that name, campin;^ at dilVerent times at McClendon's old Held ; then between \\here J. Mcllwaine and f. II. Kelso since lived ; thence to where Cjist resided a few years since, and thence to Cunninirham's. lie camped a while at l^'air Forist Shoal, in I>randon"s .St'itlrineut : and subsequently for three wei'ks on a hill, on tlu' present plantation of the lion. John WinsmiUi, eleven miles south of Cedar SpriiiL;,", and two south of Glenn's Sprinfny fiise/'i, yr !iinl;iii. aiul Sketches uf the l\-7;i/:itwn,t>y Histery ef South (aro/iiia. .in interest »>,' ucwspuper aeries piibliblicd over thirty years ago. AND ITS UliROES. 77 these oIlkcTs sufl'ered their troops to engage in ransacking and ]-)kni(lerinry and inininiaiiity. 'V\\v crown had iionors anil rewards to lii'stow, and his v\v ri'sled upon them. He knew that "the del'endi'r of the faith" generallv gave much more casli and more honors, for a single yi-ar of devoted service in military enterprises, than for a lifi'-time spent in such pursuits as exalt and ennolile human natmc. The horses of Ferguson's men wen' turiud loost' in to .iiiy lields of grain that might he most conwnient. I'^oraging parties brought in cattle to cam]) for slaught(.>r, or wantonh- shot them down in the woods and left them. .\s many Whigs as could Iv fnmd were apprehencK'il, not <'vi'n excepting those who iiad i-»rc\'iously taken protection. A fe\, had been pn)m|)UHl to take ])rotection, rather than for- sakt> their families, trusting therein' to Urilish honor to secure them from molestation ; but they were soon hurried olV to Ninety Si ', and incarcerated in a loathsome |irison, when' tliey well nigh perished for watit of sustenance. Ihit niost of those, at this time, capabU- of bi'aring arms, had ri'tired to North Carolina, or were ser\ing in Sumter's arm\' : so that Ferguson had an excellent op|>ortnnity to drill his ni'w n,'cruits, an*, sujiport his men by |iillaging the peopie. Occasionally small parties of Whigs would \enture into the neighborhood — about often enough to ;ilTord the I'nemy good exercise in pursuing them w hile within striking distance.* vSuch an in\asion as Ferguson's, with its ti'rrors and aggravations, and the up-rising of the Tories in llu" wi'stciii part of Xorth Carolina, under the Moores. and l>ryan. soon led to blows, with all the sutVerings atti'udanl on war and *Saye's MSS., aiu. Meiiioh '•/ Mi Jinikhi. !l III! Ill 78 A'/¥G'S A/OUiYV'/l/JV cainau'c' Til harhai itu's im lod out to the Americans at Hiilorcrs (U'l't-at. ,sai"fastitall\- di'iioininatt'd liy tlu' Wliij^s as Tdrliioii' $ i/iK/r/crSy \v\\ naturally Il'IuU'cI to t'lnbilter tin- aniniositit'S ot" iIk' people. Tiie Moores were signally (lelea'ed, in June, at Ranisour's Mill, and Urxan and his tollowers sul)se(|uently drivi'n iVoni the country. A noted partisan ot' (ieornia. Colonel JCIijah Clarkt-. now eonies u|ion tlu- sei'ue. A nali\c' ol' Virginia, he earl\' siitled on the Paeolet, whence he ]-)ushed into Wilkes County. Georgia, where tin- Revolutionary out-break found liiin lie was one ot" those sturd}' patriots, well lilted lor a leader ot' the pi'ojile — oni' who woulil scorn to take protec- tion, or \ield one iota to arbitrary power. U'hen British detaclunents wen- sent into \arious parts oi Georgia, it became unsafe lor such unllinching Whigs as Clarke longer to remain there. IK' and his associates resoh'cd to scatter for a I'l'W days, \isit their families onci' mori>, and then rt'tirt' into .South Carolina, wlu-re they hoped to llnd otlu-r heroic sjiirits ready to co-o]ierati' with them in making a stand against the connnon enemv. .Some small parties had aln-adv left ( leorgia, and passing along (he western frontiers of South Carolina, had sought tlu' cam]-) of Colont'l CharU>s McDoWi'll, who was then embodying a forct' on the south- western borders of tlu' North Province. On tlu' eleventh of July, one hunchx'd anil forty well- mounted and w cll-iMnu'd men met at the appointed placi' of rendezvous: and, aftv'r crossing the Saxannah at a private ford in lln' night, llu'\' learni'd that the British and Loyalists wert' in force on their front. Clarke's men concluded that it would be hazardous to ccjntinue their retreat on that routt' ith their present numbers. As ihev weri- Nolunteers, and w not subject to coi'i I ion. Colonel Clarke was induced to retur n to Georgia, sull'er liis men to disperse for a while, and await a nion- favorable opjiorlunily to ri'Ui'w the enterprise. '^Fhe majority of the party returned. Colonel John Junes, of I3urke County, however, objected n\ AX/) J 'IS HEROES. 79 to a ri'trotrriuU' inoxoiiu'iil, and pi"()|)()si'il lo It-ad tliosi' who woiikl _i;'o willi him, i1ii"()iil;1i ihr woods to dir liordcrs ol North Carohiia. and join thi- Anu>ri(.-an loixc in thai (|nailrr. Thirty-live humi uniti-il witii liini, chdosinn' liim tor thfir loadi'r, and Joiin l^'ri'i'inan loi- srcond in loiinnand, |>ii'di;"- iny' inijilicit ohi'dii'iu'i- to tiirir orders. JnMijamin Law riMu-e, a snpi'rior woodsman, and wh'I! ar- of South Carolina, (luamti'd ni th tl u' countr\ , now jonu'd llir com]KUi\ , a ind rcn (KM\'d liu m vahiahle servioi' as tiieir miidi' V issmiT through a disalltnti'd region, tiioy ach'oitly |>almt'(l ihom- schcs oil" as a Lo^'aHst party, eni^aged in the Iving's ser- vice md. nnd(>r this liiiise. the\- wt>ri' in se\t'ral instanci' rurnislied with pilots, and tliri'Cted (Mi tluMr route. When the\- had passed the head-wati-rs ol" the Saluda, in the iiorth-eastcMTi part of die presi'iil county ol' (in-eii- ville, one ol hese uuuk'S mIoinuH 1 i: u'ln. that a parly o R I'lHMs Had the I ireii'ding ni^hl, allacked some Lo\ahsls a short distance in front, and deleati'd them — douJHless the IJritish repulse at Cedar Spring, as a!r(.>ad\' I'l'laU-d, and which occurrei'. some twi>ntv-livi" or ihirt}' miU's awa\ . [oiu-s I'xpri'ssed a wish to h I' conducU'd to tl le camp ol tiiose un- tortiinate Lo\aiisl liieiids, that he miiihl aid tluMii in lakinu" rex-eiiiie on those who sn( (1 the blood ot" the jn!"" s fail hful subjects. Alxuit eleven o'clock on ihal night, |ul\' thirteenth. Jones and his little party were conducted to the Loyalist camp, where sonu' IbrtN' men were collected lo pursue till- Americans who had n-treated lo llu> North. Choosing twenly-two of his Ibllowers, and leaving the bag- gage and horses in c-harge of tin- others. Colonel fones resolvtnl lo surprise the Tory camjK A|>pi-oaching llu' eiu'my with guns, swords, and lu'll-pistols, the\' tbund them in a state of s<>ir-seciirity, and generally aslei'p. '.'losing (juickly around them, they tired upon the camp, killing one and wounding three, when ihirtv-lwo, includiii" the wouncU ed, calli'd lor ijuarti-r, and surrendered. Destroxing the useless guns, aiul solocting the best horses, the Loval- ll'! 80 KING'S MOUNTAIN :1 ists were paroled as prisoners of war ; when tlie pilot, who did not disco\t'r llu' real character of the men he was conducting until loo late to have even attempted to jire- vent the consecpu-nces. was now required to guide the Americans to ICarK's Ford on North Pacolet river, where a junction was formed the tu'xt day with Colonel McDowell's forces. As McDowell had that day made a tedious march with his thr(>e hundred mi>n. they, too. were in a fatigued condition. Within striking distance of McDowell's camping ground, soini' Iwentv miles in a nearly soutlu-rn direction, was Prince's Fort, originalK a place of neighborhood resort in time of danger from the Indians, in the early settlement of the countrv. some twent}- }'ears before. This fort, now occu- pied by a British and Tory force, under Colonel Innes, was located upon a connnanding height of land, near the head of one of the liranclu's of the North Fork of TALjer, se\ I'n miles n(>rth of west from the present village of Spartanburg. Innes, unapprised of McDowell's approach, detached Major Dunlap. with sevt'uty dragoons, accompanied by Colonel Ambrose Mills, with a part}' of Loyalists, in pursuit of Jones, of whose audacious operations he had just received intelligence. McDowell's camp was on rising ground on the eastern side of tiie North Pacolet, in the present count}' of Polk, North Carolina, near the South Carolina line, and about twenty miles south-west of Rutherfordton : and Dunlap reiiching the vicinity on the (^pp(xsite side of the stream dur- ing the night, and supposing that Jones' party only was en- camped there, commenced crossing the river, which was narrow at that point, when an American sentinel fled to camp and gave the first notice of the enemy's presence.* Dunlap, with his Dragoons and To' -s. dashed instantlv. with drawn swords, among McDowell's men, while but few of them * McCall, in bis ffhl. of Georgia, asserts that the ■iciuiiiel fireil '.fis utin, but James ■I'hnMipson, one of Joseph MiDowell's party, states as in the ti-xt, whii-h seems to be cor- rubiirated by the complaint of Col. Hampton, and the sencral surprise of the camp. it ''^ir i AND ITS HEROES. 81 were yet roused out of sleep. The Georgians being nearest to the forr!, were the finst attacked, losing two killed and six wounded ; among the latter was Colonel Jones, who received eight cuts on his head rrt)m the enemy's sabres. Freeman, with the remainder, fell back about a hundred 3ards, where he joined Major Singleton, who was forming his men behind a fence; while Colonels McDowell and Hampton soon formed the main body on Singleton's right. Being thus rallied, the Americans were ordered to advance, when Dun- lap discovering his mistake as to their numbers, quickly re- treated across the river, which was fordable in many places, and retired without much loss ; its extent, however, was un- known, be\ ond a single wounded man who was left upon the ground. Besides the loss sustained by the Georgians, six of Mc- Dowell's men were killed, and twenty-four wounded. Among the killed were Noah Iliimpton, a son of Colonel Hampton, with a comrade named Andrew Dunn Young Hampton, when roused from his slumbers, was asked his name ; he simply replied " Hampton," one of a numerous family and connection of Whigs, too well known, and too active in opposition to British rule, to meet with the least forbearance at the hands of enraged Tories ; and though he begged for his life, they cursed him for a Rebel, and ran him through with a bayonet. Young Dunn also suffered the same cruel treatment. Colonel Hampton felt hard towards Colonel McDowell, his superior otllcer, as he wished to have placed videttcs beyond the ford, which McDowell opposed, believing it entirely unnecessary. Had this been done, due notice would in all probability have bc^n given, and most of the loss and saflerin^^n liL 1. 82 A'/.VC;\S M0L'X7'.l/N Till' ivason. pivsumablx , uliy Colonel McDowell was over-coniick'iu of security was. that he liad. the day before, detaclu'd his brother. Major Joseph McDowi'il, with a parl\- to two latter as military sec|uences of the former. First, the Tory attack on Colonel Thomas, at Cellar Spring, on the evening of the thirteenth of July ; then Colonel Jones' surprise of the remnant ot" this Loyalist party, on the night of llie tburteenth : antl fnially, the attack of Dunlap and Mills, in retaliation, on Colonel .McDowell's camp, at Earle'vS Ford of North Facijlet, on the night of the lifteenth. And in all three of these atfairs, the Tories got the worst of it. i \ McCaU's Georgia, ii, 312-13; and MS. pensimi statement of Jesse Nevillt;, one of Hampton's parly. It may not lie inappr(i|iriaie, in this connection, to ailil a few words relative to the liero of lliis conrageiuis exploit. Captain Hampton was a brother of I'olonels Waile. Richard, and Henry ll.inipton. of Snmter's army. He was a very active partisan, and reputed one of the hest horsemen of his lime. In May. 1775. with his hrotlier, I'reston Hainjiton, he was delegated hy ihe people of the frontiers ton I'amily, in the Afagnolia Magazine, June, 1843, with a continualion, which appeared in the Smith Carolina papers, in 1843, written by Colonel Wade Hampton, Sr., father of the present Senator Hampton, of that .State. iMi:; i| 84 KING'S MOUNTAIN CHAPTER V. ill III ^'"1!! t780— July August. McDowt'll scuds for the 07'ti-Mi>uittaiit Men. — Clarkf joins /liiii, and pushes on to Stinifrr's Camp. — Capture and Escape of Captain Patrick Moore. — Moore's Plunderers.— Story of Jane Mcfunkin and Pill IlaynesiLiorth. — .Shclliy and tlie Mountaineers arrii'c at McDouuirs Canip.— Capture of Tliicketty J-'ort. — Expedition to Brown's Creek and luiir l-'orest. — Eiii/it at the Peach Orchard, near Cedar Sprint^; and Wojford's Iron Works, ami its incidents. — .Saye's Account of the .Iction. — British Report. — Contradictory Statements concerning the Conjiict. WIk'H ColoiK'l McDowell bucanir lonvinci'cl that Fer- guson's movement to the north-western portion of South Carolina, ihrt-atc^ned tlie imasion of tlie North Province also, he not only promptly raised what force he could from the sparsely pojiulatcd settlements, on the heads of Catawba, Broad and Pacolet rivers, to take post in the enem3'\s front and watch his operations ; but dispatched a messenger with this alarming intelligence to Colonels John Sevier and Isaac Shelby, on Watauga and Ilolston, those over-mountain regions, then a portion of North Carolina, but now of East Ti'unessee : urging those noted border leaders to bring to his aid all the riflemen they could, and as soon as possible. Sevier, unable to leave his trontier exposed to the inroads of the Cherokees, responded at once to the appeal, by send- ing a part of his regiment under Major Charles Robertson ; and Shelby, being more remote, and having been absent on a surveying tour, was a few days later, but joined McDow- ell, at the head of two hundred mounted riflemen, about the twenty-fifth of July, at his camp near the Cherokee Ford of Broad river. Iiawili:! •!! AND ITS JlEKOr.S. Sf) Colonel Clarkc> did not long ivmain in Georjjia. While then;, \\v and his associatt's were necessarily compelled to secrete themselves in the woods, privately supplied with food bv their friends. This mode of life was irksome, and soon ht'caiiu' almost insiipportahli', without the least prosjiect of aeeomplishiui;" anylliinj4" beneticial to the pul)lic. The retji- ment was re-assem'oletl, in auifuu'iited numln'rs, when, by a general desire, Colonel Clark*.' leil tiiem alon<^ the eastern slope ol' the mountains, directinij their course towards North Carolina, wlu-ri' tlH>y could unite with others, and render their services uset'ul to their country. Without mis- hap or ad\t'nture. thev were joined b\' Coloni'l Jones, as they neared the rei,non where tluw expt-cted to thid friends in the field. Clarke was soon after joined by the brave Ca|i- tain James McCall. with a])oul twenl\ men, iVom the region of Ninety Six. T'or want of confidence in Ccjlonel Mc- Dowell's actixity, or from some otlu-r cause, Clarke pushed on, and joinetl Sumter on or near the Catawba. The story of the captivity of Captain Patrick Moore, a noted Loyalist, now claims our attention. lie had probably escaju'd from liu> slaughter at Ramsour's Mill, on the twentieth of June, when his lirother. Colonel John Moore safel)' retired to Camden. Anxious lor the capture of Cap- ,, tain Moore, Major Jose])h Dickson and Captain Wittk«o-tAtA«-^ Johnston were sent out, in the fore part of J 'y, with a party to apprehend this noted Tory leader, and others of his ilk, if thi'y couhl be founil. "^riie veteran Captain Samuel Martin, who had ser\ed in tlie old Fn^nch and Indian war, was one of the partv. On Lawson's Fork, of Pacolet river, near the Old Iron Works, since Bivingsville, and now known as Glendale.* the parties met. and a skirmish ensued, in which Captain Johnston and the Tory leader had a personal rencontre. Moore was at length *Glenclali! is Incited on the Southern side of Lawson's Fork, while the Old Iron Works were on the same hank, fully half a mile above, where tlie old road once crossed the stream. " These Works.'says Mills, in iSl'6 " were burnt by the Tories, and never rebuilt. " IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1.4 22 IIM 1.6 VQ > c^. ">/ > rm ^ .'>' ^.^^.'^' d? / /A iV .> <.o^ \ \ *> K %^l^ ^^\ '^^ TV ^.^'4!'> % n? ^^ s^ r^^ t^ S^ Mi>.. % ,.I ( 86 KING 'S MO UNTA FN overpowered and captured ; but in the desperate contest, Johnston received several sword wounds on his head, and on the thumb ot'his riglit liand. While bearing his prisoner towards the Wliig lines, a slioit distance away, he was rap- idly approached by several British troopers. Qiiickh- attempting to lire his loaded musket at his pursuers, it unfor- tunatel}'^ missed, in consequence of the blood flowing from his wounded thumb, and wetting his priming. This mis- fortune on his part enabled his prisoner to escape ; and, perceiving his own dangerous and defenceless condition, he promptly availed himself of a friendly thicket at his side, eluded his pursuers, and shortly after joined his command.* At this time, or soon after, Moore had command of Fort Anderson, or Thicketty Fort, as it was more generally called, situated a quarter of a mile north of Goucher Creek, and two and a half miles above the mouth of this small water-coiu'se, which empties into Thicketty Creek, a west- ern tributary of Broad river, uniting with that stream a lew miles above its junction widi Pacolet. It was a strong for- tress, built a few years before for defence against the Chero- kees, and wao surrounded by a strong abatis, well litted for a vigorous defence. It became a great place of resort and protection for Tory parties. They would sally forth from Thicketty Fort, and plunder Whig families in every direc- tion — so that women and children were often left without clothing, shoes, bread, meat, or salt. In the absence of Captain Nathaniel Jeffries, of that region, one of these phmdering parties \isited his house, appropriated such articles as thev chose, built a tire on the floor, abused Mrs. JeflVies as the meanest of all Rc'bels, and drove off the horses and cattle. On another occasion, the house of Samuel Mcjunkin. in Union District, a warm patriot, but too oUl for active military service, was visited by a p;irty under Patrick Moore. Thev stayed all ♦Hunter's Sketches rf ll',s/,-rii Xoit/t Cdrolhin. 24-'; .MS. I'cnsidii SlatcniLiu uf Cap- tain Samuel Martin. AND ITS If/'. ROES. 87 night ; and, when about to cU'part, stripped the family of Ix'd-clotliL's and wearing apparel. A noted Tory, Jiill Ilaynesworth, seized a bed-quilt, and placed it upon his horse, when iMcJunkin's sturdy daughter, Jane, snatched it, and a struggle ensued for the possession. The soldiers anuised themselves by exclaiming — " Well done, woman !" — "Well done. Bill ! " For once Moore's gallantry predomi- nated over his loveof plunder ; and he swore roundly if Jane could take the quilt from Ilaynesworth, she should have it. Presently in the fierce contest, Bill's feet came in contact with some dirt\- slime in the yard, and slipped from under him, and he lay prostrate and panting on the ground. Jane, quick as thought, placed one foot upon his breast, and wresting the quilt from his grasp, retired in triumph, while poor Bill sneaked otT defeated and crest-fallen. This brave woman was the sister of Major Mcjunkin. Nor was Miss Nanc\^ Jackson, who lived in the Irish Settlement, near Fair Forest creek, less demonstrative in defence of her rights ; for she kicked a Toiy down the stairs as he was descending,, loaded with plunder. In his rage, he tlu-eatened to send the Hessian troops there the next day. which obliged the heroic girl to take refuge with an acquaintance several miles distant.* The intrepid Sumter, hearing of Ferguson's inroads beyond Broad river, directed Colonel Clarke and his Georgians, together with such persons in his camp as resided in that region, and dt'sired to aid in its protection, to repair to that quarter. Captain William Smith, of Spartanl)urg. and his com]iany. availed them.selves of this privilege. Arriving at llie Cherokee Ford, they mef. Colo- nel McDowell, when Colonel Shelby, together with Colonel Clarke, Colonel Andrew Hampton and Major Charles Robertson, of Sevier's regiment, were detached with six hundred men, to surprise Thicketty Fort, some twenty •MS. S.-,ye papers; S^.ycs Memoir of M,J„nkh, ^ Mr.,. Kllcl ^ H\n„en of the Kevolu- lion, 1 .ii>a. ■ ■5 J 88 KING'S MOUNTAIN miles distant. They took up the line ol marcla at sunset, and surrounded the post at day -break tlie next morning. Colonel Shelby sent in Captain William Cocke, a volun- teer — in after years, a United States Senator from Ten- nessee — to make a peremptory demand for the surrender of the garrison ; to which Moore replied that he would defend the place to the last extremity. Shelby then drew in his lines to within musket shot of the enemy all around, with a full determination to make an assault. Shelby's gallant '* six hundred " made so formidable an appearance, that on a second message, accomjianied, we may well suppose, with words of intimidation. Moore, per- haps fearing another Rambour's Mill onslaught, relented, and proposed to surrender, on condition that the garrison be paroled not to serve again during the war, imless exchanged, which was acceded to — the more readily, as the xVmeri- cans did not care to be encumbered with prisoners. Thus ninety-three Loyalists, with one British Sergcant-^^aior, stationed there to discipline them, surrendered themselves without firing a gun ; and among the trophies of \ictory were two hundred and fifty* stand of arms, all loaded with ball and buck-shot, and so arranged at the port-holes, with their abundant supplies, that they could, had a Ferguson, '' Dunlap, or a De Peyster been at their head, have resisted double the number of their assailants. f Among the spoils taken at King's Mountain, was th-* fragment of a letter, without date or signature — probably a *This is Shelby's stntcmcnt ; the MS. Cocke papers s.iy "one hiiinirecl anj fifty stand of arms were taken." tThe leading f.uts relative to the capture of Thickctty Fcrt are taken from Haywood's History of Tentuss,','. 64; Ramsey's Annals 0/ Vfiiiirssi-e, 214; Memoir of Sh'.lhy, in X,xli\>nnl Portrait Galhry. written by Colonel Charles S Todd Shelby's s'.n inlaw, .tnd which appeared, revised, in the Wcsinn Monthly Magizine. in i8j6; Urea/cales Lift as it Is. 50— all which statements closely folKiw a MS, acconnt written by Shelby himself; MS. 5t,itcment, preserved among the Save papers of John Jeffrie-, son of the phiiidered woman mentioned in the narrative; MS papers of Hon, William C'orke fnrnish the name of the fort; MS. pension statements of Willi im Smith, of Lincoln conniy. Tennessee. .Alex. Mc- Fadden, of Knthcrford county. North Carolina, and John Clark, of W,ishingloii county, Tennessee, corrob iraling, ii .1 general way, the facts of the capture; nnd in a personal interview with Silas Mcllee. of Pontotoc county. Mississippi, in 1842. he confirmed Shelby's statement that ninety-four was the number of Moore's party captured. Mcllee hvedon Thickettv at the time of the capture of .Moore and his men. AND ITS HEROES. 89 copy of a dispiitcli from I"\'rgi'.s(>n to Lord Cornwallis — in which this account is given of Thicketty Fort, Moore, antl his surrender of the phice : " It had an upper Hue of" hiop- holes, and was surrounded In' a very strouL;; abatis, witli only a small wicket to enter by. It had been put in thor- ough repair at the request of the j^arrison, which consisted of neighborin:^ militia tiiat had come to [tlie fort] : and was defended bv eighty men against two or threi- lunulred ban- ditti without cannon, and each man was of opinion that it was impossible [for the Rebels to take it. 1 The ollicer next in command, and all the others, gave their opinion for de- fending it. and agree in their account that Patrick Moore, after proposing a surrender, accpiiesced in their opinion, and offered to iro and siiinifv as mucli to the Ri>bels. but re- turned with some Rebel odlcers, whom he put in possession of the gate and place, who were instantly followed by their men, and the fort full of Rebels, to the surprise of the gar- rison, lie plead cowardice, I understand.!" The capture of Thicketty Fort occurri'd on Sunday, the thirtieth of July, as the connecting circumstances indicate, and Lieutenant Allaire's Diary proves. Shelby and his miMi. loat'ed with the spoils of \ ictory. returned at once to McDowelTs camji near the Cherokee Ford. McDowell's force at this time could not have exceeded a thousand men, whik' Ferguson's nuisl have reached lifteen to cigliteen hundred. It was, therefore, the policy of the Ameri- cans to maintain their position near Cherokee Ford, guard against surprise, and harass their adversaries, until they should be able, with augmented numbers, to expel them from the country. Shortly after the Thicketty expedition, Colonel McDowell again detached Colonels Shelbv. and Clarke, with Colonel William Graham, with ;' combined force of six hundred momit(>d men. to watch the movements of Ferguson's troojis. aiul w tu'ne\er jiossible. to cut otf his foraging parties. They directed their course down Broad f Ramsey's Tt'fnwssei', 215. ^:-'- 90 KING'S MOUNT ATM rive." some twenty-live miles to Urown's creek, in now Union county, where it was agret'd lluy should assemble, and which was a better situation tiuin die Cherokee Ford, to observe the operations of the British and Tories. But when only a lew of the parties faii'v began to collect at that point, a superior force of the enemy torced them to retire, when they bore olF some thirt}- or forty miles to the ujiper portion of the Fair Forest settlement, within the present limits of Spartanburg". On the way, they seem to have gptten their force together. By watching their op- portunity, the}' hoptul to gain some decided advantage over their oppt)nents, whom they well knew the}- would encounter in large numbers in that quarter. Hearing of these bold Rebel troopers, Ferguson uuule several in- effectual attempts to siu-prise them. But our frontier heroes were too watchful to be caugiil napping. Clarke and Shelly-, with their men. were constantly on the alert — hav- ing no lixed camp, so that they were dillicult to lind. On tl J evening of August seventh', Clarke and vShelby, with then- troops, stopped tor refreshnn-ul — and, if not dis- turbed, for a night's repose — on Fair Forest creek, nearly two miles west of Cedar Spring, at a point where the old road crossed that stream, leading .hence to Wollbrd's Iron Works, and thence onward to the Cherokee Ford. Several trusty scouts were sent out to make discoveries, who re- turned before day the next morning, with the intelligence that the enemy were within half a mile of them. About the same moment, the report of a gun was heard, in the direction of the liritish party, which was afterward ascer- tained to have been fu'ed by one of Dunlap's men — one who telt some compunctions of conscience at the idea of surpris- ing and massacring his countrymen, but who. protesting that it was accidental, was not suspected of treachery. The Americans, from prudential motives, retreated toward the old Iron Works, on Lawson's Fork of Pacolet, leaving Cedar Spring apparently a mile to the right : and taking AND ITS HEROES. 91 position not very far from tlio old orcliard on the Thompson place, which was some three or four miles from the ford over Fair Forest, and something like a mile and a half from the Iron Works, and about a mile from Cedar Spring. 1 lere @ SPARTANBURG W PLAT OF REGION NEAR CKDAR SPRING. A— Thomp';on's Plare nnti Pc:n-li Orchard. R —Where one part of the hattle is said tn have hoeii fn\iglit. C — Ohl Iron Works, D — Gleiulale or niviiigsville. E— Peach Tree Grave. K — Pacolct Hill. G — Cedar Spring. suitable ground was chosen, and the men formed for battle, when the spies came running in with the information that the enemy's horse were almost in sight. Before their re- tirement from their former temporary camp at Fair Forest, Josiah Culbertson, one of the bravest of young men. who had recenUy joined Shelby, had obtained permission to return home, two or three miles distant on Fair Forest, spend the night, and make such observations as he might, of an\' enem\' in that quarter. About da^-light the next morning, he rode fearlessly into the encampment he had lelt the evening before, supposing it still to be occupied 02 K/NG'S MOUNTAIN HI m ii In !iis Anicrican friciuls. iiol knowing" that thc}' had dc- cumpi'd. and Diinlap had just taki-ii posst'ssion of it. Hul Cull^iTtson was c{(ual to tlic oiiu igoncy, for, st'i'inif cvcry- iWnv^ so ditlrri'tit from what it was tht- prrvious t-vi'tiinj^, he was ([iiick to (HscoNcr his mistake : and with i-xtraorcUnarv coolness and presence of mind, hi' rock' \erv leisureh' out of the encampment, with his trusty rilk- resting on the pom- mel of his saddle before him. As lie passed ak)niL;'. he ol)- ser\ed the drairoons jiettin*'- ihi-ir horses in readiness, and makin- ment before his fellows. But when out of sii;ht, lu' ilaslied oir with good speed in the direction he inferred that Clarke and Shelby had gon(\ and soon overtook his friends, and found they had chosen their ground, and were prepared for the onslaught. Major Dunlap was an ofllcer of much energy and promptitude, and soon n^ade his appearance, with a strong force, part Colonial dragoons and part mounted militia, and commenced the conilict. The Whigs were as eag(M- for the fray as the over-confident Britons. The action lasted half an hour, and was severely contested. Dun- lap's mounted volunteer ritlemen, it is said, who were in front, recoiled, giving back at the very first fire of their op- ponents, and their commander found it difilcult to rally them. 1 laving at length succeeded, he placed himself at the head of his dragoons, and led them on to renew the contest, followed by the mounted rifiemen, who were, how- ever, averse to coming into ^ery close quarters. Dunlap's dragoons, with their broad-swords, played a prominent part in the action ; and from the disproportion of Tories killed over the dragoons, according to the British account, which is doubtful, it would appear that Clarke and Shelby's rifle- men must have been busy in picking them oil'. During the^ %M AND ITS HEROES. 93 mi'ntioned the circunibtancL! of liis Cfiisinjjf, in the midst of tlae hattle, to witness, with astoiiislimeiit and admiration, the remarkable and unequal struggle Clarke was maintaining with his foes. In the fierce hand-to-hand contest, he re- ceived two sabre wounds, one on the back of his neck, and the other on his head — his stock-buckle saving his life ; and he was even, for a few minutes, a prisoner, in charge of two stout IJrilons ; but, taking advantage of his strength and activit}-, he knocked one of lliem down, when the other quickly lied out of the reach of this famous back-woods Titan. Clarke was every inch a hero, and was indebted to his own good paick and prowess for his escape from his enemies, with only sliglit wounds, and the loss of his hat, in the iiiiidc* Culbertson, with his characteristic daring, had a personal adventure worthy of notice. Meeting a dragoon, some distance from support, who imperiously demanded his sur- render, the intrepid American replied by whijiping his rifle to his shoulder and felling the haughty Ih'iton from his horse. When the dead were buried the next day, this dragoon was thrown into a hole near where he lay, and covered with earth, lie happened to have at the time some peaches in his pocket, from which a peach tree grew, and for many years after, bore successive crops of Iruit. The grave is yet pointed out, but the peach tree has long since disappeared. A worthy person m that region receiul\- died ni'arly a hundred years of age, who used to relate that he had, in early life, eaten tVuit trom that tree.f The graves of some twenty or thirty others, who tell in this engagement, says Governor Perry, were yet to be seen as late as 1842. * McCall miMitinns that ("nloiiel CInrku and his son were wounded boili at WcifTord's lri>n Works and at Miisgrove s. giving the particidars as occniriiig at the hitler; while Shelby notices their Slaving been wounded only at the former, instancing his heroic ren- contre there ; and an eye-witness. William Smith, of Tennessee, relates that Clarke received a sword wound in the neck, and lost his hat near WofTord's, returning to McDowell's camp bare-headed. fMS, letters of N. F. Walker, Esq., of Cedar Sprinjj, June 15th and July 7th, 1880. 94 KING'S MOUNTAIN It is qiu'stionab'i'. liowevcr, il'so tiumy, on both sides, were killed ill \\\v action.* I5y sonic adroit nianaii;i'tnont, a number of British pris- oiuM's were captureil, and at U'li^lli Dutilap was In-aten back with considerable loss. Mills stati's that he was pur- sued a mile, but eould not be overtaken. About two miles below till' battle-nround, Dunlap's ru at the pi>ach-orchard. was probalily but one of thi- ej)isodes of that day's hemic exploits, and yet it may have been the jirincipal one : Shelby's Ibrce occupied a position lU'ar the present site of l)ivingsville. Various attein|ns wei-e made to tall u|i(in llu- Americans by snrj-)risc> ; but thi'se schemes were baHU'd. About Ibur miles I'rom Spartanburg Court House, on the main road to rnionville, is an ancient plantation known as •Thompson's Old I'lace.' It is an elevated tract of country, lying between the tribu- tarii's of h'air I'orest Ci\H'k on oiu- side, and those ot Law- son's l"'()rk ot' Pacolet on tlu> other — ami about michvay between Cedar Spring and the Iron Works. A road leading iVom North Carolina to Georgia, by the way of the Cherokee I'ord of l>road river, passed through this place, and thence by or lu-ar the Cedar Spring. A person passing from the direction of luiionvilK' towards Spartanburg Court House, crosses this ancii-nt highway, after passing which, by looking to the right, the eye rests upon a parcel o!' land extending down a holk)w, which was cleared and planted in fruit trees jirior to the Revolutionary war. T?ey(Mul this hollow, jasi where the road enters a body of woodland, there are yet some traces of a human habitation. In this orchard, two patrol parties met from the adverse armies. The party trom Dunlap's camp were in the orchard gathering peaches : the Libertv men tired on them, and drove them ("rom the place. In turn, the victors entered the orchard, but the report of their guns brought out * MS notes of conversations with the late Colonel GcorRe Wilson, of Nashville. T<-n- nessee, who derived the facts from his father-in-law, Alexander Orcer. cine i.f Major Rohertson's men on the expedition MS. letters of Hon. Simpson Hobo and A, II. Twichell. showing the locality of the 1'" olct hill. :lJt {JO A'/ATG'S MOUNTAIN II a stronj^ dotachniiMit from the Cedar Spring, as well as a iH-infoiveiiU'iU iVotn Slu'lby. Tlie commaiuler of the patrol, wlu'U lie saw the enemy approacliing, drew up his men under cover of the fence along the ridge, just where the old Held and woodland now meet, and where traces of an old residence are now barely visible. Here he awaited their approach. The onset was furious, but vigorously met. The conflict was uuiintained against fearful odds till the arrival of reinforcements from Shelby's camp. The scale now turned, and the assailants now fell back. The whole force of Shelby and Clarke were soon in battle array, confronted by the whole British advance, numbering six or seven lum- dred men. The struGf'de was renewed with redoubled furv. The Liberty men drove back their foes, when the whole British army came up. A retreat was now a matter of necessity. Such is the local tradition; but local tradition, especially in this case, is I'xtremely liable to error and con- fusion, from the fact that but lew of the people of that quar- ter were present in the action — for the actors were mostly from other States, and probably strangers to the neighbor- hood, '^riuis far, Mr. Sa3'e's narrative. Onl\- two British accouiUs of the action at Cedar Spring have come to our knowledge — one bears date Savannah, Georgia, August twenty-fourth, 1780. It appeared in Riv- mgton's XciL' I'ork Royal (ra:ctlt'^ of Septetuber fourtt-enth, copied into the London Chronicle, of No\ember sixteenth, ensuing. It has every appearance of being a one-sided and diminuitve statement of tin' afTair : '• We learn from Augusta, that a Captain of the Qiieen's Rangers, with twenty-four dragoons, and about thirty militia, lately charged about three hundred Rebels above Ninet}' Six. Whilst they were engaged, Colonel Ferguson happily got up with some men to the assistance of our small party, which obliged the enemy to take to their heels. Fifty of the Rebels were killed and wounded ; a Major Smith was among the slain, 'f. !. m'M AhW rrs HEROES. 97 and a Lifiitcnaiit-Cokjiiel Clarke was wouiulod, and iliod noxt dav. Our loss is said to be one dragoon and seven militia killed." Allaire supplies the other account : " Got to the ground the Rebels were encamped on, at four o'clock on Tuesday morning, August eighth. They had intelligence of our move, and were likewise iilarmed by the firing of a gun in our ranks ; they sneaked from their ground about half an hour before we arrived. Learning that the Rebel wagons were three miles in front of us at Cedar Springs, Captain Dunlap, with fourteen mounted men, and a iuindred and thirtv militia, were dispatched to take the wagons. lie met three Rtbels coming to reconnoitre our camp ; he pursued, took two of them, the other escaped, giving the Rebi'ls the alarm. In pursuit of this man, Dunlap and his party rushed into the centre of the Rebel camp, where they lay in ambush, before he was aware of their presence. A skirmish ensued, in which Dunlap got slightly wounded, and had between twenty and thirty killed and wounded — Ensign McFarland and one private caken priso lers The Rebel loss is uncertain — a Major Smith, Captain Potts, and two privates were left dead on the lield. Colonel Clarke, Johnson [Robertson.] and twenty privates were seen wounded. We pursued them live miles, to the Iron Works ; but were not able to overtake them, they being all mounted." Among the slain was Major Hurweli Smith, who had contributed greatly to the settlement of the frontier portion of Georgia, where he liad been an activt' and successful partisan in Indian warfare, and his fall was deeply lamented by Colonel Clarke and his associates. Captain John Potts* and Thomas Scott were also among the slain. Besides Colonel Clarke's slight wounds with a sabre. Major Charles Robertson, a volunteer Irom the Watauga troops, and Cap- ''This is stuted on the authority of Coh)Mol Graliam. who pnrticlpnteil in the action, corrohorateil liy Lieutenant Allaire's Pi.try, A. H. Twli-hell, I'.sq , ctobcr 2d, 1842, \\ ■■■ \ , 100 KING'S MOUNTAIN tially, by stating that it was "several liours" after the action before Ferguson, with his combined force, came in sight, when Shelby and his men precipitately retired. Precisel}' where the tight took place has also been a subject of dispute — the result, no doubt, of the general vagueness of the descriptions. Mills says it occurred at tlie Green Springs, meaning Cedar Spring, near Woftbrd's old Iron Works ; Shelby says a' Cedar Spring, as does Samuel Espy, of North Carolina, who was also in the action. Had these two men, and Mills' informant, stated the locality with more exactitude, they might, and probably would, have said, that they named the Cedar Spring as a permanent landmark, near which the contest transpired, and so located it — the same as Gates' defeat is frequently referred to as having occurred at Camden, when it really took place some seven miles distant. Colonel Graham, one of the prominent officers in that affair, refers to it as " at Wotlbrd's Iron Works ;" Alexander McFaddcn. a survivor of the contest, speaks of it as "the battle of Wofford's Iron Works ;" while McCall, the historian, says the enemy pur- sued the Americans "to Wofford's Iron Works, where they chose their ground, and awaited the attack." W^illiam Smith, of Tennessee, another survivor of the contest says, " we had a battle near WofTord's Iron Works ; " and Captain William Smith, of Spartanburg, who was an intelligent officer in the fight, and resided within a few miles of the battle-ground the most of his long lite, states that the contest took place " near the old Iron Works." His son, Hon. John Winsmith, in a historical address he made at Cedar Spring, in 1855, and verbally repeated to the writer in 1871. describes the hill, tlien covered w'th timber, nearly half a mile north-east of Cedar Spring, as the Ii>cality of the battle. It is possible that the first half-hour's contest, where Clarke had his desperate personal rencontre with unequal odds, may have taken place near this hill, as Dr. Winsmith believes. " On this locality," says N. F. Walker, AND ITS HEROES. 101 " within m}' recillection, a muskot-barrel was found, and near where we think tlie dead were buried."* But as Cedar Spring seems not to have been on the old route pursued by the contending parties, the weiglit of evidence, and all the circumstances, go to show that die chief flighting was "near the old Iron Works," as Captain \\'illiam Smith positively asserts. Mr. Saye's traditions of the neighborhood, collected there prior to 1848, fix the locality of, at least, one portion of the con- test, at the old orchard on the Thompson place, between the Cedar Spring and the old Iron Works, about one mile from the former, and nearly two from the latter. The fact that the graves of the Tory dead, including the one from which the peach tree sprimg, are near the old Tliompson orchard, and between it and Cedar Spring, sufficiently attest tlie locality where, at least, the principal part of this notable passage at arms occurred. More space has been devoted to these two somewhat blended aflairs — the one at the Cedar Spring, where Colo- nel Thomas repulsed the enemy, and the other near Thomp- son's peach-orchard — than, perliaps, their real importance in history would seem to warrant. At the period of their occurrence, they exerted a marked influence on the people of the upper region of Carolina, as demonstrating what brave and determined men could accomplish in defense of their own and their country's rights ; and how successfully they could meet an insolent foe, alike in ambush, or on the battle-field. As no contemporary- records of these events have come down to us, save the vague and unsatisfactory Bridsh ones which we have given entire, and the tradition- :UT accounts have become more or less intermixed and con- fused, it seemed proper to sift them as thoroughly as possi- ble, and present the simple narrative of the occurrences as the facts seem to indicate. ♦It may well have been at this hill where the previous Tory attack was made on Colonel Thomas. It was a fit place, then covered with timber, to have formed his success- ful ambuscade d\ It if ff 102 KING'S MOUNTAIN The difficulty has hitherto heen, on the part of histori- cal writers, in attempts to blend the two affairs, when the time, details, and different commanding otlicers, all go very clearly to prove that they were entirely distinct, and had no connection whatever with each other. It is due to the Rev. Mr. Saje, to state that he was the first person who discovered the incongruity of applying the details to a sin- gle action ; but he was unable to fix their respective dates, or determine which took the precedence of the other in point of time. McCalls Ilisiory of Georgia has furnished the key to unlock the ditliculty with reference to the time of the attack on Thomas' force at Cedar Spring, and all the circumstances go to confirm it ; while the hitherto unpub- lished Diary of Lieutenant Allaire determines tlie date of' the affair near Wofford's Iron Works.* *The authorities consulted i'l the preparation of this notice of the action near Cedar Spring and WolToid's Iron Works, are; McCall's Georgia, ii, 314; Haywood's Tenmssie. 64-65; Mills' Sluiisii'ts c/ South Carolina, 256.738-39; Todd's l\Iemoir of Shelby : Governor Perry's account in the Magnolia Magazine, August, 1842 ; New York Royal Cazittc. Sep- tember 14th, 1780; Lotidon Ckivniclf. November lOth, 1780; Saye's Memoir of Mijunkir.. and the Sayi; MSS ; MiiS. of L)r. John H. Logan ; Allaire's MS. Diary; Win.«mitli's Ad- drtss, 1853; together with the MS. pension statements of Colonel William Graham, Cap- tain William Smith, of Spartanburg, Samuel Espy, Alexander McKadden, and William Smith, of Tennessee, all participants in the action ; also MS. notes of conversations with ColoTie) George Wilson, of Tennessee. 1 am indebted to N. F. Walker, Esq., of Cedar Spring, and A. H. Twichcll. Esq., of Glendale, for traditions, and descriptions of the localities cnnnerled with the battle and the retreat. Ramaay, Moultrie. Lee's A!eMioir\ Johnson's Greene, and other early writers, do not oven notice this action; nor such modern historians as Bancroft, Hildreth, and Stevens. Lossing. Wheeler, Simms. Ramsey's Tennessee, and O'Neall's Newberry briefly refer to it ; while Mrs. Ellet, in her Women c/ the Revolution, and her Domestic History 0/ the Rei'o- lution, simply copies from Mills, misapplying the story of Mrs. Ddlard's adventure. I have not cited what passes for Colonel Hammond^, .ccount of the battle, in a new.s- paper series, and also in Johnson's Traditions 0/ the Revolution, simply because he could not liave written it; but it was evidently mannfictured from Mills' Statistics, with some imaginary intcrlardings, to give it a new appearance. Dawson, in his I^attles 0/ the United' States^ has given a chapter on this affair, based on the pretended Hammond narrative. AND lis HEROES. 103 CHAPTER VI. 1780— August 18. Musgrovcs Mill Expedition and Battle. — Rencontre of the Patrol Par- ties. — British Alarm. — Information of the Enemy's Reinforcement. — IVhigs throw up Breast-works.— Captain Inman's Stratagem. — Enemy Drawn into the Net prepared for them. — Desperate Fight- ing. — Innes and other British Leaders IVoiinded. — Tory Colonel Clary's Escape. — Captain Inman Killed. — The Retreat and the Rout. — Incidents at the Ford. — Sam Moore's Adventure. — The Brit- ish and Tory Reserve. — A British Patrol Returns too late to share in the Battle. — Burial of the slain. — Length and severity of the Action. — Respective Losses. — News of Gates' Defeat — its Influence. — Whigs' Retreat. — Anecdote of Paul Hinson. — 77/^? Prisoners. — Williams' Re- ward. — Cornwallis' Confession. — Comparison of Authorities. Returning from their Fair Forest expedition, Clarke and Shelby's men needed a little repose. McDowell soon after removed his camp from the Cherokee Ford, taking post, some ten miles below, on the eastern bank of Broad River, at Smith's Ford. By his faithful scouts, Colonel McDowell was kept well informed of Ferguson's movements and out-posts. Learning that a body of some two hundred Loyalists were stationed at Musgrove's Mill, some forty miles distant on the Enoree, to guard the rocky ford at that place, it w'as regarded as a vulnerable point — all the more so, since Ferguson, with his main force, was stationed considerably in advance, between that place and the American encampment, thus tending to lull into security those in their rear. The term of enlistment of Colonel Shelby's regiment was about to expire, and that enterprising officer was desirous of engaging in another active service before retir- ing to his home on the Holston. Colonels Shelbv and 104 KING'S MOUNTAIN Clarke were appointed to lead a party of mounted men to surprise or attack the Loyalists at MusLjrove's. Witli Clarke was Captain James McCall and Captain Samuel I lammond. Colonel James Williams, whose home was in that region, but who had been driven from it, had, on the sixteenth of August, joined McDowell with a few Ibliowers — prominent among whom wereColonel Thomas Brandon, Colonel James Steen, and Major Mcjunkin ; and these united with Shelby and Clarke, together with several other experienced oflicers, who volunteered to share in the enterprise, among whom were Major Joseph McDowell, the brother of the Colonel, Captain David Vance, and Captain Valentine Sevier, and with the latter, a number of Watauga and Nolachucky rifle- men. It was largely rumored, that a military chest was either at Musgrove's, or was being conveyed from Ninety Six to Ferguson's camp ; and the Whigs hoped to intercept it on the way. Whatever influence this prospect of obtaining British treasure may have exerted on the volunteers, as we hear no more of the chest, we may conclude that it was a camp 3'arn, gotten up for the occasion ; or, if a reality, it certainly eluded the grasp of the adventurers. Secrec}' and dispatch were necessary to success. A night march was therefore chosen, when less likely to be observed, and cooler for the horses to travel, Shelb}- and his two hundred adventurous followers left camp an hour before sun-down, on the seventeenth of August. Williams, Brandon, and their men, were well acquainted with the country, and knew the best route to effect their purpose. They traveled through die woods until dark, when they fell into a road, and proceeded on all night, much of the way in a canter, and without making a single stop — crossing Gilkv's and Thicketty creeks, Pacolet, Fair Forest, and Tyger, with other lesser streams, and passing within three or four miles of Ferguson's camp on their left, which was, at this time, at Fair Forest Shoal, in Brandon's settlement. AXD ITS JIERO/iS. 105 •* ; some t\vcnt\-si\ miles from Smith's Ford ; and from Fair Forest Shoal, it was slill twelve or fourteen miles to Mus- grove's. It was a hard night's ride. Arriving, near the dawn of day, within a mile nearly north of Miisgrove's Ford, tiie Whig parly halted at an old Indian iield, and sent out a party of live or six scouts to reconnoitre the situation. They crossed the mouth of Cedar Shoal Creek, close to the Spartanhurg line, a short distance below Musgrove's Mill, and then passed up a by-road to Head's Ford, a mile above IMusgrove's, where they forded the Enoree, and stealthily approached sufliciently near the Tory camp to make observations. Returning the same route, \vhen on the top of the river ridge, west of Cedar Shoal creek, they encountered a small Tory patrol, which had passed over at Musgrove's Ford, during their absence above, and thus gained their rear. A sharp firing ensued, when one of the enemy was killed, two wounded, and two fled precipitately to the Tory camp. Two of the Ameri- cans were slightly wounded, who, with their fellows, now promptly returned to Shelby and Clarke's halting place, with the intelligence they had gained, and the particulars of their skirmish. This firing, and the speed}' arrival of the two patrol- men, put the Tory camp in wild commotion. Colonel Innes, Major Fraser, and other officers who had their head- quarters at Edward Musgrove's residence, held a hurried council. Innes was for marching over the river at once, and catching the Rebels before they had time to retreat ; while others contended for delay, at least till after break- fast, by which time, it was hoped, a part}' of one hundred mounted men, who had gone on a patrol, eight miles below, near Jones' Ford, would return, and thus add very materi- ally to their strength. But Innes' counsels prevailed, lest they should miss so fine an opportunity "to bag" a scurvy- lot of ragamuffins, as they regarded the adventurous Ameri- cans. So leaving one hundred men in camp as a reserve, ilMfl n lOH KING'S MOUNTAIN If 1 H i. I i preparations wore made for an immediate advance to meet the unexpected invaders. Meanwhile, Shelhy and Chirke had taken position on a timbered rid^^e, some little distance east of Cedar Shoal creek, and within about half a mile of Musj»"rove's Ford and Mill. At this juncture, a countryman, who lived near by, came up, ^ivin<( information that the IJritish had been rein- forced the precedin<^r i:venin<^, by the arrival of Colonel Alexander Junes, from Ninety Six, with two hundred men of the Provincial regiments, and one hundred Tories, des- tined to join Colonel Ferguson. A British writer represents, that Innes' detachment consisted of a light infantry com- pany of the New Jersey Volunteers, under Captain Peter Campbell ; a company of De Lancey's Provincial Battalion, under Captain James Kerr, together with about one hundred mounted men of his own regiment, the South Carolina Royalists. This could not have included the regular garri- son previously stationed there, apparently under the com- mand of Major Fraser. Captain Abraham Ue Peyster, of the King's American regiment, as well as the noted Loyalist partisan, Captain David Fanning, were also there; while Colonel Daniel Clary was encamped there, at the head of the Tories of that region. So minute were the circumstances of the information communicated by the countryman, that no doubt was enter- tained of its truth ; and to march on and attack the enemy appeared rash, and to attempt a successful retreat, wearied and broken down as the horses were, seemed almost im- possible. Colonel Shelby and his associates instantly con- cluded, that they had no alternative — light they must. Securing their horses in their rear, they resolved to impro- vise a breast-work of logs and brush, and make the best defense possible. Their lines were Ibrmed across the road, at least three hundred yards in length, along the ridge, in a semi-circle, and both protected and concealed by a wood. Old logs, fallen trees and brush were hurried into place, so AND ITS HEROES. 107 that in thirty minutes they had a \ rry ivspcctahle protection, breast-lii^h. vSliolhy occupied the rij^ht — Chu'ke the left; and WiUiains in the center, tliough with no special com- mand, for the whole force Ibrmed one extended line. A party of some twent}- horsemen were placed on each flank, shii'lded, as much as possil)le. from the enemy's observa- tion — Josiah Culbertson ha\inf^ the command of that on Shelby's right ; and Colonel Clarke had a reserve of forty men within calling distance. Captain Shadrach Inman, who had figured prominently in l)atding the British and Tories in Georgia, was sent for- ward, with about twenty-live mounted men, with orders to fire upon, and provoke the enemy to cross the ford, and skirmish wilh them, at his discretion ; and retire, drawing the British into the net which Shelby and Clarke had so adroitly prepared for them. This stratagem, which was the suggestion of the Captain himself, worked admirably, for the British infantry seemed elated widi their success in driving Inman at the point of the bayonet ; but the Whig Captain kept up a show of fighting and retreating. While the enemy were yet two hundred yards distant from the American breast-w^orks, they hastily formed into line of Ixittle ; and as they advanced lift}' yards nearer, they opened a heavy fire, pretty generally over-shooting their antago- nists. When trees were convenient, the fronticrmcn made use of them, while others were shielded behind their rudely constructed barrier, and, to some extent, availed themselves also of a fence extending along the road. The Americans had been cautioned to reserve their fire "till they could see the whites of tlie Tories' eyes ;" or, as another has it, "till they could distinguish the buttons on their clothes" — nor even then to discharge their rifles, until orders were given, when each man was "to take his object sure." These orders were strictly obeyed. The British center, on whom Inman made his feigned attacks, seeing him retire in apparent confusion, pressed n«:^ 108 KLYG 'S A/0 UNTAIN forwartl, untlcr W\\\. of drum aiul bii^lo char^fis in pursuit, but in consitlerablo disoriliT, slututiti^r; " Ilu/./.a tor King Georj^e ! " On approachin*^ within seventy yards of the American lines, thi-y were unexpectedly met w ilh a di-adly Hre, from which they at lirst recoiled. But their superi- ority in numbers enabled them to continue their attack, notwithstanding the advantage which the breast-work gave the Americans. A strong force, composed of the I'rovincials, led on by Innes and Fraser, forming the enemy's left wing, drove, at the point of the bayonet, the riirht winral of their ollieers, and many ofllu-ir men, bej^an to show sij^ns ot" wavering, when Captain Ilawsi'v, a noted leader among them, who was striving to re-animate the Loyalists, and In di retrieve the fortimes of the day, was shot down, in the midst of the confusion that followed, Clarke and his brave nu'n, following Shelby's example, pushed forth from their barrier, yelling, shooting and slashing on everv hand. It was in the nic!6i\ when the liritish defeat was too appare-nt, that the Tory Colonel Clary had the opposite bits of ids horse's bridle seized at the same moment by two stalwart Whigs. lie had, however, the ingenuity anil presence of mind to extricate himself tVom his perilous situation by exclaituing — " I) — n you, don't you know ^our own olFicers I " lie was instantly released, and lU-d at full speed.* The British and Tories were now in full retreat, closely followed by the intrepid mountaineers. It was in this excit- ing jiursuit that die courageous Captain Inman was killed, while pressing the enemy, and lighting them hand-to- hand, lie received seven shots from the Tories, one, a nuisketball, piercing his forehead. He fell near the base of a Spanish oak that stood where the modern road leaves till' old mill road, and where his grave was still pointed .111 assistant commissary at tlie I.nn;; Island nf Ilnlstnn, at one time; and in the fall of 1777. ri-'liirncd to the Chcrnkee nation, taking up liis iiiiarttrs with Cameron. He was commissioned Colonel of the South Carolina Royalists, J.uiuary 20, 1780; in 17S2, he was Inspector (Jeiicral of the Loyalist forces. Colonel llanyer, in his Ri'/'ly to Mackcn/ie's Struturcs states that Innes was living retired in 1789, prohahly on half-pay. Of Major Frascr, who was wonndcd in this engagement, wc have no further knowl- edge. Captain Camphell was of Trenton, New Jersey, settled in New Brunswick, after pe.ice was declared, on half-pay, dying in Maiigersvillc in that Colony in 1822, and was hiiried at Frcdcrickton. Lieutenant Chew retired at the close of the war, on half-pay, to New Brunswick, dying at Frcdcrickton, in 1812, aged sixty-four. Of Lieutenant Camp's career, before or after the affair at Musgrove's Mill, we have no information. * Colonel Clarey was a prominent citizen of Ninety Si.x District; and surviving the war, remained in the country. Notwithstanding his great error in siding with the Tories, he was greatly beloveil. and. in after life, performed all the duties of a good citizen, until peacefully gathered to his fithcrs. Ilir had, a few years since, a grandson, Colonel Clary, living in Edgefield County, and other decendants. i . I 110 KING'S MOUNTAfN BATTLE RIOGE NOREE PIVER out huL ;i lew 3-ciirs since. Groat credit is justly due to Capliiiu lunuui for liie suici'ssful manner in whicli he bn)u<;lit on the action, and the aid he rendered in con- ducting it to a triumphant issue. The yells and screeches of tile retreating iJrilish and Tories as they ran through tlu' woods, anil over the hills to the river — loudly inter- mingK>d witli the shouts of thi'ir pursuiMs, togctlu'r vvitli the groans of the d}ing and wounded, were terrilic and heart-rending in the ex- triMue. '^The smoke, as well Plat nfRocionn.-arMi.scrovcs Mill, '^■'^ ••'l'-' ^^''^ '"*'' COUlusion, A. (Ir.ivis. It. \Vlier<- C|. tain linii;iii wan ,.,.^,,, l,:,fl, .,K,n-, > j Iw. ,. vi-i I iii.r kilkcl.aHlic junction of the old and new roads, l**^*^ '''t>'' 'IDON l IIU, CXLlling scene, '^Fiie Toiies ceased to niakt' any show of defcMise when half w:>v from the breast-works to the ford. The retreat tiien becinie a jH-rlect rout : and now, witii ri'ck- less s|)eed. tliev hastem-d to the ri\-er, througii which they rusheil with the wildest fury, hotl\- pursued by the victorious Am.Micans with sword and rille, killing, wounding or cap- turing all who came in their wa\'. Many of the British and Tories were shot down as tlu^y were hastening, jiell-mell, acrt)ss the Enoree at the rocky forth Atu-r tiu'v were fairly o\er. oiu', not yet too weary to e.in.i- iiis bravado, and attract altiMition for tlu' moment, turned up his buttock in derision at the Americans ; when otie of (he Wiiig ollicers, probably l»randon or Steen, said to Golding Tinsley L'an"t vou turn that insolent brag- \^nv,f\ service in the up country of South C.irolinn n '.'ulprper County, Vir^;inia. in or about 175''), as stated iti his pension papers, and settled in South Carolina about 1771. Ue early served in the ♦'I'his old snldier, who did dnrii>L; the Ucvolulion, was born i RanRcrs. Uo participated iu the battle of Stouo, the sci^c o ;.f Sa nab, and look an active p.irl in the actions at Miis^;rovc's Mill. K.inn's M(Mintain, and lilacKstocks, lie had tw( Irothcrs killed by the I'nri' llir I'. ircsl region during the war. Me lived to enjoy a pension, dyin^ in Spartanburg County, May nth, 1IS51, aged about nineiy-nve yean. AND ITS Iff. ROES. Ill gart over : T can try," ri-spoiukd l^inslcy, who was >n()wn to possess a Lfood nlk-, wlicii, siuliiii;' ll u' action to the word, he took prompt aim, and lirinl — and snre enoni^h, Itirncd him r^zw, when some- of his eonuades picked the fellow np, and carried him oil'. Another instance of sharp- shootiniT '^i mentioned: One of tiic eneiin, who iiad re- crossed the ford, betook himself to a convenient tre(>, which, however, did not fully protect his person, for 'i'homas GilK's|-»ie, one of tlie \Vatan<:ja rilleinen, brouglit his rillc to bear on tlie Tory's partially exposed body, and the next moment lie liit the dnst. it is related, that while the llrini;- was yet kej^t np, on the noilhsitle of the Enoree, an intrepid iVontierman, Cap- tain vSam Moore, led a small party of ten or twelve nu-n lip the river, and crossing;" the stream at Heads I'ord, rushed down upon a portion ol" the encm\' with such im- pelu(>sit\' and audacity as to impress them with tlu' bi'lief that tliev wi're hut the vanguard of a nuicli laii^er force, when they incontinently fled, and Moore rejoined his victorious friiMids over the ri\i'r. Some inlerestin;^ incidents connecteil with, ami follow- intj the battle, deservi' a place in this connection. So many of tlu' Ih-itish and 'i'ory reserve as could, mounted to the top of AFus^rovt-'s house, that tlu'\- mii^ht witness the con- test, not doubtin<^ for a momi'ut that King George's men could and would bear down all before them. They saw the heroic Imnan deliver his successive (ires and retri'at. fol- hnvt'd closely by Innes' pursuers ; and su]")posi'd this little hand constituted the whole of tlu' Rebel jiarty. To liieso house-lop obsi'rvt>rs, the bold inv;;ders were beaten back — routed ; when the)- threw up tlu'lr hats, indulging in shouts that iTiade the old hill in the rear of Musgrove's resound again, witli (>choes and re-echoes, in connni'moration of their imaginary victory. At length, reaching the conceaK'd Whigs, a tremendous fu'e biu'st upon their pursuits, which caused a deathly paleness on the countenance of some fifty 112 KING'S MOUNTAIN of the reserve party, who \vore it was saici, paroled British prisoners, doing duty contrary to the huvs of war — they, especially, dreading the consequences of a possible capture at the hands of the Americans. Their shoutings ceased — thev peered anxiously, with bated breath, towards the con- tending parties. At length they raised the cry of despair: "We are beaten — our men are retreating;" and long before the Tories had re-crossed the river, these demoral- ized Britons had seized their knap-sacks, and were scam- pering otT towards Ninety Six at their liveliest speed. The large patrolling party which had been down the river near Jones' Ford, heard the liring, and came dashing back at full speed ; and while Jescending the steep hill, east of the old Musgrove domicile, their bright uniforms and flashing blades and scabbards reflected the rays of the morning sun just rising in its splendor. They reined up their panting steeds betbre Musgrove's, the commanding ollicer eagerly iiu[uiring what was the matter. A hurried account of the battle was given, which had terminated so disastrously some thirty minutes betbre ; when, rising in his stirrups, and uttering deep and loud imprecations, the cav- alry commander ordered his men to cross the river. They daslied at full speed over the rocky ford, splashing the water, \\'hich, with the resplendent sun-rays, produced miniature rainbows around the horses. The}- were too late, for the victorious Americans had retired with their prison- ers, leaving the Britisli troopers the melancholy duty of conveying their wounded fellons to the hospital at Mus- grove's. For many miles around, every woman and child of the surrounding country, who were able to leave their homes, visited the battle-ground — some for plunder, some from curiosity, and others for a diflerent purpose. It was chiefly a Tory region, the few Whigs having retired from motives of personal safety, joining Sumter and other popular lead- ers. The most of these visitors were of Loyalist families ; AND ITS HEROES. 113 and it was interesting to witness them, as well as the few Whig ladies present, turning over the bodies of the slain, earnestly examining their faces, to see if they could recog- nize a father, husband, son, or brother. Not a few went away with saddened hearts, and eyes bedewed with tears. Sixteen Tories were said to have been buried in one grave, near the mouth of Cedar Shoal creek — the particular spot long since defaced and forgotten. Several were in- terred between the battle-ground and ford, but a stone's throw below where George Gordon resided some thirt}- }ears since, on the west side of the old road ; while others were buried in the yard of the late Captain Philemon Waters, midway between the ford and battle-field, opposite the dog- wood spring, and others yet were buried in a grave-yard, just below Musgrove's house. A burial spot is still pointed out on the battle-ridge, just east of the old road. It was a complete rout on the part of the British and Tories. They seem to have apprehended, that the Whig forces, in the flush of victor}-, might push on to Ninety Six, then believed to be in a weak and defenceless condition. The Tory leader. Fanning, states, that after the battle, the British retreated a mile and a quarter, where they encamped for the remainder of the day ; and, in the night, marclied off towards Ninety Six, under the command of Captain De Peyster. This probably refers to only a part of the enemy ; for the larger portion must have remained, if for nothing else, at least to take care of their wounded. Another British writer, INIackenzie, represents, that in the retreat from the battle-ground, they were conducted by Captain Kerr to the southern bank of die Enoree, where they remained till reinforced by Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger from Ninety Six, " Captain Kerr," says the Georgia his- torian, McCall, "finding that resistance would be in vain, and without hope of success, ordered a retreat, which was effected in close order for four miles, resorting to the bayo- net for defence in flank and rear. The pursuit was con- 114 KIXG'S MOUNTAIN tinned by ^lie victors, until the enemy took refuge in Mus- grove's Mill," which \\;is on the south side of the Enoree, in the north-east corner of the present county of Laurens, noted on Mills' A/ /as of South Carol/' lui as Gordon's Mill. Colonel Williams' oflicial account represents that the main WA\i — the one at the breast-work — lasted only lifteen minutes, when the enemy were obliged to retreat, and were pursued two miles ; and that Colonel Innes was reported to be wounded by two balls — one in the neck and the other breaking the thigh — and that three Tory Captains were slain. "The enemy declared they sutTered exceedingly in the action with Colonel Williams ; that Captain Campbell, an officer in high repute, of the regulars, among others, was killed,"* and Governor Rutledge confirms the fact that *• one British Captain " was among tue slain. Shelby states, that the action continued an hour before the enemy were repulsed in front of the breast-work ; while McCall asserts, that it was "but a few minutes after the contest began, when so many of the Provincial ofiicers were either killed or wounded, and "the men tumbled down in heaps, without the power of resistance," when the survivors retreated under Captain Kerr.f Probably Colonel Williams' recollection of the length of the battle before the retreat, written within a few days thereafter, is approximately cor- rect ; and possibly well nigh an hour may have been con- sumed by the time the enemy were driven across the ford, and took refuge in the mill. "This action," says Colonel Hill's manuscript, " was one of the hardest ever fought in the country with small arms alone ; the smoke was so thick as ♦Statement in I'lrginiit Cizette. September 27th. 1780. of Willi.im Allmnn. of Colonel Sliihtilcfield's regiment of Virijinia militi:i, who was captured al Gates' defeat, and subse- quently escaped from Camden. t Captain James Kerr was probably a resident of Long Island or Connecticut, from whose refu,i;ees most of tlie Queen's Rangers were raised, in which corps he was a Captain. After the war, he retired on half pay, first to New Brunswick, and then 10 Kings i:oiinty. Nova Scotia, where he was made Colonel of the militia. He died at Amherst, in that Province, in 1S30, at the .age of seventy-six. leaving a widow, who survived him ten years, dying at seventy-four. Three sons and a daughter preceded him to the grave, but twelve children survived him. '.f" w AND ITS HEROES. 115 to hide II man at the distance of twent}' rods." Shelby described this battle as "the hardest and best fought action he ever was in " — attributing this valor and persistency to "the great number of officers who were with him as volun- teers." It must be confessed, that the Provincials and Tories, before their final rout, fought braveh'. Their dragoons, but lately raised, and indifferently disciplined, behaved with much gallantry, figlUing on the left with Innes. They all exhibited, more or less, the training they had received under that superior master, Ferguson. Tiie British loss, in this afTair, was sixty-three killed, about ninety woimded, and seventy prisoners — a total of not far from two hundred and twenty-three, out of four or five hundred, which is an unusually large proportion for the number engaged in the action. The American loss was only four killed and eight or nine wounded. This disparity in killed and woundeu, resulted largely from over-shooting* on the part of the enemy, and the decided advantage which the trees and breast-works afforded the Whigs for their protection. The skill of the fronticrmen in the use of their rifles was never better displayed nor more effective ; while, in the retreat, the loss fell almost exclusively on the panic-stricken Britisli and Tories. Anxious to impro\e the advantage they had so signally gained, Shelby and his heroic compeers at once resolved to pursue the demoralized Tories, and make a dash for Ninety Six, which they iearned was in a weak condition ; and * Richard Thompson, of Fair Forest, when a boy of some twelve or fourteen years, while on liis way with liis mother to visit his father, tlien imprisoned at Ninety Six. passed over the hatlle-ground at M nsgrove's a few days after its octurreme, and ohserved the hnllet marks on the trees — those of the Ilrilish and Tories generally indicating an aim ahovc the heads of tlie:r antagonists, while tlmse f>f the Whigs were from three to five feet ahovc the gronnd. He learned from his father and other prisoners at Ninety Six. that the fugi- tives reported the Whig strengtli in that action as five thousand; and sui h was the con- sternation of the ga-rison of Ninety Six on receipt of the news of the hattle, that had the victorious Whigs showed themselves there, it would have heen dilTicult for Colonel Cruger and his officers to have prevented a general stampede. — Saye's MSB., and Memoir of Mcjunkin, no KING ' S J/0 UNTALV being only some twenty-five miles distant, they could easily teach there before night. Returning to their horses, and momiting them, while Shelby was consulting Colonel Clarke, Francis Jones, an express from Colonel McDowell, rode up, in great haste, with a letter in his hand from Gen- eral Caswell, who had, on the sixteenth, shared in General Gates' total defeat near Camden, apprising McDowell of the great disaster, and advising him and all officers com- manding detachments to get out of me way, or they would be cut off; McDowell sending word that he would at once move towards Gilbert Town. General Caswell's hand- writing was fortunately familiar to Colonel Shelby, so he knew it was no Tory trick attempted to be played ofl' upon them. He and his associates instantly saw the difficulty of their situation ; they could not retire to McDowell's camp, for his force was no lonijer there — Gates' army was killed, captured and scattered — and Sumter's, too, was soon desdned to meet the same fate ; in their rear was Cruger, with what- ever of Innes' and Eraser's detachments remained, with Ferguson's strong force on their flank. There was no clioice — further conquests were out of tlie quesdon. So Ninety Six was left unvisited by the mountaineers — doubt- less for them, a fortunate circumstance, as they were with- out cannon, and Colonel Cruger, who commanded there, was no Patrick Moore, as his brave defence of that garri- son against General Greene and his thousands, the following year, sufficiently attested. It was, therefore, determined in a hasty council on horseback, that they would take a back- woods route, to avoid and escape Ferguson, and join Colo- nel McDowell on his retreat towards Gilbert Town. Hurriedly gathering the prisoners together, and dis- tributing one to every three of the Americans, who conveyed them alternately on horseback, requiring each captive to carry his gun, divested of its ffint, the whole cavalcade were ready in a few minutes to beat a retreat, as they knew full well that Ferguson would be speedily apprised of their AND ITS HEROES. 11' success, and make a strenuous effort, as he did at Wotlbrd's Iron Works, to regain the prisoners. Here an amusing incident occurred. Riding along the ranks, viewing the prisoners, Colonel Williams recognized among them an old acquaintance in the person of Saul Ilinson, ver}' diminutive in size, who had the previous year served under his com- mand at the battle of Stono, when the Colonel pleasantly exclaimed: "Ah I my little Sauly, have we caught you?"" "Yes, Colonel," replied the little man, " and no d — d great catch either ! '" Saul's repartee only caused a laugh, and neither that nor his false position subjected him to any thing beyond the common restraint of a prisoner. Some of the few wounded, who were not able to ride, were necessarily left ; and, it is pleasant to add, the}- were humanely cared for by the British, and especially by the Musgrove family. Among them was one Miller, shot through the body, whose injuries were believed to be mortal. A silk handkerchief was drawn through the wound to cleanse it. His parents, from the lower part of the present county of Laurens, obtained the services of an old physician. Dr. Ross, to attend to their wounded son, though it is believed the British surgeons were not wanting in their professional attentions. He at length recovered. The Whig troopers, encumbered with their prisoners, now hurried rapidly away in a north-westerly direction, instead of a north-easterly one towards their old encamp- ment. The}- passed over a rough, broken country, crossing the forks of Tj-ger, leaving Ferguson on the right, and headinji their course towards their own friendlv mountains. As they expected, they were rapidly piu\sued by a strong detachment of Ferguson's men.* Wearied as the mountain- eers and their horses were, with scarcely any refreshment for either, yet Shelby's indomitable energy permitted them ♦This detachment could not have been led by Captain De Peyster. as supposed by Colonel Shelby, for that officer, as the Tory annalist, Fanning, asserts, accompanied him from Miisgrove's to Ninety Six the night after the battle, doubtless to notify Cruger of the disaster, and obtain reinforcements. ■mk ; * I! 'f-i ml I' I Im'm m KING'S MOUNTAIN no rest while clangor lurkod in the way. Once or twice only they tarried a hrief period to feed tlieir faithful horses ; relyinj^f, for their own sustenance, on peaches and green corn — the latter pulled from the stalks, and eaten in its raw state as the}- took their turn on horse-back, or trotted on foot along the trail, and which, in their hungry condi- tion, they pronounced delicious. They were enabled, now and then, to snatch a' refreshing draught frotn the rocky streams which they forded. Late in the evening of the eighteenth, Ferguson's party reached the spot where the Whigs hud, less than thirty min- utes before, fed their weary liorses ; but not knowing how long they had been gone, and their own detachment being exhausted, they relinquished further pursuit. Not aware of this, the Americans kept on their tedious retreat all night, and the following day, passing the North IVger, and into the confmes of North Carolina — sixty miles from the battle- iield, and one hundred from Smith's Ford, from which they had started, without making a stop, save long enough to defeat the enemy at Musgrove's. It was a remarkable instance of unflagging endurance, in the heat of a south- ern summer, and encumbered, as they were, with seventy prisoners. No wonder, that after forty-eight hours of such excessive fadgue, nearly all the oflicers and soldiers became so exhausted, that their faces and eyes were swollen and bloated to that degree that they were scarcely able to see. Reaching the mountain region in safety, they met Colo- nel McDowell's party, considerably diminislied in numbers, as we may well suppose. Colonel Slielby, with the appro- bation of Major Robertson, now proposed that an army of volunteers be raised on both sides of the mountains, in suffi- cient numbers, to cope with Ferguson. All of the officers, and some of the privates, were consulted, and all heartily united in the propriety and feasibility of the undertaking. It was agreed that the Musgrove prisoners should be sent to a place of security ; that the over-mountain men should AND ITS HEROES. 119 return home to recruit and strcngthtMi llieir numbers ; wliile Colonel McDowell should send an express to Colonels Cleveland and Ilerndon, of Wilkes, and Major Winston, of Surry, inviting and urging them to raise volunteers, and join in the enterprise ; and that Colonel McDowell should, furthermore, devise the best means to preserve the beef stock of the Whigs of the Upper Catawba valleys and coves, which would undoubtedly be an early object of Fer- guson's attention ; and McDowell was, moreover, to obtain information of the enemy's movements, and keep the over- mountain men constantly apprised of them.* As the term of service of their men having expired, Colonel Shelby and Major Robertson, with their Holston and Watauga volunteers, parted company with Colonel Clarke, leaving the prisoners in his charge, and took the trail which led to their homes over the Alleghanies. Colo- nels McDowell and Hampton, with their Burke and Ruth- erford followers, now less than two hundred in number, remained in the Gilbert Town region till forced back b}- the arrival of Ferguson shortly alter. Colonel Clarke, after continuing some distance on his route, concluded to take the mountain trails and return to Georgia, transferring the prisoners to Colonel Williams, who, with Captain Ham- mond, conducted them safely to Hillsboro. There, meeting Governor Rutledge, of South Carolina, who supposing Williams had the chief command of the expedition, as his report was so worded as to convey that idea, conferred on him as a reward for the gallant achievement, the commis- sion of a Briijadier-General in the South Carolina militia service, and, at the same time, promoted Captain Ham- mond to the rank of a Major. Rut Shelby, Clarke, Bran- don, Steen, McCall, McDowell, and Mcjunkin, wlio battled so manfully at Musgrove's, were kept in the back-ground, receiving no merited honors for their services and their suf- ♦MS. Statements of Major Joseph McDowell, and Captain David Vance, preserved by the late Robert Henry, of Buncombe Co., N. C, and both participants in this expedition. 120 KING ' S xMO UNTAIN fcririf^'s ; yet they, nevertheless, continued faithfully to serve their country without a murmur. Lord Cornvvallis, on the twenty-ninth of August, wrote to Sir Henry Clinton: "Ferguson is to move into Tryon count}' with some militia, whom he says he is sure he can depend upon for doing their dut}', and fighting well ; but I am sorry to say, that li.'s ozvn i\\pcricnct\ as well as that of every other othcer, is totally against him."* This is a tacit acknowledgment, that Ferguson's detachments were deci- dedly worsted in the several affairs at Cedar Spring, with Colonel Jones beyond the head-waters of Saluda, at Earle's Ford, near Wofford's Iron Works, and at Musgrove's. So good a judge of military matters as Lord Cornvvallis would not have made such a report, had not the disastrous results extorted the reluctant confession. Some comparison of the principal authorities consulted, which appear more or less contradictory in their character, ma}' not inappropriately be made in concluding this chap- ter. Dawson, vaguely referring to the Shelby statements, says they " difTer so much from the contemporary reports, that I have not noticed them." Colonel Shelby was in every sense a real hero in war, and the details he furnishes are no doubt reliable. But in after life, he appears, perhaps imperceptibly, little by little, to have magnified the num- bers, losses and prisoners in some of the contests in which he was engaged — notably so of the Musgrove affair. The venerable historian of Tennessee, Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, states in a letter before the writer, that he closely followed a manuscript narrative of Governor Shelby in what he records of the battle at Musgrove's — the same that Hay- wood had used before him ; in which the British force is given as four or five hundred, reinforced by six hundred under Colonel Innes from Ninety Six, not, however, stating the strength of the Whigs ; that more than two hundred prisoners were taken, with a loss on the part of the victors of only six or seven killed. In his statement to Hardin, Colonel ♦Correspondence of Connvallis. i, 58-59, AND ITS HEROES. 121 Shelby puts botli the British and American strength at about seven huiuh'ed — the former reinforced by six or seven hun- dred more ; that over two hundred of the enemy were killed, and two hundred made prisoners, with a Whij^f loss of Cap- tain Tniiian and thirty others. Colonel Todd, in his sketch of his fatlier-in-law. Governor Shelby, <^ives the enemy's force at Musgrove's at five or six hundred, reinforced by six hundred under Innes ; but discards Shelby's exaggerated account of losses and prisoners, adopting McCall's instead. Colonel Williams' report, on the other hand, gives the American force at two hundred, and the British originally the same, rcinibrced by three hundred, killing sixty of the enemy, and taking seventy prisoners, while the Americans sustained a loss of onlv four killed, and seven or eirm- ation, appear in the JVorth Carolina University Magazine for March, 1855. McCall speaks of the British force as three hundred and fifty, and the Americans about equal, stating the British loss at sixty-three killed, and one hun- dred and sixty w^ounded and taken, the Americans losing only four killed and nine wounded ; while Mills, who does not report the numbers engaged, gives the British loss at 122 KING'S MOUiXTAIN. w eighty-six killed, and seventy -six taken. Major James Sevier stated the Whiir force at two hinuhcd and lilly, as he learned it from iii.s neighbors who partieipaled in the action innnediately alter their return home ; and Major Mcjunkin placed the British strength at three hundred, and the Americans at half the number. Siielby's accounts, and those who follow them, give the date of the action as August nineteenth ; but the eighteenth has the weight of authority to sustain it — Williams' report. Governor Nash's letter, Si-ptember tenth, 1780, Ramsay's Rcvoliilion in South Carolina, '7^5' Moidtrie, Gordon, McCall, Mills, Lossing, O'Neall, and Dawson. A'tf/r— Authorities for the MiiSKrovu's Mill expedition: Colonel Williams' report which (ieneral Oates, September 5, 17S0, forwarded to the President of Congress, pnb- lishcil in rcnnsylvaniiX Packet, September 23, Massinliusetts S/>y, October u. London Chronicle, December 21, 1780, Scots' Mus'i^inc, December, 1780; Almon's Rtincmbyancer. xi, 87, and the substance, evidently communicated by Governor Rutledge, in Virginia dazctte, September 13, 1780. Ramsay's I\e\iolution, ii, 137: Moiilirie's Memoirs, ii, 220; Mackenzie's Strictures, 25-86; Fanninf^'s .XarratiTe, i:!-i3; Oordon's Hiatory, iii, 449; McCall's (7('ori'/(j, ii, 315-17, Shelby's accounts in Haywood's ienmssee, d^-dT, Ramsey's I'eniiessee. 217-19; American U'/iig A'ct/i'ki, December, 1848; Todd's memoir of Shelby in National Portrait Gallery, and in Western Monthly Magazine August 1836; llrca/oale's Li/e as it is, 51-52; Wheeler's North Carolina, 11,57-58, ito; Hunter's Sketches 1/ Western North Carolina, 337-39. Mills' Statistics, 255-56. 764; O'Neall's History Ne'.nlerry, 71, 265, 312-13; Lossing's Field Book, ii, 444-45; Dawson's Battles, \, 620-22; Howe's History Presbyterian Church cf South Carolina, 526. MS, papers of Robert Henry. Also Sayc's Memoir 0/ Mcjiinkin, and Saye MSS; MSB of Dr. John H. Logan, furnishing many traditions from the Miisgrove family; Colonel William Mill's MS. Narrative of the Mus- grove atTair. derived ft om "an officer of high standing" who participated in the cng.ige- ment— the date and details going to show that Colonel Shelby was his authority: they had met on the King's Mountain campaign. Pension statement of Captain Joseph Hughes. MS. notes of conversations with M.njor James Sevier, son of Colonel John Sevier; also with Major Tliom.ns H. Shelby, son of Colonel Isaac Shelby, and Colonel George Wilson, of Tennessee. The pretended narrative of Colonel Samuel Hammond, in Johnson's Traditions, has not been relied on. It, for instance, refers to the express, who brought intelligence of Gates' defeat, also bringing news of Sumter's disaster at Fishing Creek, when, in fact, it did not occur, until several hours Inter of the same day, and in a distant county. Colonel Hammond, of course, never wrote anything of the kind. AND ITS HEROES 12;\ CHATTER VTI. 1780— Summer and Autumn. Incidents of the I'p-iountry. — M,tjor Edward Musc^rovc. — Paddy Carr and Ihahs Afus^/oxic. — 7 /it- S/oty of Mary Afiisi^roiu-. — Sainuci Cloiuncy's Adiunliirc. — W'illiain h',nnidy's I-'orays A}:;ainst the Tories. — foseph Ifiii^lies' Escape. — William .Sharp Baggini^ a Ihitish and Tory Tarty.— Tories' .Ittack on Woods, and hoxo dearly he sold his life. — Plundering .Sam. Iho'a'n. Sevoral intiTL'stin^f incidents transpired durini; the sum- mer and early autunui of 1780, in the region of the present counties of Laurens, Spartanburg, and Union, while Col