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1780. militia of North Carolina, whom the legislature had fubjected to the command of gen. Smallwood.

While lord Cornwallis was restrained from active operations, by the exceffive heats and unhealthy season which followed his victory at Camden, major Ferguson, of the 71ft British regiment, undertook perfonally to vifit the fettlements of the difaffected to the American cause, and to train their young men for fervice in the field. With these, at a proper season, he was to join his lordship, who advanced with his army from Camden to Waxhaws about the 8th of September. Ferguson having collected a confiderable body of troops, principally from new raifed corps, was detached by way of Burke's court-house to manoeuvre through the northern parts of South Carolina, and to join Cornwallis at Charlotte, of which place his lordship took poffeffion on the 26th of September; but not without being opposed on his route by the North and South Carolina militia. Major Davie alfo, with his volunteer corps of horfe, which ferved the militia as a van guard, contributed confiderably to annoy him and infult his power. Ferguson extended his route into Tryon county in North Carolina, and by proclamation and threats induced many to join him. He had under him a confiderable proportion of thofe licentious people, who, having collected from all parts of America into thefe remote countries, were willing to take the opportunity of the prevailing confufion to carry on their ufual depredations. As they marched, they plundered the whig inhabitants. Violences of this kind frequently repeated, induced many perfons to confult their own fafety by flying beyond the mountains. By fuch lively reprefentations of

their fufferings, as the diftreffed are alway ready to 1780. give, they added to that alarm and terror, which the total rout of Gates's army had fpread through the most diftant parts of North Carolina. The people conceived that their fecurity depended upon their taking arms, and keeping the war as far from home as poffible. Ferguson was tempted to ftay near to the western mountains longer than neceffary, under the hope of cutting off Clark in his retreat from Georgia. This delay gave an oppor tunity for the junction of feveral corps of militia, which proved his ruin. Col. Williams of Ninety Six pursued him with 450 horfe. The inhabitants about the western waters (north of North Carolina and weft of the Alleghaney and Virginia) voluntarily muftered under their respective colonels in the different quarters where they lived. Being all mounted, and unencumbered with baggage, their motions were rapid. Each man fet out with his blanket, knapsack and gun, in quest of major Ferguson, in the fame manner he was used to pursue the wild beasts of the foreft. At night the earth afforded them a bed, and the heavens a covering: the running ftream quenched their thirft, while a few cattle driven in their rear, together with the supplies acquired by their guns, fecured them provifion. They were under the command of colonels Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby and Sevier. The first junction of thefe mountaineers was accidental. Williams was informed, on the 2d of October, by one exprefs from Shelby, that 1500 were upon their march, and by another from Cleveland, that he was within ten miles with 800 men. When they had all joined near Gilbert-town, they amounted to near 3000. They foon found out Ferguson's encampment.

1780. This was on an eminence of a circular bafe, known by

the name of King's Mountain, fituated near the confines of North and South Carolina. It being apprehended, that Ferguson was haftening his march down the country to join Cornwallis, the Americans felected nine hundred and ten of their best men, and mounted them on their fleeteft horfes. With this force they Oct. came up with Ferguson on the 7th of October. Some 7. difpute had arifen about the right of command; but it was finally agreed to be given to Campbell. The enterprise however was conducted without regular military fubordination, under the direction of Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby, Sevier and Williams, each of whom respectively led on his own men. As they approached the royal encampment, it was agreed to divide their force. Some afcended the mountain, while others went round its base in oppofite directions. Cleveland, in his progrefs round with one of the detachments, discovered an advanced picquet of the royal troops. On this occafion he addreffed his men in the following language"My brave fellows, we have beat the tories, and we can beat them. They are all cowards. If they had the fpirit of men, they would join with their fellow citizens, in fupporting the independence of their country. When engaged, you are not to wait for the word of command from me. I will show you by my example how to fight. I can undertake no more. Every man muft confider himself as an officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can, and stand your ground as long as you can. When you can do no better, get behind trees or retreat; but I beg of you not to run quite off. If we are repulfed, let us make.

a point to return and renew the fight. Perhaps you may 1780. have better luck in the fecond attempt than the first. If any of you are afraid, fuch have leave to retire, and they are requested immediately to take themselves off." The firing commenced about four o'clock in the evening. The picquet gave way, and were pursued as they retired up the mountain to the main body. Ferguson, with the greatest bravery, ordered his men to charge. The Americans retired from the approaching bayonet. Soon after these had retreated, Shelby with the other detachment, having completed the designed circuit, opportunely arrived, and from an unexpected quarter poured in a well directed fire. Ferguson defifted from the purfuit, and engaged his new adverfaries. The British bayonet was again fuccefsful, and caufed them alfo to fall back. By this time the party commanded by Campbell had afcended the mountain, and renewed the attack from that eminence. Ferguson prefented a new front, and was again successful; but all his exertions were unavailing. At this moment Cleveland's men, having been rallied, renewed their fire. As often as one of the American parties was driven back, another returned to its ftation. Fergufon's unconquerable spirit refused to furrender. However, after having repulfed a fucceffion of adversaries, pouring in their fire from new directions, this officer received a mortal wound. No chance of

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escape being left, and all profpect of fuccefsful refift-
ance being at an end, the fecond in command fued
for quarters.
The bloody conflict continued forty-
seven minutes. The brave major, with 150 of his men,
fell in the action; 810 including regulars, were made
prisoners, 150 of whom were wounded; the remainder

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1780. This was on an eminence of a circular bafe, known by

the name of King's Mountain, fituated near the confines of North and South Carolina. It being apprehended, that Fergufon was haftening his march down the country to join Cornwallis, the Americans felected nine hundred and ten of their best men, and mounted them on their flecteft horfes. With this force they Oct. came up with Fergufon on the 7th of October. Some 7. difpute had arifen about the right of command; but it was finally agreed to be given to Campbell. The enterprise however was conducted without regular military fubordination, under the direction of Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby, Sevier and Williams, each of whom refpectively led on his own men. As they approached the royal encampment, it was agreed to divide their force. Some afcended the mountain, while others went round its bafe in oppofite directions. Cleveland, in his progrefs round with one of the detachments, discovered an advanced picquet of the royal troops. On this occafion he addreffed his men in the following language

My brave fellows, we have beat the tories, and we can beat them. They are all cowards. If they had the fpirit of men, they would join with their fellow citizens, in fupporting the independence of their country. When engaged, you are not to wait for the word of command from me. I will show you by my example how to fight. I can undertake no more. Every man must confider himfelf as an officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can, and stand your ground as long as you can. When you can do no better, get behind trees or retreat; but I beg of you not to run quite off. If we are repulfed, let us make.

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