Cleveland County NcArchives Military Records.....Battle Of King's Mountain Accounts Revwar ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Connie Ardrey n/a August 5, 2009, 3:20 pm Battle Of King's Mountain Accounts Colonial Records of North Carolina Description by Robert Campbell of the Battle of King's Mountain Campbell, Robert, 1755-1832 Volume 15, Pages 100-104 BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN—BY ENSIGN ROBERT CAMPBELL. [From the Annals of the Army of Tennessee, Oct., 1878, MSS. of the Tennessee Historical Society.] The following account of the Battle of King's Mountain was found amongst the papers of James Campbell, deceased. It was written by Robert Campbell, an Ensign in Capt. Dysart's company, who, upon Capt. Dysart's being wounded early in the action, commanded the company afterward. The scene is not within the limits of our State, but as we were then a portion of the Territory of North Carolina, and as many of our families had relatives engaged in it, I have thought proper to transcribe it, to be filed with the other historical documents of our Society. JOHN R. EAKIN. Nashville, Tenn., 1848. In the fall of the year of 1780, when the American cause wore a very gloomy aspect in the Southern States, Cols. Arthur and William Campbell, hearing of the advance of Col. Ferguson along the mountains of the State of North Carolina, and that the Whigs were retreating before him, unable to make any effectual resistance, formed a plan to intercept him, and communicated it to the commanding officers of Sullivan and Washington Counties, in the State of North Carolina. They readily agreed to co-operate in any expedition against Col. Ferguson. Col. Arthur Campbell immediately ordered the Militia of Washington Co., Virginia, amounting to near four hundred, to make a ready march under command of Col. Wm. Campbell, who was known to be an enterprising and active officer. Cols. Shelby and Sevier raised a party of three hundred, joined him on his march, and moved with forced marches toward Col. Ferguson. At the same time Cols. Williams, Cleveland, Lacey and Brandon, of the States of North and South Carolina, each conducted a small party toward the same point, amounting to near three hundred. Col. Ferguson had notice of their approach by a deserter that left the army on the Yellow Mountain, and immediately commenced his march for Charlotte, dispatching at the same time different messengers to Lord Cornwallis with information of his danger. These messengers being intercepted on their way, no movement was made to favor his retreat. These several corps of American amounting to near one thousand men, met at Gilbert Town, and the officers unanimously chose Colonel Campbell to the command. About seven hundred choice riflemen mounted their horses for the purpose of following the retreating army. The balance, being chiefly footmen, were left to follow on and come up as soon as they could. The pursuit was too rapid to render an escape practicable. Ferguson, finding that he must inevitably be overtaken, chose his ground, and waited for the attack on King's Mountain. On the 7th of October, in the afternoon, after a forced march of forty-five miles on that day and the night before, the volunteers came up with him. The forenoon of the day was wet, but they were fortunate enough to come on him undiscovered, and took his pickets, they not having it in their power to give an alarm. They were soon formed in such order as to attack the enemy on all sides. The Washington and Sullivan regiments were form'd in the front and on the right flank; the North and South Carolina troops, under Cols. Williams, Sevier, Cleveland, Lacey and Brandon on the left. The two armies being in full view, the centre of the one nearly opposite the centre of the other, the British main guard posted nearly half-way down the mountain, the commanding officer gave the word of command to raise the Indian war-whoop and charge. In a moment King's Mountain resounded with their shouts, and on the first fire the guard retreated, leaving some of their men to crimson the earth. The British beat to arms, and immediately formed on top of the mountain, behind a chain of rocks that appeared impregnable, and had their wagons drawn up on their flank across the end of the mountain, by which they made a strong breast work. Thus concealed, the American army advanced to the charge. In ten or fifteen minutes the wings came round, and the action became general. The enemy annoyed our troops very much from their advantageous position. Col. Shelby, being previously ordered to reconnoitre their position, observing their situation, and what a destructive fire was kept up from behind those rocks, ordered Robert Campbell, one of the officers of the Virginia line, to move to the right with a small company to endeavor to dislodge them, and lead them on nearly to the ground to which he had ordered them, under fire of the enemy's lines and within forty steps of the same; but, discovering that our men were repulsed on the other side of the mountain, he gave orders to advance, and post themselves opposite to the rocks, and near to the enemy, and then return to assist in bringing up the men in order, who had been charged with the bayonet. These orders were punctually obeyed, and they kept up such a galling fire as to compel Ferguson to order a company of regulars to face them, with a view to cover his men that were posted behind the rocks. At this time, a considerable fire was drawn to this side of the mountain by the repulse of those on the other, and the Loyalists not being permitted to leave their post. This scene was not of long duration, for it was the brave Virginia vol unteers, and those under Col. Shelby, on their attempting rapidly to ascend the mountain, that were charged with the bayonet. They obstinately stood until some of them were thrust through the body, and having nothing but their rifles by which to defend themselves, they were forced to retreat. They were soon rallied by their gallant commanders, Campbell, Shelby and other brave officers, and by a constant and well directed fire of their rifles, drove them back in their turn, strewing the face of the mountain with their assailants, and kept advancing until they drove them from some of their posts. Ferguson, being heavily pressed on all sides, ordered Capt. DePeyster to reinforce some of the extreme post with a full company of British regulars. He marched, but to his astonishment, when he arrived at the place of destination, he had almost no men, being exposed in that short distance to the constant fire of their rifles. He then ordered his Cavalry to mount, but to no purpose. As quick as they were mounted they were taken down by some bold marksman. Being driven to desperation by such a scene of misfortune, Col. Ferguson endeavored to make his escape, and, with two Colonels of the Loyalists mounted his horse, and charged on that part of the line which was defended by the party who had been ordered round the mountain by Col. Shelby where it appeared too weak to resist them. But as soon as he got to the line he fell, and the other two officers, attempting to retreat, soon shared the same fate. It was about this time that Col. Campbell advanced in front of his men, and climbed over a steep rock close by the enemy's lines, to get a view of their situation, and saw that they were retreating from behind the rocks that were near to him. As soon as Capt. DePeyster observed that Col. Ferguson was killed, he raised a flag, and called for quarters. It was soon taken out of his hand by one of the officers on horse back, and raised so high that it could be seen by our line, and the firing immediately ceased. The Loyalists, at the time of their surrender, were driven into a crowd, and being closely surrounded, they could not have made any further resistance. In this sharp action, one hundred and fifty of Col. Ferguson's party were killed, and something over that number were wounded. Eight hundred and ten, of whom one hundred were British regulars, surrendered themselves prisoners, and one thousand five hundred stand of arms were taken. The loss of the American army on this occasion amounted to thirty killed, and something over fifty wounded, among whom were a number of brave officers. Col. Williams, who has been so much lamented, was shot through the body, near the close of the action, in making an attempt to charge upon Ferguson. He lived long enough to hear of the surrender of the British army. He then said, “I die contented, since we have gained the victory,” and expired. The third night after the action the officers of the Carolinas complained to Col. Campbell that there were among the prisoners a number who had, previous to the action on King's Mountain, committed cool and deliberate murder, and other enormities alike atrocious, and requested him to order a court martial to examine into the matter. They stated that, if they should escape, they were exasperated, and they feared they would commit other enormities worse than they had formerly done. Col. Campbell complied, and ordered a court martial immediately to sit, composed of the Field Officers and Captains, who were ordered to enquire into the complaints which had been made. The court was conducted orderly, and witnesses were called and examined in each case. The consequence was that there were thirty two condemned. Out of these nine who were thought the most dangerous, and who had committed the most atrocious crimes, were executed. The others were pardoned by the commanding officer. One of the crimes proven against a Captain that was executed was that he had called at the house of a Whig, and enquired if he was at home, and being informed by his son, a small boy, that he was not, he immediately drew out his pistol and shot him. The Officers on the occasion acted from an honorable motive to do the greatest good in their power for the public service, and to check those enormities so frequently committed in the States of North and South Carolina at that time, their distress being almost unequalled in the annals of the American Revolution. ---------- Description by Arthur Campbell of the Battle of King's Mountain Campbell, Arthur, 1742-1811 Volume 15, Pages 132-134 THE BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN—A FRAGMENT. By Col. Arthur Campbell. Soon after the defeat of the American Army under Gen. Gates, the British Commander in South Carolina made arrangements to invade North Carolina and Virginia. With this view he organized a corps of the upland Tories, mostly riflemen, and attached to them two companies of his regular troops, giving the command of the whole to Maj. Patrick Ferguson of the Seventy-first regiment, an intelligent officer, and well calculated for a separate command. The corps on the first outset amounted to two thousand men. Orders were also sent to the British Indian agents to excite the Indians to invade the American settlements west of the mountains, and if practicable to proceed as far as Chiswell's Lead Mines and destroy the works and stores at that place. The main body, commanded by Cornwallis in person, was to move along the central road, by way of Salisbury, and form a junction with Ferguson before he entered Virginia. Ferguson's detachment began the operation by marching towards the mountains, and on his way met with a small regiment of North Carolina militia, commanded by Charles and Joseph McDowell. They were attacked and soon dispersed, but the Col. and Maj., with a part of the men, chose, rather than submit, to pass over the Appalachian mountains and take refuge among their Whig Brethren on the western waters. They arrived in the settlement on Watauga River, without their families, to the number of about one hundred and fifty men. Their tale was a doleful one, tending to excite the resentment of the western militia, who of late had become inured to danger by fighting the Indians, and who had an utter detestation of the tyranny of the British Government. At this period, early in September, the County Lieutenant of Washington was in Richmond. There he had an interview with the Governor of Virginia, who detailed the circumstances of Gen. Gates' defeat, the measures about to be taken to retrieve the late misfortune and to expel the enemy from our country, and that vigorous resistance every where would soon put an end to the war. On the return of the County Lieutenant, Col. Isaac Shelby, of North Carolina, sent to him a trusty mes enger to inform him of the progress of Ferguson and the retreat of McDowell's corps, and also to enquire whether it would be prudent to make an effort to enable the exiles to recross the mountains and return to their own homes. Mr. Adair, the messenger, was told the Governor's sentiments on the subject of Gates' defeat, and the efforts that would soon be made by order of Congress to check the progress of the enemy; and he was also assured that if the Western Counties of North Carolina would raise a force to join Col. McDowell's men that the officers of Washington County would co- operate to aid their friends to return home. A consultation was soon had with the field officers, and a resolution agreed on, to order half the militia of Washington County into actual service, under the command of Col. William Campbell. All ranks seemed animated with the same spirit, and the quota was raised and equipped in a few days. An Express was sent to Col. Cleveland, of Wilkes County, North Carolina, to let him know what was going on, and to march all the men he could raise, to rendezvous at an appointed place on the east side of the mountains. Cols. Shelby and Sevier acted their part, with like promptitude, in the western counties of North Carolina, and the whole met at Col. McDowell's encampment on Watauga. On the twenty eighth (twenty sixth) of September our little army took up its line of march, and the third day in the evening reached the other side, without any opposition from the enemy. Two days afterwards Col. Cleveland joined his corps to the main body, and the day afterwards Col. Williams, with three companies of volunteers from South Carolina. A council of officers was held, and it was agreed that Col. William Campbell, of Virginia, should take command of the whole and pursne the enemy. Col. Ferguson, after dispersing such parties of the North Carolina militia as were embodied, followed Col. McDowell's men as far as the foot of the great mountains, and after taking some prisoners, and collecting a drove of beeves, he made a hasty retreat to King's Mountain, in order to be nearer the main army, and on account of the strong encampment that might be formed on the top of it. Our newly elected commander reviewed his men, and selected all that were fit for service of the mounted infantry, and ordered the footmen to follow as they might be able to hold out. Those who have been familiar with the principal officers who fought on King's Mountain, and those who fought at Cowpens, will readily pronounce that the latter was a mere skirmish compared with the arduous affair on King's Mountain. There our heroes had to act as a forlorn hope, storm the enemy's camp, defended by superior numbers and disciplined troops. The Virginia Regiment alone had more killed than the whole of Gen. Morgan's corps. This proves where the hard fighting was, more than the pompous tale of a partial historian. It was Ferguson's defeat that was the first link in a grand chain of causes which finally drew down ruin on the British interest in the Southern States, and finally terminated the war of the Revolution. It has been remarked why so small a number of the Americans were killed at King's Mountain, compared with the loss of the enemy. Our officers accounted for it in this way: The tories occupied much the least space of ground, and of course were more thickly planted than the extended circle of Americans around them, so that the fire of our men seldom failed doing execution; besides, when the Virginia regiment reached the summit of the hill, the enemy was crowded, making their retreat to the other end, without returning a shot; and when they were driven into a huddle by meeting the fire of Col. Williams' division, they received a heavy fire before our troops could be notified of the surrender. ---------- Description by John Belton O'Neall of James Williams' death at the Battle of King's Mountain O'Neall, John Belton, 1793-1863 Volume 15, Page 391 [Johnson's Traditions of the Revolution, 1780, Page 490.] When Colonel Williams was shot (at King's Mountain) he had turned to his command and was cheering them onward. The ball, fired from the mountain heights above him, took effect just between his shoulders and ranged downward through his body. He fell within a few feet of Colonel Ferguson. Both met their fate at the same moment. Colonel Williams was borne from the battle field, lived throughout the succeeding night and died the next morning. He lies a mile or two from the field of his own and his companions' glory, without a stone to mark the spot where rests the body of “Old King's Mountain Jim,” as he is familiarly spoken of to this day. ---------- Order from George Washington concerning the American victory at the Battle of King's Mountain Washington, George, 1732-1799 October 27, 1780 Volume 15, Pages 131-132 WASHINGTON'S GENERAL ORDER. Headquarters, Totoway, October 27, 1780. The General has the pleasure to congratulate the army on an important advantage lately gained in North Carolina over a corps of fourteen hundred men, British troops and new levies, commanded by Col. Ferguson. The militia of the neighboring Country, under Cols. Williams, Shelby and others, having assembled to the number of about three thousand men, a detachment of about sixteen hundred was sent on horseback to fall in with Ferguson's party on its march to Charlotte. They came up with the enemy at a place called King's Mountain, advantageously posted, and gave him a total defeat, in which Col. Ferguson and a hundred and fifty of his men were killed, eight hundred made prisoners, and fifteen hundred stand of arms taken. On our part, the loss was inconsiderable. We have only to regret that the brave Col. Williams is mortally wounded. These advantages will, in all probability, have a very happy influence on operations in that quarter, and are a proof of the spirit and resources of the country. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/cleveland/military/revwar/other/battleof273mt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/ File size: 17.6 Kb