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The foIIowing paper was
drawn up by General Graham, who was familiar with the country around the
Mountain, knew some of the officers engaged in the battle, and previous
to writing this description visited the battle-ground with a son of one
of the officers. From his known habits of observation and correctness,
and his familiarity with military detail, there is no doubt that this is
the most graphic account that has over been given of that celebrated and
important action. He drew a beautiful plot of the battle-ground, and the
position of the forces at different times during the day of the action.
"After the defeat of
General Gates and the many under his command, on the 16th day of August,
1780, and the defeat of General Sumpter, two days after, near Rocky
Mount, by Colonel TarIeton, the South was almost entirely abandoned to
the enemy. Most of the troops, both officers and men, who had escaped
from Gates's defeat, passed through Charlotte, N. C., where most of the
militia of Mecklenburg county were assembled in consequence of the
alarm; the regular troops chiefly passed on to Hillsborough, where
General Gates finally established his head-quarters.
"Wm. L. Davidson, who had
served as lieutenant-colonel of the regulars in the Northern Army, was
appointed brigadier-general of the militia in the Salisbury district, in
the place of General Rutherford, who was taken prisoner at Gates's
defeat. He formed a brigade, and encamped on McAlpin's Creek, about
eight miles below Charlotte, and in the course of two or three weeks was
reinforced by General Sumner, a continental officer, but having no
regulars to command, took command of the militia from the counties of
Guilford, Caswell, Orange, and others.
"After Gates's defeat,
the attention of Lord Cornwallis was chiefly occupied with burying the
dead, taking care of the wounded, and forwarding, under a suitable
guard, the great number of prisoners he had taken, to the city of
Charleston, and regulating the civil government he was establishing in
South Carolina, and examining the state of the posts occupied by his
troops on the Congaree, Ninety-Six, and Augusta. By the 1st of September
he had his arrangements made, and detached Colonel Ferguson over the
Wateree, with only one hundred and ten regulars, under the command of
Captain Dupeister, and about the same number of tories; but with an
ample supply of arms and other military stores. His movements were at
first rapid, endeavoring to intercept the retreat of a party of
Mountain-men, who were harassing the upper settlement of tories in South
Carolina. Failing in this, he afterwards moved slowl1y, and frequently
halted to collect all the tories he could persuade to join him. He
passed Broad River, and before the last of September encamped at a place
called Gilberts-town, within a short distance of where the thriving
village of Rutherfordton now stands. His force had increased to upwards
of 1,000 men. On his march to this place, he had furnished arms to such
of his new recruits as were without them. The greater part of them had
rifles; but to a part of them, he had them to fix a large knife they
usually carried, made small enough at the butt end, for two inches or
more of the handle, to slip into the muzzle of the rifle, so that it
night be occasionally used as a bayonet.
"Although Colonel
Ferguson failed to overtake the detachment of Mountain-men alluded to,
he took two of them prisoners, who had become separated from their
commands. In a day or two he paroled them, and enjoined them to inform
the officers on the western waters, that if they did not desist from
their opposition to the British arms, and take protection under his
standard, he would march his army over the mountains, hang their
leaders, and lay waste the country with fire and sword.
"Colonel Charles
McDowell, of Burke county, on the approach of Ferguson with so large a
force, had gone over the mountains to obtain assistance, and was in
consultation with Colonel John Sevier and Colonel Isaac Shelby what plan
should he pursued, when the two paroled men spoken of arrived and
delivered their message from Colonel Ferguson. It was decided that each
of them should use his best efforts to raise all the men that could be
enlisted, and that this force, when collected, should meet on the Wataga,
on the 25th of September. It was also agreed that Colonel Shelby should
give intelligence of their movements to Colonel William Campbell, of the
adjoining county of Washington, in Virginia, with the hope that he would
raise what force he could and co-operate with them. They met on the
Wataga the day appointed, and passed the mountains on the 30th of
September, where they were joined by Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland, and
Major Joseph Winston, from Wilks and Surry counties, North Carolina. On
examining their force, it was found to number as follows, viz:
Col. Ferguson having
accurate intelligence of the force collecting against him, early on the
4th of October, ordered his men to march, and remained half an hour
after they had started writing a despatch to Lord Cornwallis, no doubt
informing him of his situation and soliciting aid. The letter was
committed to the care of the noted Abraham Collins (him of counterfeit
memory) and another person by the name of Quinn, with injunctions to
deliver it as soon as possible. They set out and attempted to pass the
direct road to Charlotte, but having to pass through some whig
settlements, they were surprised and pursued, and being compelled to
secrete themselves by day and travel by night, they did not reach
Charlotte until the morning of the 7th of October, the day of the
battle. Colonel Ferguson encamped the first night at the noted place
called the Cowpens, about twenty miles from Gilbertstown. On the 5th of
October he crossed the Broad River, at what is now called Dear's Ferry,
sixteen miles. On the 6th, he marched up the Ridge Road, between the
waters of King's and Buffalo creeks, until he came to the fork, turning
to the right across Kin's Creek, and through a gap in the mountain
towards Yorkville, about fourteen miles. 'There he encamped on the
summit of that part of the mountain to the right of the road, where he
remained till he was attacked on the 7th.
"When the troops from the
different counties met at the head of the Catawba river, the commanding
officers met, and finding that they were all of equal grade, and no
general officer to command, it was decided that Col. Charles McDowell
should go to headquarters, supposed to be between Charlotte and
Salisbury, to obtain General Sumner or General Davidson to take the
command. In the meantime, it was agreed that Col. William Campbell, who
had the largest regiment, should take the command until the arrival of a
general officer, who was to act according to the advice of the colonels
commanding, and that Major McDowell should take the command of the Burke
and Rutherford regiment until the return of Col. McDowell.
Shortly after these
measures were adopted, intelligence was received that Colonel Ferguson
had left Gilbertstown, and it was decided that they would march after
him, by that place; and on their way they received evidence that it was
his design to evade an engagement with them. On the evening of the 6th
of October, the colonels in council unanimously resolved, that they
would select all the men and horses fit for service, and immediately
pursue Ferguson until they should overtake him, leaving such as were not
able to go to come after them as fast as they could. The next morning
the selection was made, and 910 men, including officers, were marched
before, leaving the others to follow. They came to the Cowpens, where
Ferguson had camped on the night of the 4th, and there met Colonel
Williams, of South Carolina, with near 400 men, and about 60 from
Lincoln county, who had joined them on their march under Colonel
Hambrite and Major Chronicle. After drawing rations of beef, the whole
proceeded on a little before sunset, taking Ferguson's trail towards
Dear's Ferry, on Broad River. Night coming on, and being very dark,
their pilot got out of the right way, and for some time they were lost;
but before daylight they reached near to the ferry, and by directions of
the officers, the pilot led them to the Cherokee ford, about a mile and
a half below, as it was not known but the enemy might be in possession
of the eastern bank of the river. It was on the morning of the 7th,
before sunrise, when they crossed the river, and marched about two miles
to the place where Ferguson had encamped on the night of the 5th. There
they halted a short time, and took such breakfast as their wallets and
saddlebags would afford. The day was showery, and they were obliged to
use their blankets and great coats to protect their arms from wet. They
passed on a dozen of miles without seeing any person; although they met
a lad in an old field, by the name of Fonderin, about twelve or fourteen
years of age, who had a brother and other relations in Ferguson's camp,
and who was directly from it, within less than three miles. A halt was
ordered, and the colonels met in consultation. Several persons knew the
ground well on which the enemy was encamped, agreeably to the
information given by the boy, of their position. The plan of battle was
immediately settled; that the forces should be nearly equally divided,
and one half would take to the right, cross over and occupy the
southeast side of the mountain, and that the other should advance to the
northwest side, and that each division should move forward until they
formed a junction, when all should face to the front, and press upon the
enemy up the sides of the mountain. Orders were given to prepare for
battle by laying aside every incumbrance, examining into their arms, and
guarding against alarms. The orders were speedily obeyed, and they moved
forward over King's Creek and up a branch and ravine, and between two
rocky knobs; which when they had passed, the top of the mountain and the
enemy's camp upon it were in full view, about one hundred poles in
front."
The enemy's camp was to
the right of the road, seventy or eighty poles in length, and on the
summit of the mountain, which at this place runs nearly northeast and
southwest (the shadow of the timber at half past one P. M. ranges with
it). The troops were led on in the following order: to the right, Major.
Winston, Colonel Sevier, Colonel Campbell, Colonel Shelby, and Major
McDowell; to the left, Colonel Ilambrite, Colonel Cleaveland, and
Colonel Williams, of South Carolina. Each division moved off steadily to
the place assigned them, in the order of battle. Some of the regiments
suffered much under the galling fire of the enemy, before they were in a
position to engage in the action. Some complaints began to be uttered,
that "it would never do to be shot down without returning the fire;"
Colonel Shelby replied, 'press on to your places, and then your fire
will not be lost.' The men, led by Shelby and M'Dowell, were soon
closely engaged, and the contest from the first was very severe.
Williams and Cleaveland were soon in their places, and with the utmost
energy engaged the foe. Ferguson, finding that end of his line giving
way, ordered forward his regulars and riflemen, with bayonets, and made
a furious charge upon Shelby and M'Dowell, charging down the mountain
some two hundred yards. A united and destructive fire soon compelled him
to order his party back to the top of the mountain. To ward off the
deadly attack from Colonel Williams, Ferguson again charged with fury
down the mountain. When Shelby's men saw this, they raised the cry,
`Come on, men, the enemy is retreating!' They rallied, and by the time
Ferguson returned from the charge against the South Carolinians, renewed
their fire with great resolution. Ferguson again charged upon Shelby,
but not so far as before; Colonel Williams's men in turn called out,
`the enemy is retreating, come on men!'
"At this stage of the
action, Hamilton and Winston had met, and a brisk fire was poured upon
Ferguson's men, all round the mountain. As he would advance towards
Campbell, Sevier, Winston, and Hambrite, he was pursued by Shelby,
M'Dowell, Williams, and Cleaveland. When he wouId turn his face against
the latter, the former would press on in pursuit. Thus he struggled on,
making charges and retreats, but his left was rapidly losing ground. his
men Were rapidly falling before the skilful aim and unbending courage of
the «-hilts. Even after being wounded, he fought on with courage. He
made every effort that could be done by a brave and skilful officer,
according to his position. At length he was shot dead, and his whole
command driven up into a group of sixty yards in length, and not forty
in width.
"The British officer,
Capt. Dupeister, who took the command, ordered a white flag to be raised
in token of surrender, but the bearer was instantly shot down. He soon
had another raised, and called out for quarter. Col. Shelby demanded, if
they surrendered, why they did not throw down their arms. It was
instantly done. But still the firing was continued, until Shelby and
Sevier went inside the lines and ordered the men to cease. Some who kept
at it would call out, 'Give them Buford's play,' alluding to Colonel
Buford's defeat by Tarleton, where no quarter was given. A guard was
placed over the prisoners, and all remained on the mountain during that
night."
The party which led the
left wing, under Colonel Hambrite, suffered very much, having to pass
very difficult ground to reach their place of destination, and within
eighty rods of the enemy's marksmen. Colonel Hambrite was wounded, and
Major Chronicle was killed. Colonel Williams, of South Carolina, a brave
and efficient officer, was also killed. The loss of the whigs was not
exactly ascertained, but believed to be about thirty killed and fifty
wounded. The enemy had about one hundred and fifty killed, and all the
rest taken prisoners."
"On the morning of the
8th a court-martial was held, and several of the prisoners, who were
found guilty of murder and other high crimes, were sentenced to be
hanged. About twenty were executed."
From this paper of Gen.
Graham it appears that the first moving of the expedition was in North
Carolina. Virginia came to her aid, and the gallant South Carolina took
her share. The gallant Williams has no monument. The friends of Major
Chronicle and a few others erected a monument where they were buried,
near the battle-ground. On the east side is this inscription, viz.
Sacred to the memory of
Major WILLIAM CHRONICLE
and Captain MATOCKS, WILLIAM ROBB, and JOHN BOYD:--
who were killed at this place on the 7th of October, 1780,
fighting in defence of America.
On the west side
Col. FERGUSON, an officer
of
his Britannic Majesty, was
defeated and killed at this place,
on the 7th of October, 1780.
Colonel Williams was an
elder in the Presbyterian church, much beloved as a man and an officer.
His fellow-citizens preferred marching under him, when the time for
marching came. The last meeting, it is said, with his friends, was at
the church, in which he used to meet them in solemn worship, and at a
communion season. Shelby became noted in Kentucky, was made Governor,
and was, in the latter part of his life, religious, and an elder of the
church. The McDowells held through life the highest stand with their
fellow-citizens. Winston, Hambrite, Sevier, and Cleaveland, were true
patriots. Campbell was, after this, in the battle of Guilford, and
afterwards the commander of the militia in the eastern section of
Virginia; and while engaged with his duties was seized with a fever,
which proved mortal. He was buried at Rocky Mills, in Hanover county. A
native of Augusta county, he removed early to Washington county,—a bold,
active man, and extremely popular with the militia, as is seen in the
fact that on a short notice he rallied 400 men of his county to march
with him in this expedition, —an untiring enemy of the tories, who hated
him as much as he loved his country. After an interval of forty years,
his remains, in a surprising state of preservation, were removed to
Washington county, to repose with his family.
It is said that Colonel
Ferguson, when he encamped on King's Mountain, after so many days of
retreat before the gathering militia, exclaimed to his men, "Here is a
place God Almighty cannot drive us from." He never left the mountain;
the next day he fell in battle.
By courtesy, Colonel
Campbell, as having the largest force, was considered the Ieading
officer; during the action he rode down two horses. Early in the action,
his black, called .Bald Face, proving unruly, he exchanged him for a
horse belonging to a Mr. Campbell, of his corps. In the heat of the
battle he was seen on foot at the head of his men, with his coat off,
and his shirt-coIIar open. Some two hundred yards down the mountain was
Bald Face, mounted by the Colonel's servant, a tall, well-proportioned
mulatto, who said, "he had come up to see what his master and the rest
were doing."
Ex-Senator Preston, of
South Carolina, a grandson of Colonel Campbell, in his youth, stopped at
a tavern in South Carolina, near the North Carolina line, and in sight
of King's Mountain; and while breakfast was preparing, observed that the
landlady frequently turned to look at him. While eating, she asked him
his name, and observed, by way of apology, that he was very like the man
she most dreaded on earth. "And who is that?" said Preston.
"Colonel Campbell," said
the woman, "that hung my husband at King's Mountain."
Besides Shelby, who
became religious before his death, and Williams, who was so much beloved
as elder, it is the tradition that two of the other officers were elders
in the Presbyterian church; but which of them is not handed down
distinctly. They were republicans on principle, and fought and bled for
their principles. The whole military force that were engaged in this
expedition were from Presbyterian settlements, and were in all
probability all of them of Scotch and Scotch-Irish origin.
Though the scene of this
battle is in South Carolina, the chief Honor belongs to North Carolina,
shared most nobly with South Carolina. and Virginia. The officers and
men concerned in the planning and executing the enterprise were all of
the same race, and were gathered from what now forms four States.
"Mountain-men," and "beyond the Mountains," mean Tennessee and Kentucky,
then forming western counties of North Carolina and Virginia. |
